Heart attack is one of the most common cardiovascular diseases today, affecting more than 64 million people worldwide and tending to increase with age.
It is worrying that many cases of heart failure are not detected early because the initial symptoms are quite vague, easily confused with the natural aging process.
Dr. Pradeep Haranahalli, an intervention cardiologist at Manipal Hospital, Whitefield (Bengaluru, India), said that heart failure is divided into two main groups: heart failure with conserved blood clotting efficiency and heart failure with reduced blood clotting efficiency.
Although treatment methods are different, clinical manifestations are often similar, making early recognition a key role in disease control.
According to Dr. Pradeep, one of the earliest and most common signs of heart failure is reduced ability to exert effort. Patients feel tired faster when walking, climbing stairs or doing daily tasks.
Many people think that this is just a result of aging, but in fact it can be a sign that the heart is weak.
This is especially easy to miss in older adults with bone and joint diseases and limited exercise due to back pain or knee pain. When they are not physically active regularly, they find it difficult to notice a decline in endurance, causing heart failure to be detected only when it is in the severe stage.
Another important sign is weight gain due to fluid accumulation in the body. Dr. Pradeep emphasizes that this weight gain is not due to fat, but due to fluid, which can affect the digestive system, causing loss of appetite and feeling full early.
leg swelling, especially swollen ankles in the evening, is a typical manifestation. Initially, the edema may decrease after a night's rest, but as the disease progresses, edema will last all day and should not be taken lightly.
Accumulated rashes can also appear in the lungs, causing shortness of breath, persistent cough and difficulty sleeping up straight. Many patients have to have additional pillows or feel easier to breathe when sitting.
Some cases also have acute nighttime difficulty breathing, suddenly waking up from a feeling of severe suffocation and coughing, which is a clear sign that the lungs are fluid-prone.
In addition, Dr. Pradeep points out some other subtle signs such as sudden cramps, bloating or a slightly swollen face in the morning.
Heart attack also stimulates the body to secrete beneficial peptides, leading to heavy urination at night, a symptom that is often overlooked.
Medical tests can also provide important clues, such as a large heart on a chest X-ray, increased creatinine or NT-proBNP levels in blood tests.
People who are obese, have diabetes, high blood pressure, have had a heart attack or have a history of cardiovascular disease are at high risk.
In the late stages, the patient may have difficulty breathing even when resting, tired of simple activities such as bathing or walking in the room.
Dr. Pradeep emphasizes that heart failure can be completely controlled if detected early, and timely medical intervention will significantly improve the quality of life.
(The article is for reference only, not a replacement for professional advice. Always consult a doctor or medical professional if you have any questions).
