3 Signs of heart failure to look out for

• When the heart is unable to pump properly due to a blocked artery, it could lead to heart failure when untreated.
• Three warning signs to look out for are shortness of breath, fatigue, and abnormal swelling.
• Regularly check yourself for these symptoms to allow for early treatment.

A heart attack happens when an artery leading to the heart suddenly becomes blocked, disrupting the blood flow and oxygen supply. This renders the heart unable to pump properly, potentially leading to heart failure. Without proper treatment, this chronic condition will develop gradually and worsen.

A person suffers from a heart attack in the U.S. every 40 seconds, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

According to Dr. Sharonne N. Hayes, a professor of cardiovascular medicine at the Mayo Clinic and founder of the Women’s Heart Clinic, most people who suffer a heart attack have been previously dealing with symptoms that they could’ve been in the lookout for.

Check out the three signs of heart failure to watch out for:

1. Shortness of breath

Consult your doctor when you feel breathless doing normal daily activities that you used to do easily.

When the heart becomes unable to pump blood properly, this could cause congestion and fluid buildup in the lungs, leading to shortness of breath, explained Dr. Nicole Harkin, a preventive cardiologist and founder of Whole Heart Cardiology in San Francisco.

Heart failure may also lead to needing “more pillows to keep their head more elevated, to breathe more comfortably, or that they wake up at night trying to catch their breath,” added Dr. Michelle O’Donoghue, an associate physician of the cardiovascular division at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

2. Fatigue

Harkin explained, “People with heart failure often notice that they’re experiencing fatigue or extreme exhaustion. This is because the heart isn’t able to meet the metabolic demands of the body,” such as providing oxygen supply for the muscles.

Similar to shortness of breath, consult your doctor if you feel too tired doing tasks you previously did with ease.

3. Abnormal swelling

A slower blood flow could lead to buildup in your veins and body tissues, known as edema.

Harkin explained, “The pressure from this backup causes fluid to accumulate in the soft tissues of the legs, as well as sometimes in the abdomen.”

Check leg swelling by touching your shin with your finger. “If you notice that you can really see the [deep] imprint of your finger, that’s called pitting edema and may be a sign of heart failure. Talk to your doctor if you notice this,” Harkin advised.

Aside from an echocardiogram or a coronary calcium scan, there is no test that can show you if you have heart disease as accurately as a mammogram or a colonoscopy does for other diseases. So the best defense is to regularly check yourself for these symptoms to allow for early treatment.

Source: Aol.com