Symptoms Signaling Approaching Heart Failure
In the realm of healthcare, heart failure is a critical condition that requires immediate attention. Doctors diagnose heart failure based on a person's symptom severity and the ejection fraction, which is the proportion of blood the left ventricle pumps out with each beat.
If you experience any symptoms of heart failure, such as trouble breathing, unexplained fatigue, chest pain, heart palpitations, leg swelling, waking up struggling to breathe at night, or struggling to breathe when lying down, it is crucial to seek medical advice promptly. Other common symptoms include a chronic cough and unintentional weight gain.
As heart disease progresses, symptoms may become more pronounced, including loss of appetite, heart palpitations, coughing up white or pink mucus, coughing when lying down, and chest pain.
However, heart failure can also present with less obvious signs. These may include irregular heart rhythms or palpitations, unexplained dizziness or fainting, persistent cough or wheezing, unexplained cold sweating, jaw pain or pain radiating beyond the chest, and swelling beyond the typical ankles. These signs may warrant medical evaluation if persistent or unexplained, as they can precede more classic symptoms of heart failure or indicate worsening cardiac function.
People with risk factors for heart disease, such as diabetes, hypertension, a smoking history, or obesity, should see a doctor regularly to ensure they control their risk factors as best as possible. Lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking, maintaining a healthy body weight, treating chronic medical conditions, managing cholesterol, becoming more physically active, and reducing sodium intake can help reduce the risk of developing heart failure and may prolong survival in people who already have heart failure.
Doctors may recommend various tests to assess heart function, including an echocardiogram or electrocardiogram. In severe cases, a heart transplant may be necessary. Treatment for heart failure often involves medications like beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, ARNIs, ARBs, spironolactone, and SGLT-2 inhibitors.
The outlook with heart failure depends on various factors, including age, overall health, severity of heart failure, access to treatment, and ability to make lifestyle changes. After one year, 80.8% of people with a new diagnosis of heart failure in the UK are still alive. After five years, 48.2% are still alive, and after 10 years, 26.2% are still alive.
The Heart Failure Society of America recommends using the FACES acronym to identify early signs of heart failure: F for fatigue, A for activities limited, C for chest congestion, E for edema or ankle swelling, and S for shortness of breath.
Heart failure is a life-threatening condition, and early recognition and treatment can significantly improve outcomes. If you suspect you may be experiencing symptoms of heart failure, do not hesitate to seek medical advice.
[1] Mayo Clinic. (2021). Heart failure symptoms and causes. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-failure/symptoms-causes/syc-20367162 [2] American Heart Association. (2021). Heart failure symptoms. https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-failure/understanding-heart-failure/heart-failure-symptoms [3] National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. (2021). What is heart failure? https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/heart-failure [4] British Heart Foundation. (2021). Heart failure. https://www.bhf.org.uk/heart-health/conditions/heart-failure [5] Cleveland Clinic. (2021). Heart failure symptoms and causes. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/16766-heart-failure
- Heart failure, a critical cardiovascular disease, can be life-threatening and requires immediate attention from medical professionals.
- People at risk of heart disease, such as those with diabetes, hypertension, or smoking history, should prioritize regular medical check-ups to manage their risk factors effectively.
- Early recognition and treatment of heart failure symptoms are essential for improving health outcomes, as evidenced by the statistics in the UK, where 80.8% of people with a new diagnosis of heart failure are still alive after one year.
- Symptoms of heart failure can range from more obvious signs like trouble breathing and chest pain to less apparent ones like irregular heart rhythms, dizziness, and unexplained weight gain.
- To identify early signs of heart failure, the Heart Failure Society of America suggests using the FACES acronym: Fatigue, Activities limited, Chest congestion, Edema or ankle swelling, and Shortness of breath.
