In earlier times, heart failure mostly used to affect old age people but in the last couple of years, we have heard many news of people as young as in their 30s getting succumbed to heart failure. The main reasons for this are an unhealthy lifestyle, no schedule of eating, junk food, supplements, etc. Heart failure is a long-term condition that gradually worsens within with time. Usually, it can’t be cured but taken proper care the symptoms can be controlled for many years.
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Here we have curated a list of 8 signs and symptoms of heart failure you should be aware of
- Shortness of Breath
Finding it difficult to breathe sometimes may be one of the signs of probable heart failure. Shortness of breath is the most common sign and symptom of heart failure. Fluid present in the lungs makes it harder to breathe because carbon dioxide blood which is exchanged for fresh oxygen is interrupted. It may also be harder to breathe when lying down Sometimes because gravity lets fluid from below the lungs travel up the torso makes it hard to take a breath. In case you get any of those symptoms, that doesn’t essentially mean you have heart failure. But it’s always advisable to contact your doctor to make things sure.
- Congestion
The gathering of fluid in the lungs gives rise to problems like coughing, wheezing, or breathing difficulty. It can be a sign of heart failure mainly because 90% of case of acute heart failure happens because of congestion, a manifestation of fluid build-up because of an increase in filling pressures.
- Oedema or Ankle Swelling
Oedema mostly happens by swelling because of fluid retention. The inadequacy of the kidney to clear sodium and water from the body leads to fluid retention in the tissues and it can give rise to problems like cardiac oedema. Swelling of the ankle and legs due to fluid accumulation mostly happens due to the heart’s inability to pump blood from the lungs thru the body. Moreover, this fluid retention can lead to unexpected weight gain also.
- Decrease in Doing Physical Activity
Typically, after heart failure, people find it difficult to do physical activities the way they used to do earlier. It happens because you get tired easily along with shortness of breath. You will get feeling tired most of the time and find it difficult to do daily chores like going to, climbing stairs, walking, etc.
- Lack of Appetite and Nausea
One of the major signs of heart attack is the loss of appetite and nausea. Our digestive system gets less amount of blood as compared to earlier, which leads to issues of having problems in digestion. When you are experiencing heart failure, you may get the feeling of fullness or the urge to not eat anything. Additionally the feeling of nausea increases.
- Increased Heart Rate or Palpitations
If you are suffering from a heart-related problem then trembling in the heart (palpitations) or irregular heartbeat may happen. Such a type of experience leads to a pounding or racing sensation in the chest. This condition rises with heart failure because your heart isn’t receiving the needed amount of blood. Your heart gets weak without enough blood, making it to beat faster.
- Insomnia
Insomnia or finding it difficult to sleep can be a sign of a pending heart attack. It’s a common problem of heart failure and is linked with daytime signs and a decrease in functional performance.
- Frequent Dry Cough
There are various reasons for cough but the cardiac cough is dissimilar to allergies, cold, or flu. It mostly affects those who have an issue of congestive heart failure (CHF). In heart failure, your heart muscle has dysfunction which may be because of weak shrinkage or arduousness. Your body coughs regularly because it tries to get the excess fluid out of the body.
