Early Warning Signs Of Heart Failure

Heart failure is a condition in which an individual's heart is not pumping oxygen-rich blood throughout the body as well as it is supposed to be, often due to stiff ventricles or heart muscle damage causing ventricle dilation. As the condition is progressive, the heart first attempts to make up for this compromised function by pumping faster to increase its output, stretching so the muscles contract with more strength (resulting in an enlarged heart), and accumulating more muscle mass. Many medical conditions can cause damage to the heart and result in heart failure, including suffering from a heart attack, hypertension, cardiomyopathy, myocarditis, arrhythmias, and heart defects. Heart failure is diagnosed through the use of many tests, including echocardiograms, electrocardiograms, stress tests, and blood tests.

Spotting heart failure early is crucial when it comes to managing the condition as effectively as possible. With this in mind, get familiar with the warning signs of heart failure now.

Fatigue And Weakness

Fatigue and weakness as early signs of heart trouble are not the same as being tired from participation in normal activities. In fact, some individuals who experience heart-related fatigue say the experience surprises them. They may be doing something that's normally very easy for them to do, and then suddenly they feel exhausted. The kind of fatigue from heart problems is caused by having reduced blood flow from the heart to the body, which happens when the heart is not working properly. Climbing stairs, lifting something heavy, and modest exercise can bring on a bout of sudden exhaustion.

Heart-related fatigue may also come up without any physical exertion and can happen at any time of day, regardless of whether a person is well-rested or not. This is an indication there may be heart troubles causing the problem. Fatigue and weakness may be caused by heart problems, including defects in the heart valves, having a weak heart muscle, and having a heart infection.

Swelling In Legs And Feet

Swelling in legs and feet may indicate circulation troubles that develop from heart problems. Swelling may start in one ankle or foot and then increase to include both of the lower legs, ankles, and feet. Four valves in the heart, the mitral, tricuspid, aortic, and pulmonary valves control the blood flow. As blood returns from the body, it enters the heart through the tricuspid and mitral valves, which are open while the aortic and pulmonary valves are closed. When blood is pumped out of the heart, the tricuspid and mitral valves are closed, and the aortic and pulmonary valves are open.

The coordination of the opening and closing of the heart valves allows the heart to pump the blood properly. Having enough heart muscle strength, along with working heart valves, provides adequate blood circulation throughout the body. Swelling in the lower extremities may be caused when the heart valves are damaged and not working correctly.