Heart failure: The signs and symptoms you shouldn’t ignore
Every minute, someone is diagnosed with heart failure. You may know family members or friends with heart failure, or you may even suffer from heart failure yourself. Cardiologist James Ampadu, MD, explained what heart failure is and symptoms to look for.
What causes heart failure?
Heart failure can be caused by other health conditions that damage and weaken the heart, including current or past conditions such as:
- Heart attack
- Coronary artery disease
- Heart defects
- High blood pressure
- Heart valve diseases
- Abnormal heart rhythms
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Thyroid problems
- Alcohol or drug abuse
- Certain chemo therapies
Dr. Ampadu said the heart’s job is to pump blood to the body. If you are told you are at risk for heart failure, this means your heart is struggling to pump blood like it should to meet the demands of the body. So, how does this make your body feel? Look for these symptoms:
- Shortness of breath when completing normal activities
- Cough
- Fatigue
- Decreased appetite
- Swelling
- Nausea
- Memory problems or confusion
- Elevated heart rate
“Don’t think these are a normal process of aging. These are important things to make note of and talk to your primary care doctor or your cardiologist about,” he said.
What are the risk factors?
Some risk factors like age and genetics play a role, but these aren’t risk factors you can control. There are certain risk factors that you can control and make a difference, including:
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Blocked arteries
- Cardiovascular disease
- Obesity
- Alcohol use
- Tobacco use
“If you have any of the heart failure risk factors and experience any of the symptoms above, don’t ignore them. Talk to your doctor right away,” said Dr. Ampadu.
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