But it can be treated, often with strategies to improve symptoms. Heart failure caused by damage to the heart that has developed over time can’t be cured. Once the initial diagnosis is confirmed, further testing may be needed to figure out what’s causing the heart’s dysfunction and determine the best treatment approach.
The earliest symptoms of heart failure are often very subtle, but it’s dangerous to ignore them.
Fluid buildup in the lungs can result in coughing, wheezing, and breathing difficulty. It’s an unfortunate truth that your body slows down in your sixth and seventh decades. “It is always better to play it safe when it comes to your heart,” Dr. Marah explains. Additionally, there are procedures available (such as a heart valve replacement or heart transplant) to restore heart function in necessary cases, adds Dr. Marah. With blood being diverted, your stomach and gastrointestinal tract are getting less blood, and that can slow their functions way down, Dr. Greenfield says. All that fluid you’re retaining has to go somewhere eventually.
Understanding The Causes And Risk Factors
Arrhythmias can increase the risk of stroke, heart failure, or cardiac arrest if left untreated. At Heartwell Cardiology in Orlando, FL, we’re committed to helping you maintain optimal heart health. A persistent cough or wheezing can also be indicative of heart failure. Heart failure can lead to fluid retention due to the kidneys receiving less blood flow.
warning signs and symptoms of early heart failure
However, heart issues often develop silently, and the condition could already be serious by the time symptoms appear. Your guide to preventive care, expert insights, and a heart-healthy lifestyle. If you experience any of these symptoms, seeking medical advice promptly can make a significant difference. Early diagnosis can significantly impact the management and outcome of heart failure. If you experience any of the symptoms mentioned, it’s crucial to seek medical evaluation. Heart failure can result from a variety of underlying conditions that damage or overwork the heart muscle.
Cough
The lower right heart chamber is called the right ventricle. Heart failure usually begins with the lower left heart chamber, called the left ventricle. Heart failure can be caused by a weakened, damaged or stiff heart. The upper chambers, the right and left atria, receive incoming blood. A typical heart has two upper and two lower chambers.
You wheeze or have trouble breathing
In severe cases, a cough might produce white or pink blood-tinged mucus, indicating fluid in the lungs. This reduced blood flow signals the kidneys to retain sodium and water, causing fluid to accumulate in the tissues. This congestion can cause fluid to leak into the lung tissue, making it difficult for oxygen to pass into the bloodstream. Shortness of breath, also known as dyspnea, is one of the earliest and most common symptoms of heart failure.
- But if it happens when you’re not exercising or dashing around during busy days, it could be an early signal your heart isn’t pumping as well as it should—also known as heart failure.
- Ahead, doctors share signs that your ticker may not be operating the way it should.
- It looks for a biomarker in blood called B-type natriuretic peptide, which is released when the heart is under stress.
- Heart failure also may be called congestive heart failure.
- Some of the same lifestyle changes used to manage heart failure also may help prevent it.
“Heart failure is a very common disease, but we have great treatments for it and you shouldn’t be afraid.” Additionally, an electrocardiogram, or EKG, may be done to track the electrical impulses of your heart, measuring rhythm, strength and timing. First is a BNP blood test, which Dr. Berkowitz and others developed about 20 years ago. Your healthcare professional can examine you and run tests to check for complications.
You may also be asked to keep track of other factors, such as oxygen use and diuretic (water pill) use. Ask for an evaluation of your heart.
Some heart conditions slowly leave the heart too weak or stiff to fill and pump blood properly. Heart failure occurs when the heart muscle doesn’t pump blood as well as it should. If you feel unusually fatigued or drained, particularly when combined with other symptoms like shortness of breath or chest pain, it’s important to consult a cardiologist.
Your legs and feet swell up
When you pay attention to your heart and the signs it gives you, you can make the adjustments you need to lead a rich, full, and long life. Other heart failure testing can include echocardiogram (often dubbed an “echo”), which uses ultrasound to produce images of your heart as it beats. A BNP test can tell the difference between heart failure and pneumonia, despite looking similar on X-rays and producing similar symptoms. “In some cases, there might also be chest pain and palpitations with early heart failure,” adds Dr. Berkowitz, who founded Hackensack’s Heart Failure Program in 2000, noting that symptoms depend on whether your heart is too weak or too stiff. Some of the same lifestyle changes used to manage heart failure also may help prevent it.
Right-sided heart failure often follows left-sided heart failure. With diastolic failure, your left ventricle can’t fill up all the way with oxygen-rich blood. With vegas casino download systolic failure, your heart’s not pumping properly.
Living with heart failure?
When your heart isn’t operating properly, it pumps less blood to your kidneys, and as a result, that organ compensates by retaining fluid. Since heart failure affects how well this elegant system operates, shortness of breath is a major sign of trouble, says Dr. Greenfield. A heart that’s failing can’t pump enough blood to keep it moving throughout your body. If you have heart failure, your heart struggles to pump out all the fluid that the veins return.
What Are Four Signs That Your Heart Is Slowly Failing
Heart failure also may be called congestive heart failure. At Heartwell Cardiology, we’re here to guide you on the path to better heart health every step of the way. If you’ve experienced any of these symptoms, don’t wait—schedule a consultation with Dr. Sharma to ensure that your heart is functioning optimally. If you experience frequent palpitations or notice that your heart feels out of sync, a healthcare professional must check your heart rhythm.
The fluids might also cause you to wheeze or cough. You might find yourself propping up the pillow at night to elevate your head so it’s easier to breathe while you sleep. This causes blood to back up in the pulmonary (i.e., lung) veins.
Amy Scanlon, MD, FACC, is a practicing private practice cardiologist at Consultants in Cardiology and the current team cardiologist for Seton Hall University. Always consult with healthcare professionals for personalized advice and treatment plans. Shortness of breath, fatigue, swelling, and persistent cough or wheezing are key indicators that your heart might be struggling. This symptom is often mistaken for respiratory issues, but it can be a direct result of heart problems. Additionally, poor circulation can cause blood to pool in the lower extremities, further contributing to swelling. Report any sudden changes to your health care team.
Get the latest in health news delivered to your inbox! No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician. To be on the safe side, make sure all of your medical providers have a complete list of all the medicines you take.
Weight
- Shortness of breath, fatigue, swelling, and persistent cough or wheezing are key indicators that your heart might be struggling.
- When the heart has to work extra hard, it diverts the blood stream to concentrate on essential organs, such as the heart and brain.
- First is a BNP blood test, which Dr. Berkowitz and others developed about 20 years ago.
- Learn how weight affects heart health.
While some degree of vitality loss can be attributed to natural aging, fatigue and breathlessness may also be signals that your heart is not functioning as well as it should. Nighttime light exposure linked to heart disease That could be another symptom of a circulation issue, potentially brought on by heart failure.
Health topicsheart health center This may include lifestyle changes, such as losing weight, getting more exercise, changing your diet, and taking medications. Consult a physician or call your cardiologist whenever you have a change in body function that doesn’t resolve quickly. Everything else gets less than the normal amount of blood and oxygen. When the heart has to work extra hard, it diverts the blood stream to concentrate on essential organs, such as the heart and brain.