Many heart problems develop slowly and silently — long before they turn dangerous. A top heart surgeon has shared the warning signs that your heart could be weaker than you think.
Breathlessness after minor activity
If you find yourself out of breath after walking up a short flight of stairs or taking a brisk walk, it could be your heart struggling to pump blood efficiently.
Trouble breathing when lying down
Needing to prop yourself up on extra pillows just to sleep comfortably is a subtle but important warning sign that your heart isn’t managing blood flow properly.
Swollen feet or ankles
Fluid build-up in the lower body can signal that your heart isn’t strong enough to keep blood moving effectively, leading to swelling known as oedema.
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Constant fatigue
Feeling tired all the time — even after a full night’s sleep — can be a result of your heart not delivering enough oxygen to your muscles and organs.
Dizziness or fainting spells
Lightheadedness when standing up or moving suddenly may indicate that your blood pressure and circulation are unstable due to poor heart function.
A fast or irregular heartbeat
If your heart feels like it’s racing, fluttering, or skipping beats, it may be trying to compensate for a reduced pumping capacity.
A persistent cough
A cough that lingers for weeks, especially when it’s worse at night or when lying down, could be linked to fluid building up in the lungs from heart weakness.
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Shortness of breath at rest
If breathing feels hard even when sitting still, that’s a serious red flag. It often means the heart and lungs are under strain, and medical help is needed.
Losing stamina during exercise
Struggling to complete workouts or walks you used to handle easily is another sign that your heart may not be as efficient as it once was.
Swelling in the abdomen
When the heart can’t keep up, fluid can accumulate in the stomach area, making you feel bloated or uncomfortable even without eating much.
When to see a doctor
Any combination of these symptoms warrants a check-up. Doctors can perform an echocardiogram — a simple, painless ultrasound that shows how well your heart is pumping.
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What your “ejection fraction” reveals
This test measures how much blood your heart pushes out with each beat. A healthy heart pumps around 65–70%, while anything lower could signal heart failure.
The good news
Heart weakness doesn’t always mean heart failure — and many people live full, active lives with proper treatment, lifestyle changes, and monitoring.
Artiklen er baseret på informationer fra LADbible
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