This medical ailment, also known as congestive heart failure, occurs when the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body’s requirements. If the heart cannot pump enough blood, this may occur. It may also occur if the heart is unable to pump blood adequately. The heart is the body’s most sensitive organ and requires more care as we get older. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) states that heart failure may appear abruptly or gradually as your heart becomes weaker. One or both of your heart’s sides may be impacted. Heart failure that occurs on the left or right side may have several reasons.
According to NIH, there is a significant prevalence of HF in India, with prevalence estimates ranging from 1.3 million to 4.6 million and yearly incidence estimates ranging from 4,91,600 to 1.8 million. Given these rates, it is important to recognize the signs and get medical attention.
While basic symptoms like shortness of breath, exhaustion, and swollen ankles are well-known, certain uncommon heart failure symptoms often go unreported, according to Dr. Dheeraj Kumar Gandotra, Additional Director, Cardiology, Fortis Gurugram. Recognizing such signs is essential for early discovery and prompt medical action, which may greatly enhance patient outcomes.
1. An ongoing cough
It might be difficult to detect heart failure, but a persistent cough that lasts for weeks or months, particularly while laying down, can be. A weak heart may cause fluid to accumulate in the lungs, resulting in a chronic cough that may be misdiagnosed as a respiratory illness.
2. Appetite Loss and Nausea
Heart failure may be indicated by persistent nausea and an unexplained decrease of appetite. Reduced blood supply to the digestive tract due to the heart’s decreased ability to pump blood results in symptoms including nausea, stomach pain, and lack of appetite.
3. Unexpected Weight Gain
More than two pounds in a day or five pounds in a week of sudden, unexplained weight increase might indicate fluid retention, a typical indicator of heart failure. The body may retain extra fluid in its tissues as a result of the heart’s ineffective blood pumping.
4. Increased Nighttime Urination
Nocturia, or the frequent need to urinate at night, may be an uncommon sign of heart failure. The fluid that has built up in the lower extremities returns to the circulation when one is laying down, overloading the kidneys and increasing urine output while one is sleeping.
5. Confussion and Poor Decision-Making
Due to decreased blood supply to the brain caused by heart failure, cognitive function might be hampered. Patients may feel mentally foggy generally, or they may have memory issues, concentration issues, or confusion.
