The four signs your heart is quietly failing are persistent cough or wheezing, swelling also known as edema, constant fatigue and shortness of breath or Dyspnea.
When your heart is failing, fluid buildup can occur in the lungs and trigger a chronic cough or wheezing and this cough is often distinct because it might produce white or pink, blood-tinged phlegm.
And when your heart's pumping pow is decreased due to the heart failing, blood flow slows down and then backs up in your veins.
This then forces the fluid to leak out and build up in your body's tissues and you may even notice unexplained swelling in your legs, ankles, feet or abdomen and you may even notice sudden weight gain or that your shoes and rings suddenly feel tight.
And because a failing heart struggles to pump enough oxygen rich blood throughout your body, your tissues and muscles are also deprived of the energy that they need and you may even feel exhausted even after you get a full night of rest or feel constantly drained during routine activities.
And with a failing heart or heart failure you may also get winded much easier than you normally would, whether you're doing daily chores, resting or walking up stairs.
A classic red flag of heart failure is needed to using extra pillows to prop yourself up or experiencing breathing difficulties when you lay flat as the gravity causes fluid to pool around your legs.
If you think your heart is failing you should seek medical attention and let your doctor know.
The facial signs of heart problems, include yellowish, cholesterol deposits around your eyelids also known as (xanthelasma), bluish or grayish colored lips and skin from low oxygen also known as (cyanosis) and facial or eyelid swelling, which indicates fluid retention.
The xanthelasma, which is yellow, waxy or orange colored cholesterol bumps on or around your eyelids are a primary indicator of high blood lipid levels and these growths are closely linked to an increased risk of coronary artery disease and heart attacks.
Cyanosis (Bluish/Grey Lips or Skin, where you have a bluish, purplish, or ashen tint around your nose, lips and earlobes means that your blood is not carrying enough oxygen, which is a serious symptom that is often tied to congenital heart defects or heart failure.
Facial edema or swelling, which results in puffiness, especially around your eyes or in your face, can also indicate that the heart is not pumping blood efficiently, which leads to fluid retention, which is a common sign of congestive heart failure.
With heart failure you may also have jaw pain or facial pain as well as corneal arcus.
Less, commonly, pain with heart problems can radiate from your heart to your jaw or left side of your neck, which can occur as a symptom of reduced blood flow (angina) and can be a precursor to a heart attack, most particularly in women.
And corneal arcus is a grayish or white ring that appears around the colored part (iris) of your eye and can be an indicator of lipid abnormalities and increased cardiovascular risk, especially in people under 50.
In stage 1 heart failure, you often feel completely normal, because stage 1 heart failure is an early stage of heart failure that indicates a risk of heart failure without actual symptoms or structural damage that affects your everyday life.
Most people who have stage 1 heart failure notice no physical changes.
Although any minor changes that are felt in stage 1 heart failure are usually mistakenly attributed to aging or stress.
Although, while stage 1 heart failure often means no symptoms, at least during daily activities, some people with stage 1 heart failure might experience subtle, early warning signs, which include.
Heart awareness, where you briefly feel an irregular heartbeat or palpitations.
Rapid weight fluctuations, where sudden fluid retention can cause unexpected weight gain, often a few pounds of weight gain over a short period of time.
Minor swelling, where shoes feel slightly snug or socks leave deep indentations around your ankles or legs by the end of the day.
Subtle fatigue where you feel unusually tired or weak after a routine task that often wouldn't drain you.
And slight shortness of breath, where you get slightly more winded than usual when climbing a flight of stairs or walking up an incline.
Stage 1 heart failure primarily highlights that you have underlying risk factors or cardiac disease, a formal diagnosis is often made through diagnostic imaging tests like an echocardiogram or a medical check-up, instead of just physical sensations.
When your heart is quietly failing, it means that the heart is struggling to pump blood as effectively as it should, which causes fluid to back up and organs to be deprived of oxygen.
The 4 most common warning signs of your heart quietly failing include.
Persistent shortness of breath, where you feel winded during normal, daily activities like walking to get your mail, or you find it difficult when lying flat.
Swelling or edema due to excess fluid build up in your tissues, which leads to unexplained weight gain and noticeable swelling in your feet, ankles, legs or abdomen and you might notice that rings or your shoes feel tight.
And because the heart cannot pump enough oxygen rich blood to meet the body's energy needs, you feel chronically tired and weak, even after a full night's rest.
And fluid in your lungs can cause a stubborn cough or wheezing, which can sometimes produce white or pink, frothy phlegm.
These symptoms of heart failure develop subtly, and they are frequently dismissed as signs of aging or being out of shape.
If you do notice any of these signs and symptoms of heart failure you should see a doctor or cardiologist as soon as possible.
Track your daily weight and if you notice any sudden weight gain of over 2 pounds in 1 day, or 5 pounds in 1 week, it's often a major sign of fluid retention.
If you experience any chest pain, sudden or severe shortness of breath or fainting you should seek emergency medical care immediately.