Everyone should be aware of the signs and symptoms of worsening heart failure. Sadly, over 6 million people in the U.S suffer from heart failure and in 2018 approximately 400,000 deaths were associated with heart failure.
It’s very important to be aware of this because the risk factors for developing heart failure are also extremely common. These include being overweight, diabetes, and high blood pressure.
In this article, you will read about the signs you need to watch out for. If you can identify with these symptoms, or notice them in a loved one, the five minutes you spend reading this article may save you from years of heartache.
Out of Breath
Feeling like you have a lack of air, or feeling like you’re struggling with your breathing is a consistent symptom of heart failure. This is because you’re not getting the blood supply and oxygen that your body needs.
Not only that, but fluid can build up in your lungs making it more challenging to fill them with air, giving you a sense of shallow breath.
Productive Cough
As mentioned above, fluid can build up in your lungs, and eventually, your lungs will want to eject this mucus. You may notice a cough that produces mucus with a pink hue, this could be a warning sign that your heart failure is deteriorating further.
Early symptoms could be a dry cough but as the problem progresses it will turn into a more productive cough. The challenge here is that a cough can be very common so weight this symptom in the presence of the other symptoms detailed in this article.
Swelling
Swelling is not an uncommon side effect of many medications. So keep in mind the timing onset of this symptom. Still, if you experience swelling in your ankles or limbs, also in your stomach, it’s time to consider the possibility of heart failure.
When your heart fails to circulate blood as it should there can be a back up of blood in your extremities that cause the swelling you experience. Don’t ignore it, go see your doctor immediately.
Low Energy and Low Appetite
Poor circulation to the stomach also means there may be an effect on your digestion. That means you will not get the nutrition and metabolic value of your food as you did in the past.
Low energy and low appetite are the result. If you’re wondering what to do about these symptoms you should always seek a medical opinion and closely follow their advice.
Signs and Symptoms of Worsening Heart Failure
In this article, you’ve read about the signs and symptoms of worsening heart failure. The symptoms mentioned in this brief article are progressive as the condition deteriorates.
Heart Failure does not have to equal death and unhappiness. Poor health is often the result of a poor routine. The opposite is also true, so be willing to make adjustments to your lifestyle and embed them in your daily life and you should still be able to enjoy life to the full.
Check out other practical health-related articles on our site that can help put you on track for a long and satisfying life.
