Early detection of warning signs and symptoms, along with prompt medical intervention, can significantly reduce the risk of worsening heart failure.
Heart failure It is a global public health problem that affects an estimated 64 million people worldwide. Although underdiagnosed, it affects more than 1% of the adult population of India. Studies have indicated that heart failure carries a high mortality rate in our country (23% in 1 year) and is responsible for >1.8 million annual hospitalizations in the country. This was higher than the overall mortality rate in several regions of the world, second only to Africa.1,2 Poor lifestyle habits, such as an unhealthy diet, excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, lack of physical activity and increased stress may contribute to the probability. development of cardiovascular diseases, including heart failure.
Awareness begins with understanding the difference between heart failure and heart attack. While both are serious conditions that affect the heart, they are not the same. A heart attack usually occurs unexpectedly when there is a sudden blockage in the arteries that supply blood (and oxygen) to the heart. This decrease in blood flow and oxygen supply to the tissues in the affected area ultimately leads to tissue death, if not treated immediately.
On the other hand, heart failure is a chronic and progressive condition in which the heart is unable to pump adequate blood to meet the body’s oxygen needs, directly affecting the functionality of major vital organs. When this happens, fluid begins to build up in other organs, such as the lungs, abdomen, and legs, leading to various symptoms of heart failure. Heart failure often develops as a result of several risk factors, such as a previous heart attack, insufficiently controlled high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes mellitus, lipid disorders, obesity, chronic kidney disease, anemia, rheumatic heart disease, or just disease related. to aging
Early detection of warning signs and symptoms, along with prompt medical intervention, can significantly reduce the risk of worsening heart failure, which could reduce hospitalization or death. “FACES” is a simple acronym developed by the Heart Failure Society of America that helps easily recognize the five most common early signs of heart failure.3
5 Warning Signs and Symptoms of Heart Failure
- F (Fatigue): When the heart cannot pump enough oxygenated blood to meet the body’s needs, blood is diverted from organs such as muscles or limbs to vital organs such as the brain or kidneys. Therefore, heart failure patients may feel fatigued most of the time and take longer than usual to recover from fatigue.
- A (Activity limitation): Over time, fatigue sets in and leads to a decreased ability to perform activities of daily living, such as walking or climbing stairs, without feeling easily tired or exhausted.
- C (Congestion): Excess fluid buildup in the lungs due to inadequate pumping by the heart causes coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath.
- E (edema): Edema or swelling in the ankle and foot area occurs when fluid builds up in the lower legs after the heart is unable to pump blood efficiently. If left untreated, the swelling can increase to the thighs and abdomen, causing weight gain and restricted mobility.
- S (shortness of breath): When blood flow from the heart slows, blood pools in the pulmonary veins and leaks into the lungs. This fluid makes it difficult to exchange carbon dioxide in the used blood for fresh oxygen, leading to shortness of breath. People with heart failure may experience shortness of breath during normal day-to-day activities, or even at rest.
Dr. Shraddha Bhure, Chief Medical Officer, Boehringer Ingelheim India says, “It is important for one to understand that, in most cases, heart failure is caused by longstanding poor lifestyle choices and is associated with other medical conditions. The effective way to navigate this is by recognizing the symptoms early on and seeking appropriate medical intervention by seeing a doctor immediately.Along with this, healthy lifestyle changes, regular medication and an optimistic attitude towards life can prove fruitful in the journey towards a healthy heart ”.
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