The signs and symptoms of heart failure
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In heart failure, the heart can no longer keep up with the demands placed on it to pump blood to the rest of the body. Therefore, many of us would associate it with more obvious symptoms such as tiredness or breathlessness. However, there are some signs that could be mistaken for something else.
Cardiologist at Mayo Clinic Healthcare in London, Doctor Gosia Wamil, explained more about heart failure.
She told Express.co.uk, patients could experience a “persistent cough”.
“Some heart failure warning signs are intuitive, such as ankle swelling, breathlessness, chest pain, a heartbeat that feels rapid or irregular and fatigue while exercising,” Doctor Wamil said.
“There are other symptoms that people may not associate with heart failure.
“Those include a persistent cough, abdominal swelling, rapid weight gain, nausea and a lack of appetite.
“People who experience any of these symptoms should contact their health care provider.”
Coronary artery disease is the main cause of heart failure.
And the stiffening of the heart muscle is mostly a result of poorly controlled hypertension or diabetes.
But there are rarer causes of heart failure such as myocarditis, which can be caused by a viral infection, and cardiomyopathies.
There are also lifestyle-related risk factors.
Doctor Wamil said: “Maintaining a healthy diet, treating obesity, avoiding tobacco use and second-hand smoke, and avoiding alcohol can help prevent heart failure.”
Other risk factors for heart failure include sleep apnoea, some medications used to treat cancers, and viral infections that damage the heart muscle.
It is important to identify the cause of heart failure because treatments may differ.
In most cases heart failure cannot be cured, but the symptoms can often be controlled for many years.
“After heart failure is diagnosed, patients will need to manage the condition for the rest of their lives, usually through care at specialised heart failure clinics,” Doctor Wamil added.
Treatment can include medication, surgically implanted devices, and in advanced cases, heart transplant.
The NHS lists symptoms of heart failure as:
- Breathlessness after activity or at rest
- Feeling tired most of the time and finding exercise exhausting
- Feeling lightheaded or fainting
- Swollen ankles and legs
- A fast heart rate
- Dizziness.
The recommended diet if you are suffering with heart failure includes:
- Plenty of fruit and vegetables – aim for at least five portions a day
- Meals based on starchy foods, such as potatoes, bread, rice or pasta
- Some dairy or dairy alternatives
- Some beans or pulses, fish, eggs, meat and other sources of protein
- Low levels of saturated fat, salt and sugar.
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