Heart failure affects about 6.7 million women and men over the age of 20 in the United States. By 2050, that number is projected to climb to 11.4 million. Approximately 45% of all cardiovascular deaths are caused by heart failure.
You’re at risk for heart failure if one or more areas of your heart become compromised and can no longer pump blood efficiently.
Types of heart failure include:
Left-sided heart failure occurs either when your left ventricle can’t contract normally (i.e., systolic failure) or when your left ventricle can’t relax (i.e., diastolic failure). With systolic failure, your heart’s not pumping properly. With diastolic failure, your left ventricle can’t fill up all the way with oxygen-rich blood.
Right-sided heart failure often follows left-sided heart failure. When the left side of your heart can’t contract, pump, or fill properly, that damages the right side. Eventually, blood backs up in your veins.
Congestive heart failure (CHF) occurs when your heart doesn’t pump enough blood. Fluid that comes back to the heart can’t be ejected and starts to pool. Fluids build up in your legs and other areas, including your lungs. An attack of CHF can be deadly.
Aging raises your risk for heart failure However, a recent trend has seen the number of heart failures increase in younger patients. You’re also more likely to experience heart failure if you:
Our expert cardiologist, Dr. Ola Akinboboye at Laurelton Heart Specialists, wants you to learn the early warning signs of heart failure. If you suspect that your heart struggles, please contact our helpful team in Rosedale, Queens, New York City, New York, as soon as possible.
What are the early signs of heart failure? The following are the four most critical ones.
Shortness of breath may not stem from your lungs; it could be related to your heart. If you have heart failure, your heart struggles to pump out all the fluid that the veins return. This causes blood to back up in the pulmonary (i.e., lung) veins.
Even slight amounts of activity might bring on breathlessness. You could even experience it while at rest. You might find yourself propping up the pillow at night to elevate your head so it’s easier to breathe while you sleep. Or, you may wake up suddenly, struggling to breathe.
The fluids might also cause you to wheeze or cough. When you cough, you may expel white or pink mucus (i.e., due to blood).
A heart that’s failing can’t pump enough blood to keep it moving throughout your body. Instead, it pools in the veins and backs up, causing swelling in various areas of your body.
It’s most common to experience fluid back-up (i.e., edema) in your ankles or legs. However, your abdomen may swell up, too, due to backed-up fluid in your organs. This extra fluid may cause you to gain weight.
A heart in heart failure struggles (and fails) to get its job done. Therefore, even the slightest exertion may make you feel fatigued. When the heart has to work extra hard, it diverts the blood stream to concentrate on essential organs, such as the heart and brain.
Everything else gets less than the normal amount of blood and oxygen. This can make your muscles feel tired and sore. You may also feel sleepy and lack energy.
The rest of your organs can’t live without your heart. If your heart starts to fail, you may notice changes in every aspect of your functioning. Some signs that you’re in heart failure include:
Consult a physician or call your cardiologist whenever you have a change in body function that doesn’t resolve quickly.
If we catch your heart failure in time, we create a customized treatment plan to help you manage your condition and help your heart function more efficiently. This may include lifestyle changes, such as losing weight, getting more exercise, changing your diet, and taking medications.
We help you learn to track your symptoms so you know what steps to take when. When you pay attention to your heart and the signs it gives you, you can make the adjustments you need to lead a rich, full, and long life.
Do you have signs of heart failure? Contact our helpful, knowledgeable team at 718-208-4816 or use our online outreach form to get the care you need.
