What are the first signs of a weak heart?

Symptoms
  • Shortness of breath with activity or when lying down.
  • Fatigue and weakness.
  • Swelling in the legs, ankles and feet.
  • Rapid or irregular heartbeat.
  • Reduced ability to exercise.
  • Wheezing.
  • A cough that doesn't go away or a cough that brings up white or pink mucus with spots of blood.
  • Swelling of the belly area.

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What are 3 early warning signs your heart is failing?

11 signs you might have heart disease
  • Chest pain. It's the classic sign of a heart attack, yet many people don't realise this could be a medical emergency. ...
  • Feeling sick. ...
  • Stomach pain or indigestion. ...
  • Feeling sweaty. ...
  • Leg pain. ...
  • Arm pain. ...
  • Jaw or back pain. ...
  • Choking sensation.

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How do you know if your heart is struggling?

Chest pain, chest tightness, chest pressure and chest discomfort (angina) Shortness of breath. Pain in the neck, jaw, throat, upper belly area or back. Pain, numbness, weakness or coldness in the legs or arms if the blood vessels in those body areas are narrowed.

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How do they fix a weak heart?

Surgery or other procedures for heart failure may include:
  1. Coronary bypass surgery. ...
  2. Heart valve repair or replacement. ...
  3. Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). ...
  4. Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). ...
  5. Ventricular assist device (VAD). ...
  6. Heart transplant.

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What is Stage 1 heart failure?

Stage I is considered “pre-heart failure.” High-risk individuals include patients with high blood pressure, diabetes, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, and coronary artery disease. A family history of alcohol abuse, rheumatic fever, cardiotoxic drug therapy, or cardiomyopathy can increase your risk.

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Symptoms of a Weak Heart

28 related questions found

What is the life expectancy of a person with heart failure by age?

However, life expectancy for a person with CHF has substantially improved over time. A person's age at diagnosis may impact prognosis. The authors report that the 5-year survival rate for people under 65 years of age was around 79%, while the rate was about 50% for those 75 and over.

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Does heart failure show on ECG?

Tests for heart failure

Tests you may have to diagnose heart failure include: blood tests – to check whether there's anything in your blood that might indicate heart failure or another illness. an electrocardiogram (ECG) – this records the electrical activity of your heart to check for problems.

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Can you live a long life with a weak heart?

It is possible to lead a normal life, even if you have Heart Failure. Understanding and taking control of Heart Failure is the key to success. Your doctor and healthcare providers will provide guidelines and a treatment plan. It is your responsibility to follow the treatment plan and manage your Heart Failure.

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Can a weak heart go back to normal?

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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How does a weak heart make you feel?

As a result, people with heart failure often feel weak (especially in their arms and legs), tired and have difficulty performing ordinary activities such as walking, climbing stairs or carrying groceries.

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What can be mistaken for heart failure?

Since the symptoms of heart disease can range from mild to severe and from common to atypical, heart disease is often misdiagnosed as another health condition. Other diagnoses include anxiety, anemia, and kidney and lung diseases. Heart disease is most commonly mistaken as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

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What is the best test to check for heart problems?

A coronary angiogram is a type of X-ray used to examine the coronary arteries supplying blood to your heart muscle. It's considered to be the best method of diagnosing coronary artery disease - conditions that affect the arteries surrounding the heart.

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Can you have heart failure and not know it?

Heart failure can be acute, like after a heart attack, or it may develop over time, for example because of permanently high blood pressure or coronary artery disease. Depending on how severe heart failure is, it may go unnoticed, only cause minor symptoms, or really affect your physical fitness.

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What is the biggest symptom of heart failure?

Heart failure symptoms may include: Shortness of breath with activity or when lying down. Fatigue and weakness. Swelling in the legs, ankles and feet.

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What is an early indicator of worsening heart failure?

The most common symptoms to track are: Any shortness of breath and any worsening in your ability to do your regular activities. Your heart rate To make up for the loss in pumping ability, your heart may start to beat faster. This can lead to heart palpitations.

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What are five signs of heart trouble that you should never ignore?

Often, your body sends signs that your heart needs care—symptoms you should not ignore. These include chest pain, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, loss of consciousness, and dizziness. If you have experienced any of these symptoms, make an appointment to see your doctor.

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What is a cardiac cough?

What is a heart cough? In heart failure, your heart muscle has dysfunction that might be due to weak contraction or stiffness. This can allow fluid to back up in yout lungs, creating a condition called pulmonary edema. Your body coughs persistently in an effort to eliminate the excess fluid.

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Can exercise repair heart damage?

Summary: Exercise can reverse damage to sedentary, aging hearts and help prevent risk of future heart failure -- if it's enough exercise, and if it's begun in time, according to a new study by cardiologists.

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What kind of leg pain is associated with heart disease?

If you have plaque buildup in your blood vessels, you may feel pain in your calves when they need blood quickly. That pain is called claudication, and claudication is a symptom of peripheral artery disease, or PAD. Some people describe claudication as an ache; others say it's excruciating.

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Can you live 20 years heart failure?

In general, about half of all people diagnosed with congestive heart failure will survive 5 years. About 30% will survive for 10 years. In patients who receive a heart transplant, about 21% of patients are alive 20 years later.

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Can a weakened heart get stronger?

Just like your bicep, the more you work your heart, the bigger and stronger it gets. During moderate- to high-intensity exercise, your muscles and tissues demand more nutrients and oxygen, which means that your heart must work harder and pump faster to meet those needs, says Dr.

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What is the prognosis for a weak heart?

One study says that people with congestive heart failure have a life span 10 years shorter than those who don't have heart failure. Another study showed that the survival rates of people with chronic heart failure were: 80% to 90% for one year. 50% to 60% for year five.

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Do blood tests show heart problems?

The most common types of blood tests used to assess heart conditions are: Cardiac enzyme tests (including troponin tests) – these help diagnose or exclude a heart attack. Full blood count (FBC) – this measures different types of blood levels and can show, for example, if there is an infection or if you have anaemia.

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Can a GP detect heart problems?

If a GP thinks you may be at risk of CHD, they may do a risk assessment for cardiovascular disease, heart attack or stroke. This may be carried out as part of an NHS Health Check. The GP will: ask about your medical and family history.

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Can a cardiologist tell if you have 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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