In modern medicine, heart failure refers to a condition in which the heart cannot adequately supply the blood and oxygen needed by the body. Rather than the heart stopping completely, it is a chronic illness that arises because the heart cannot work efficiently. Many people mistake this for aging or everyday fatigue, but it is a critical warning sign from the heart.
The causes of heart failure are varied. It can occur when longstanding hypertension or coronary artery disease narrows the blood vessels of the heart, or when conditions such as a past myocardial infarction, diabetes, or heart valve disease place strain on the heart muscle. All cells and organs in the body receive oxygen and nutrients through the blood pumped by the heart, so when heart function declines, this essential delivery becomes impaired.
One of the most common symptoms is shortness of breath, or dyspnea. At first, breathlessness appears only during exertion, but as the condition progresses, it can occur even while resting quietly or lying down at night. As the heart weakens, blood pools in the pulmonary vessels, leading to pulmonary congestion where fluid accumulates in the lungs. This makes breathing difficult and frequently causes a dry cough. In particular, symptoms worsen when lying flat at night, often waking a person from sleep.
Another important symptom is fatigue. Because the heart cannot circulate enough blood, tissues throughout the body, including muscles, lack oxygen and nutrients, leading to persistent fatigue and low energy. Edema, swelling in the legs or ankles, is also common, occurring when fluid pools in tissues as the heart fails to maintain proper circulation.
Heart failure is generally categorized into heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). The former occurs when the heart's ability to contract and pump out blood is diminished, while the latter occurs when the heart contracts normally but stiffens during relaxation, failing to fill with enough blood. In either form, impaired cardiac function affects the entire body and can significantly diminish quality of life.
Dismissing these symptoms as normal signs of aging or overwork and leaving them unmanaged can allow heart function to decline further. Receiving an early diagnosis and starting appropriate medical care are vital for slowing the progression of heart failure and preserving long-term health. Listening attentively to the heart, the center of the body, is the first step in taking care of your health.
