6 Signs That Show Your Heart Is Not Working Properly
Heart failure happens when the heart’s ability to properly pump blood is compromised or the heart muscle is harmed.
The damage is typically caused by coronary artery disease or a heart attack. Defective heart valves, chronic high blood pressure, and genetic disease may all have a role.
Unhealthy coronary hearts can no longer provide the body with the oxygen-rich blood it requires, regardless of the underlying cause.
Your heart isn’t always working properly, according to the Mayo Clinic’s list of warning signs and symptoms.
Dyspnea
Breathlessness, which can occur during any physiological activity, rest, or even sleep, is one of the most common symptoms. It is not the ideal strategy because it appears unexpectedly and makes it difficult to lie flat. As a result, people may require upper-body support while they sleep and may awaken feeling tense, exhausted, and restless.
Recurring coughing
Wheezing or coughing up blood-tinged mucus that is white or pink in hue is another indicator of severe coronary heart failure. This symptom appears when fluid builds up in the lungs.
Excessive fatigue
Even if a person does not engage in physical activity, exhaustion and weariness can make it challenging to carry out daily tasks successfully and leave them feeling exhausted. This symptom manifests when the coronary heart cannot pump enough blood to suit the body’s needs.
When this takes place, the body redirects blood flow away from less crucial organs, such as the muscles in the limbs, and toward crucial organs, such as the heart and brain.
Edema
Edema, or swelling of the limbs, including the feet, ankles, legs, and abdomen, is brought on by the buildup of extra fluid in bodily tissues. Additionally, it might result in weight issues, which raises the danger of heart failure.
When the heart’s pumping charge decreases, fluid accumulates in the tissues and blood returns to the heart. Because the kidneys can’t function properly, they excrete less salt and water, which leads to tissue fluid retention.
Angina
If you feel any of the following symptoms, your heart may not always be beating as it should: squeezing, tightness, tension, or heaviness.
The sensation of having an elephant sitting on one’s chest is a common description of heart pain.
Leg pains.
A lack of blood flow in the arteries of the legs should indicate a lack of blood flow in the arteries of the heart.
If you get leg cramps, have problems walking far, or feel discomfort in your legs even when you’re not moving, you should get checked for peripheral artery disease (PAD).
