What is the number one symptom of heart failure?

Shortness of breath with activity or when lying down. Fatigue and weakness. Swelling in the legs, ankles and feet. Rapid or irregular heartbeat.
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What are the two main symptoms of heart failure?

Symptoms
  • Breathlessness or Shortness of Breath (Dyspnea) When the heart begins to fail, blood backs up in the veins attempting to carry oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart. ...
  • Fatigue As heart failure becomes more severe, the heart is unable to pump the amount of blood required to meet all of the body's needs.
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What are the warning signs your heart is failing?

Signs of Heart Failure Progression

Shortness of breath: Fluid may leak into the lungs, causing breathlessness, especially during physical activity. As your condition progresses, this symptom may also occur while you're at rest. Irregular heartbeat: A weakened heart may develop arrhythmia or an irregular heartbeat.
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Where does heart failure usually start?

As the heart loses the ability to pump blood, blood backs up in other parts of your body, including your lungs, liver, gastrointestinal tract, and your arms and legs. The most common cause of heart failure is coronary artery disease, the narrowing of the blood vessels that supply blood and oxygen to your heart.
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What is the number one cause of heart failure?

High blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, and smoking are key risk factors for heart disease.
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What are the telltale signs of heart disease?



How quickly does heart failure progress?

Symptoms can develop quickly (acute heart failure) or gradually over weeks or months (chronic heart failure).
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What can worsen heart failure?

All of the lifestyle factors that increase your risk of heart attack and stroke – smoking, being overweight, eating foods high in fat and cholesterol and physical inactivity – can also contribute to heart failure.
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What age is most likely to get heart failure?

People age 65 and older are much more likely than younger people to suffer a heart attack, to have a stroke, or to develop coronary heart disease (commonly called heart disease) and heart failure.
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Can I have heart failure and not know it?

If you have heart failure, you may not have any symptoms, or the symptoms may range from mild to severe. Symptoms can be constant or can come and go. Heart failure symptoms are related to the changes that occur to your heart and body, and the severity depends on how weak your heart is.
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What are 4 signs your heart is quietly failing?

Warning signs and symptoms of heart failure include shortness of breath, chronic coughing or wheezing, swelling, fatigue, loss of appetite, and others.
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What does heart failure fatigue feel like?

Tiredness, fatigue

...a tired feeling all the time and difficulty with everyday activities, such as shopping, climbing stairs, carrying groceries or walking. The heart can't pump enough blood to meet the needs of body tissues.
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Can you recover from heart failure?

Although heart failure is a serious condition that progressively gets worse over time, certain cases can be reversed with treatment. Even when the heart muscle is impaired, there are a number of treatments that can relieve symptoms and stop or slow the gradual worsening of the condition.
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What is the most common test for heart failure?

A test called an echocardiogram is often the best test to diagnose your heart failure. Your doctor can also use this test to find out why you have heart failure, and then monitor your condition going forward every three to six months.
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What are 4 things that can lead to heart failure?

Most often, heart failure is caused by another medical condition that damages your heart. This includes coronary heart disease, heart inflammation, high blood pressure, cardiomyopathy, or an irregular heartbeat.
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Do heart failure symptoms come and go?

There may be times that your symptoms are mild or you may not have any symptoms at all. This doesn't mean you no longer have heart failure. Symptoms of heart failure can range from mild to severe and may come and go. Unfortunately, heart failure usually gets worse over time.
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How do you test for heart failure at home?

Official answer. You can check for heart disease at home by measuring your pulse rate and your blood pressure if you have a blood pressure monitor. You can also monitor yourself for symptoms of heart disease, such as: Chest pain, pressure, discomfort, or tightness.
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What is the difference between congestive heart failure and heart failure?

Actually, heart failure means that the heart isn't pumping as well as it should be. Congestive heart failure is a type of heart failure that requires seeking timely medical attention, although sometimes the two terms are used interchangeably.
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Can you feel sick with heart failure?

People with heart failure can also notice a loss of appetite. This is because the liver and stomach can become enlarged, due to excess fluid, making you feel sick (nausea) and have a loss of appetite.
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What is my life expectancy with heart failure?

Most people with end-stage heart failure have a life expectancy of less than 1 year. 4. The leading causes of heart failure are diseases that damage the heart, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes.
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What is the survival rate of heart failure?

In general, more than half of all people diagnosed with congestive heart failure will survive for 5 years. About 35% will survive for 10 years. Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a chronic, progressive condition that affects the heart's ability to pump blood around the body.
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Can stress cause heart failure?

Stress can cause a heart attack, sudden cardiac death, heart failure, or arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms) in persons who may not even know they have heart disease.
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Which drug worsens heart failure?

Drugs that can exacerbate heart failure should be avoided, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), calcium channel blockers (CCBs), and most antiarrhythmic drugs (except class III).
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What is the best thing to do for heart failure?

It's very important to take good care of yourself if you have heart failure.
  • Have a healthy diet. A healthy, balanced diet can help improve your symptoms and general health. ...
  • Exercise regularly. ...
  • Stop smoking. ...
  • Limit your alcohol consumption. ...
  • Get vaccinated.
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What should you not do with heart failure?

Avoid These Foods if You Have Heart Failure
  • Alcohol. Heart failure prevents the heart from pumping as well as it used to. ...
  • Salt. Consuming too much salt (sodium) can result in fluid retention in the healthiest of people. ...
  • Highly Processed Grains. ...
  • Processed Meats.
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