If not detected early and treated, heart failure can be potentially severe or even fatal.
- 4 signs of heart failure to watch out for when they appear simultaneously.
- “Once the diagnosis of heart failure has been made, the aim of treatment is to improve the patient’s quality of life, slow the progression of the disease and reduce its complications (hospitalization or sudden death),” indicates the French Society of Cardiology.
- In order to best ensure this care, the French Society of Cardiology is currently organizing screening days dedicated to heart failure throughout our territory in 25 hospitals and clinics.
On the occasion of the organization of a new heart failure screening campaign, the French Society of Cardiology recalls what the symptoms of this disease are.
Heart failure affects nearly 2 million people in our country. It is a chronic, progressive disease with acute complications that results in nearly 200,000 hospitalizations each year and causes the death of 70,000 people, or one death every 8 minutes. Due to the aging of the population, the number of French people affected by heart failure increases by 25% every 4 years.
Heart failure: what are the 4 symptoms that appear together?
According to the French Society of Cardiology, 4 signs of heart failure should be monitored and should prompt a consultation. “These symptoms taken in isolation are not very specific, but their association and recent occurrence are particularly suggestive of heart failure,” writes the institution in a press release. Concretely, this involves the simultaneous appearance of:
– shortness of breath during exercise and/or when lying down.
– Significant weight gain in a few days.
– Edema of the lower limbs with swollen legs and feet.
– Significant fatigue (including with a small effort) which leads to a decrease in activity with worsening muscle loss.
Heart failure: how to get screened?
“Once the diagnosis of heart failure has been made, the aim of treatment is to improve the patient’s quality of life, slow the progression of the disease and reduce its complications (hospitalization or sudden death)”, indicates the French Society of Cardiology.
In order to best ensure this care, the French Society of Cardiology is currently organizing screening days dedicated to heart failure throughout our territory in 25 hospitals and clinics (see the list and dates here). This campaign will be held in a dedicated space in the reception halls of the participating structures.
“Volunteers will answer a questionnaire to look for the 4 warning signs of heart failure and will have a micro-blood sample taken from their finger to have the dosage of a biomarker (NTproBNP)”, explains the French Society of Cardiology. “In the case of suspected heart failure, people will be referred to a cardiologist,” she finishes.
