Several manifestations can identify potential heart failure.
- In the case of heart failure, the heart is no longer able to pump blood properly throughout the body.
- Patients with heart failure usually experience swelling in the lower extremities due to the development of edema.
- The progression of this pathology can be slowed by drug treatment combined with an adequate lifestyle.
More than 1.5 million people are affected by heart failure in France. This pathology is characterized by the inability of the heart muscle to ensure the propulsion of blood in the body. It can be secondary to a myocardial infarction, high blood pressure or even angina.
What are the symptoms that alert you to heart failure?
If left untreated, heart failure can have a serious impact on quality of life and serious consequences on health. Quoted by the British newspaper The Mirror, The National Health Service has highlighted a common symptom of heart failure: swelling of the ankles and feet.
This swelling of the lower limbs is linked to the appearance of edema, which results from the increase in the volume of interstitial fluid, located between the blood capillaries and the cells. It is essential to consult a doctor if the swelling does not subside after a few days.
In addition to swelling of the lower limbs, several symptoms can occur in cases of heart failure:
- shortness of breath: this discomfort is first present during intense efforts, then during smaller efforts, and finally at rest;
- weight gain: the patient can gain two to three kilograms in the space of two to three days;
- physical fatigue: it is felt during the efforts of daily life, which can lead to a reduction in physical activity and a loss of musculature.
A medical consultation must be carried out quickly if these manifestations appear. “Taken in isolation, they are not very specific, but their association or their recent occurrence should alert us. has warned Ameli Health, the Health Insurance platform.
How to treat heart failure?
Heart failure cannot be cured, but it can be stabilized by drug treatment combined with an adequate lifestyle. This treatment makes it possible to avoid episodes of decompensation of heart failure and to reduce the number and duration of hospitalizations.
