What are the symptoms
of Heart Failure?

The heart is the most important organ in the human body. It is the lifeline for all the body’s organs. When the heart stops working, everything else in the body does too. That’s why it’s so important to recognize the symptoms of heart failure and get treated right away.

The most common symptoms of heart failure, which can severely affect lifestyle and may lead to other symptoms like depression, include:

• Shortness of breath
• Tiredness/fatigue
• Edema or swelling of the ankles or legs
• Angina
• Rapid weight gain
• Loss of appetite
  

Doctors usually classify heart failure according to how severe the symptoms are. The New York Heart Association (NYHA) Functional Classification is the most commonly used system. It places patients in one of four categories based on how much they feel they are limited during physical activity:

• Class I - No symptoms and no limitation in ordinary physical activity.


• Class II - Mild symptoms and slight limitation during ordinary activity. Comfortable at rest.


• Class III - Marked limitation in activity due to symptoms, even during activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing or cooking. Comfortable only at rest.


• Class IV - Severe limitations. Experience symptoms even while at rest.

Class II indicates that heart failure is progressing. Patients who experience mild symptoms should see their doctor for an evaluation right away. Classes III and IV are obviously the most worrisome and indicate a more serious problem. If you fall into one of these categories, call your doctor right away.

An additional classification system has been developed by the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology to complement the NYHA functional classification system.

• Stage A - High risk for developing HF.


• Stage B - Asymptomatic LV (left ventricle) dysfunction.


• Stage C - Past or current symptoms of HF.


• Stage D - End-stage HF.

What's important to note, is that once a patient reaches a particular stage, they do not return to a previous stage. And, left untreated, patients may progress to the next stage and experience more and more symptoms over time.

Click here to see if you are at risk.

Shortness of Breath

This is the most common symptom of heart failure, caused by stiffness in or excessive amounts of fluid entering the lungs. Patients generally complain of shortness of breath during exercise or exertion, but it can also occur while at rest or lying down, especially during the night. Some patients are awakened by episodes of shortness of breath to the point where they may feel like they are suffocating.

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Tiredness/Fatigue

This is the most over-looked symptom of heart failure because it can easily be mistaken as a result of other factors like lack of exercise, aging, cold or flu, stress or lack of sleep. You may feel tired all the time, even upon waking. Extreme fatigue - to the point of exhaustion - that continues for a long period of time is a key indicator of heart failure and is something to be taken very seriously.

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Edema/Swelling

As the heart's ability to pump fluids efficiently through the body decreases, fluid can back up or accumulate in body tissues. This most commonly occurs in the legs or ankles (because of gravity) and gets worse with the progression of heart failure.

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Angina

Angina is caused by blockages in the heart's blood vessels. It is characterized by a distinct heaviness in the chest, often described as "an elephant sitting on my chest". Angina is typically experienced during periods of exertion or activity because the blockages limit the ability of the heart to pump blood throughout the body at a higher rate. When the body is at rest and the heart is not working as hard, the feelings of Angina subside, indicating the potential presence of heart failure. (Some women also experience nausea, vomiting, dizziness, lightheadedness and indigestion, further indicating the presence of angina and the potential to develop heart failure).

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Weight Gain

When the blood supply to the kidneys decreases, fluid retention occurs. As more and more fluid is retained, the body gains weight. While this can be treated fairly easily with diuretics (medicine that gets the kidneys working more efficiently), the root cause (heart failure) must not be overlooked. If you have been gaining weight, heart failure could be the culprit.

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Loss of Appetite

Loss of appetite occurs when fluid is retained in the digestive organs, which makes you feel full or even bloated. If you begin eating less and weight gain still occurs, it could be a sign of heart failure.