Congestive heart failure is a severe condition that can lead to death. It occurs when the heart becomes ineffective in pumping blood throughout the body, thus leading to fatigue as well as other symptoms.
The sad truth is, as we get older and our bodies start to weaken gradually, so, too, do our heart muscles. When the heart’s pumps become ineffective, there is a very high chance of developing life-threatening conditions such as heart failure, which can lead to death.
The American Heart Association advises people to remain aware of the symptoms of heart failure as they can avoid tragic outcomes if the signs are detected early.
Below are some of the Symptoms of Congestive Heart Failure
Fatigue
Do you feel tired even when you have done nothing to warrant fatigue the entire day? When your heart becomes incapable of pumping oxygen-rich blood effectively, your body fails to meet its energy requirements for optimal functioning. You should not ignore repeated body fatigue, especially if you are always tired even after waking up.
Activity Limitation
When you become incapable of doing typical day-to-day activities that you would usually do with relative ease, then you should contact your physician for further tests. Heart failure denies your vital organs the required energy levels because the heart does not pump enough oxygen to meet your body’s needs.
Congestion
Are you experiencing breathing difficulty or fluid build-up in your lungs? If you experience these symptoms without suffering from other medical conditions, then you should contact your physician, especially if your body relays some of the symptoms discussed in this article. Lung congestion can be as a result of fluid concentration in the lungs, which tends to lead to coughs and wheezes.
Ankle Swelling or Edema
If your heart lacks the strength to pump used blood back up, then chances are you are experiencing heart failure. Failure often results in swelling of legs and other lower parts of the body from fluid build-up. The excess fluid can lead to rapid weight gain and further complications.
Shortness of Breath
When you have fluid in your lungs, it becomes relatively difficult for oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange to take place in the blood. Fluid concentration leads to difficulty in breathing, more so when lying flat because fluids from below the lungs travel up due to gravity.
While these symptoms do not 100% confirm that you have heart failure, they are signs that point towards underlying cardiac problems. As a result, you should seek immediate attention from your doctor.
As you might have noticed, you could easily mistake some of these symptoms for other conditions. Most patients assume that fatigue or leg swelling will vanish over time. However, making such assumptions can prove fatal, especially if they persist for long.
Are you living with a friend or family member with some of these symptoms? Taking preventive care is the best way to deal with heart disease. Enroll at CityWide CPR to take part in our instructor-led CPR training. Our CPR classes will teach you everything about heart failure and responding to heart emergencies by the time you get your certification.
