Heart Failure Signs and Symptoms
The signs and symptoms of heart failure are:
- Shortness of breath or trouble breathing
- Rapid or irregular heartbeat
- Reduced ability to exercise
- Persistent cough or wheezing with white or pink blood-tinged phlegm
- Increased need to urinate at night
- Fatigue (tiredness)
- Swelling in the ankles, feet, legs, abdomen, and veins in the neck
- Swelling of your abdomen (ascites)
- Very rapid weight gain from fluid retention
- Sudden, severe shortness of breath and coughing up pink, foamy mucus
- Chest pain if your heart failure is caused by a heart attack
- Lack of appetite and nausea
- Difficulty concentrating or decreased alertness
Causes of heart failure
Conditions that damage or overexert the heart muscle can cause heart failure. Over time, the heart weakens. It is not able to fill and / or pump blood as well as it should. When the heart weakens, some proteins and substances may be released into the blood. These substances have a toxic effect on the heart and blood flow, and they exacerbate heart failure.
Causes of heart failure include:
- Ischemicheart disease
- cardiomyopathy, a disorder of the heart muscle that causes the heart to becomeweak
- a congenital heart defect
- a heart attack
- heart valve disease
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- certain types ofarrhythmias, or irregular heart rhythms
- high blood pressure
- emphysema, a disease of the lung
- HIV
- AIDS
- severe forms ofanemia
- diabetes
- anoveractive or underactive thyroid
- certain cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy
- drugor alcohol misuse
Risk factors for heart failure
One risk factor may be sufficient to cause heart failure, but a combination of factors also increases the risk.
Risk factors include:
- High blood pressure: Your heart works harder than it should if your blood pressure is high.
- Coronary artery disease:Narrowed arteries may limit the heart's supply of oxygen-rich blood, causing the heart muscle to weaken.
- Heart attack.A heart attack is a form of coronary artery disease that occurs suddenly. Damage to the heart muscle from a heart attack may mean that your heart is no longer able to pump blood as well as it should.
- Having diabetes increases your risk of developing high blood pressure and coronary artery disease.
- Some diabetes medications.The diabetes drugs rosiglitazone (Avandia) and pioglitazone (Actos) have been found to build the danger of cardiovascular breakdown in certain individuals. However, do not stop taking these medications on your own. If you are taking it, discuss with your Best Cardiologist in Hyderabad. whether you need to make any changes.
- Certain medications.Some medications can lead to heart failure or heart problems. Medicines that may increase the risk of heart disease include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Some anesthetics, some antiarrhythmic drugs. Certain medicines used to treat high blood pressure, cancer, blood diseases, neurological diseases, psychiatric conditions, lung diseases, urinary tract diseases, infections and infections; And other over-the-counter medications.
- Do not stop taking any medications on your own. If you have questions about the medications you take, discuss with your doctor whether he recommends any changes.
- Sleep apnea.The inability to breathe properly while sleeping at night reduces oxygen levels in the blood and increases the risk of heart rhythm disturbances. Both of these problems can weaken the heart.
- Congenital heart defects.Some people with heart failure are born with structural heart defects.
- Valvular heart disease.People with valvular heart disease have a higher risk of developing heart failure.
- A viral infection may have damaged your heart muscle.
- Alcohol use.Drinking a lot of liquor can debilitate heart muscle and lead to cardiovascular breakdown.
- Tobacco use.Using tobacco must increase your risk of heart failure.
- People who are obese have a higher risk of developing heart failure.
- Irregular heartbeats.These abnormal rhythms, especially if they are frequent and too fast, can weaken the heart muscle and cause heart failure.
