Heart Failure: Symptoms, Causes, and Common Misconceptions

The term failure usually implies something that isn’t working. However, in terms of heart failure, it means that the heart is not working well enough for the results it must produce. Congestive heart failure is often used interchangeably with the term heart failure, both of which require timely medical attention.

The heart typically pumps oxygen and nutrient-rich blood and sends it to each cell of the body through its blood vessel network. If the heart fails to adequately pump blood, the cells don’t receive enough oxygen and nutrients and gradually die.

What causes heart failure?

It is common for people to experience reduced heart function as they age. However, if this occurs at an earlier age, it could give rise to various medical conditions. Certain conditions or lifestyle habits increase the heart load and cause heart failure. Here are some reasons why heart failure occurs:

• Poor stress management: People fail to understand that stress is a part of today’s life. But not managing it properly could significantly affect their bodies.
• Lifestyle habits such as smoking, drinking alcohol and living a sedentary life could also lead to heart failure.
• Obesity, high cholesterol and consuming foods rich in fats and carbs.
• Pre-existing medical conditions such as a history of myocardial infarction, endocarditis, abnormal heart valves, congenital heart defects, severe anaemia, hyperthyroidism, arrhythmias and atherosclerosis to name a few.

What symptoms do people with heart failure show?

Heart failure can often lead to a variety of symptoms that could significantly affect the everyday life of the individual. The most common symptom of heart failure is shortness of breath or dyspnea. There are several forms of dyspnea, including exertional dyspnea which happens when someone faces difficulty breathing during exercise. This symptom often worsens to make one short of breath even when resting or lying flat, which is considered orthopnea dyspnea. As the condition progresses further, a person may wake up suddenly in the middle of the night gasping for air, a syndrome referred to as paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea.

Another critical symptom is weakness and fatigue. This happens because the amount of oxygen delivered to the muscles and organs is reduced. As a result, even a little exercise will make a person very tired or weak, which greatly interferes with the performance of usual activities.

Edema or swelling is another common symptom of heart failure, typically in the lower extremities such as the feet, ankles, and legs. It happens when fluid builds up in the veins due to the ineffective pumping action of the heart. In advanced cases, fluid accumulation might occur in the abdomen as well, leading to a condition called ascites, which is accompanied by discomfort and a bloating or fullness sensation.

While the list provided above covers many common symptoms, it is not exhaustive, and variations can occur. These symptoms tend to seriously affect the quality of life of the patient and often require careful management and treatment to prevent further deterioration.

Common Misconceptions Around Heart Failure

Many of us have a lot of misconceptions about heart failure. Here, we have clarified the most common ones for you.

Myth: Heart failure means death.

Fact: Heart failure is a serious condition but it does not imply that if you have it, you will die. It just means that the heart is not pumping enough blood and needs to be repaired. Many people with heart failure live full lives by addressing the root cause such as making changes in their lifestyle habits.

Myth: Heart failure is irreversible and cannot be prevented.

Fact: Heart failure is not an overnight event but gradually develops. This condition can be prevented and delayed if you take the necessary steps such as managing its risk factors well. Some risk factors include elevated blood pressure, lifestyle habits, eating and physical activity patterns, etc.

Myth: Heart failure implies that the heart no longer beats.

Fact: Heart failure does not imply that the heart no longer beats. Instead, it means that the heart is not pumping enough blood to meet the body’s requirements. It indicates that the heart is still functioning, just not enough. With consistent efforts in improving your health, it is possible to improve heart function.

Myth: Heart attack and heart failure are the same.

Fact: A heart attack means that the heart vessels are blocked and the heart does not receive enough blood to pump. A heart attack damages the muscles of the heart and thus is also known as myocardial infarction. On the other hand, heart failure results in poor functioning of the heart which develops over a long period.

Myth: Heart failure only occurs in the elderly.

Fact: Today’s sedentary lifestyle has made it easy for the younger generation to suffer from heart inefficiency. In the past, heart failure may have affected the elderly more commonly than the younger generation, but today, anyone could have a poorly functioning heart. In younger individuals, congenital heart defects and other related medical conditions could be primary contributing factors.

We all carry myths and misconceptions about serious disorders. However, it is important to have the right knowledge, awareness and the right steps that need to be taken to avoid irreversible complications. Heart failure is a manageable and treatable condition that requires serious commitment to improving health.