What are the signs of heart failure?

Patients with acute heart failure need to be assessed accurately and urgently; in order to promptly initiate active treatment measures including intravenous therapy (vasopressors, diuretics, inotropes, etc.) or intensive cardiovascular emergency support.

According to experts from Bach Mai Hospital, depending on the clinical situation, acute heart failure can have many manifestations. In people with newly diagnosed heart failure, the onset is often rapid, the heart muscle does not have enough time to adapt, so the manifestations are often dramatic, the patient can quickly progress to acute respiratory failure and cardiogenic shock.

Heart failure has a high incidence and is one of the causes of death in the elderly (illustrative photo - internet source).

Symptoms of acute heart failure such as fatigue, shortness of breath, rapid breathing, occur at various levels; if the heart failure is severe, the patient will have continuous difficulty breathing, struggle, be agitated, sit up to breathe, feel a lack of oxygen like "drowning on dry land", called acute pulmonary edema.

Consciousness may be agitated or lethargic when cerebral hypoxia is severe. Limbs are cold and clammy, with purple spots all over the body. Blood pressure is difficult to measure, pulse is rapid and weak.

Symptoms of the cause of acute heart failure are left chest pain due to myocardial infarction, prolonged fever, anemia if caused by infection (infective endocarditis)...

For chronic patients, patients have been previously diagnosed with heart failure, with symptoms of shortness of breath on exertion, fatigue, leg swelling, and chest pain.

These symptoms may improve or disappear after treatment with prescription medication.

Signs suggesting an acute episode of chronic heart failure include increased shortness of breath, decreased ability to exert oneself compared to usual, and increased fatigue even at rest.

Swelling of both legs, white, soft, sometimes discreet as wearing slippers, socks feel tighter, gradually increasing. Urinating less. Dry cough, especially when changing position, feeling of heaviness in chest due to pleural effusion.

How to check for leg swelling at home: press on the instep or ankle to see if the corresponding skin area is concave (photo source Bach Mai Hospital).

Weight monitoring can show rapid weight gain, if gaining more than 2kg within 1 week is a warning sign that requires immediate medical attention. The patient may also experience bloating, abdominal distension, poor appetite, and nausea.

If the condition worsens, there will be continuous difficulty breathing, unable to lie flat, having to prop up a pillow, even having to sit up while sleeping to breathe; cold limbs and purple veins may appear when the heart failure is too severe, leading to low blood pressure and not ensuring blood flow to the organs.

Severe respiratory failure and acute pulmonary edema as described above will occur without timely medical intervention.

Symptoms of decompensated causes are infection, fever, left chest pain, or high blood pressure or high blood sugar.

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/nguoi-suy-tim-co-dau-hieu-nhu-nao-post270983.html