7 Heart Failure Signs That Shouldn't Be Ignored

Are you paying attention to your heart's secret language? It's crucial to decode its whispers before they turn into roars. Unmasking the subtle signs of heart failure can mean the difference between a healthy tomorrow and an emergency room visit. Let's dive in and unveil these indicators. Understanding heart failure's under-the-radar signals and acting promptly can steer you towards a heart-healthy path and away from becoming a statistic in the silent epidemic of heart disease.

Signs/Symptoms:

Chest Pain and Discomfort

Fact:In some cases, especially in heart failure due to coronary artery disease, chest pain or discomfort may be experienced.

A sensation of discomfort or tightening in the chest could indicate a clogged heart artery or an approaching heart attack. Someone experiencing this might sense a weight or intense ache in their chest, a sensation that can persist for several minutes and might be triggered by physical exertion. Pain that is fleeting and minor, enduring just a few seconds, likely isn't connected to the heart. However, extreme and lasting pain represents a medical emergency that requires immediate dialing of 911.

Breathing Difficulties

Fact:Dyspnea, or shortness of breath, is one of the most common symptoms of heart failure. This occurs because fluid backs up in the pulmonary vessels, causing the fluid to leak into the lung tissues.

Struggling to breathe is a frequent indicator of congestive heart failure, typically manifesting as dyspnea, also known as breathlessness. This symptom often becomes prominent when one is reclining, immediately after awakening, or while doing physical activities. This could be because the heart is struggling to distribute blood to the body's organs or due to fluid build-up in the lungs. In extreme instances, this symptom can coincide with the expulsion of pink, frothy mucus during a cough.

Weakness or Fatigue

Fact:Individuals with heart failure often experience unusual fatigue as the heart struggles to pump blood efficiently, depriving cells of enough energy.

Individuals with congestive heart failure often experience pervasive physical and mental weariness. Despite ample rest and lack of strenuous physical activities, they frequently feel drained. Even routine tasks, such as climbing a flight of stairs, can seem overwhelmingly challenging. Much like difficulties in breathing, this fatigue arises due to the heart's inability to adequately circulate blood to organs and muscles across the body.