Signs of Heart Failure

Woman checking a watch that has a heart beating

The American Heart Association (AHA) Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics fact sheet shows that heart diseases are the number one cause of death in the U.S. Heart diseases consist of stroke, hypertension, and other cardiovascular diseases.

Heart diseases are mostly lifestyle diseases fueled by poor eating habits and a lack of physical activity. At least 47% of Americans live with one of the three heart disease risk factors, including:

  • High cholesterol;

  • High blood pressure; and

  • Smoking.

Other uncontrollable heart disease risk factors include genetics, age, and underlying health conditions. 

At Doctors of Waikiki, our team is dedicated to helping you understand various health conditions, their causes, signs, and prevention. Here, we will provide you with information that will help you learn and identify the symptoms of heart failure.

If you experience any heart attack symptoms, call 911 and seek immediate medical attention. 

What Is Heart Failure?

Heart failure, also known as congestive heart failure, is a chronic, progressive heart defect where the heart does not pump enough blood through the body. However, heart failure does not mean that the heart stops pumping or that there is no blood circulation in the body. The condition causes a lack of oxygen in the body, which sometimes causes organ failure. Lack of oxygen in the body makes everyday activities such as walking and breathing tedious.

The leading causes of heart failure are underlying health issues such as coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, and previous heart attacks. Unhealthy practices such as tobacco and alcohol usage, lack of physical exercise, and eating high amounts of saturated fats increase the risk of heart failure.

How Common Is Heart Failure?

Over 6.2 million American adults live with heart failure symptoms. Congestive heart failure is the recorded cause of death for more than 13.4% of the total deaths in the USA. A poor lifestyle is a precursor of chronic health conditions, such as high blood pressure and diabetes mellitus, which translate to a greater risk of heart failure.

What Are the Types of Heart Failure?

There are different types of heart failure depending on the part of the heart affected and how the symptoms present themselves. These include:

1. Acute Heart Failure

The symptoms appear suddenly and disappear as fast. The main cause of acute heart failure is the inability of the heart valves to control the amount of blood going through, which often happens after a heart attack.

2. Chronic Heart Failure

Chronic heart failure has continuous symptoms that do not go away. The condition does not improve with time and often needs immediate medical attention to prevent mortality.

Other types of heart failure, depending on the defective part of the heart, include:

3. Left-sided Heart Failure

There are two types of left-sided heart failure:

  • Diastolic failure – also called heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) – is when the heart cannot pump with enough force, since the left ventricle loses its ability to contract normally.

  • Diastolic failure is also referred to as heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF)or diastolic dysfunction. This is when the heart cannot accommodate enough blood, since left ventricle muscles become stiff and lose the ability to relax as they should.

4. Right-sided Heart Failure

Right-sided or right ventricular (RV) heart failure happens after a left-sided heart failure. When the left ventricle fails, fluid pressure elevates and damages the right side of the heart. 

What Are the Symptoms of Heart Failure?

The symptoms of heart failure include:

  • Excessive weight gain;

  • Inability to do simple tasks  such as going up the stairs;

  • Heart palpitations; rapid or irregular heartbeats;

  • Loss of appetite, full, bloated stomach, nausea, and/or stomach upset;

  • Visible swellings on the feet, neck, abdomen, and joints due to building up of body fluids;

  • Shortness of breath while resting or inactivity;

  • Persistent cough, which can produce blood-stained sputum;

  • Protruding veins; and

  • Persistent tiredness.

These symptoms are not exclusively related to heart failure; the symptoms may be a sign of another health condition. Only a qualified medical officer can diagnose you with heart failure.

Depending on the type of heart failure, the manifestation of the symptoms might vary from mild to severe and from flash symptoms to prolonged symptoms. Heart failure gets worse with time. As the condition progresses, you will experience different and more intense symptoms.

When to See a Doctor

Heart diseases are severe conditions that can cost your life if you ignore them. If you are under medication and experience chest pains or heart failure symptoms, don't wait for your next appointment. Instead, contact your doctor right away.

If you are not under any medication but experience any heart failure symptoms, seek immediate medical attention or call 911, depending on the intensity of the symptoms.

Get Heart Failure Treatment in Waikiki Today

Urgent care clinics may not be your first choice for heart failure treatment. At Doctors of Waikiki, we do not provide long-term treatment and management of heart failure, but we can perform tests and diagnose you for further treatment. 

Walk into our offices or contact us for more information on heart failure, acceptable insurance coverage options or to get referrals to competent heart failure treatment centers.

Image Source: blackzheep / shutterstock

Guest User