Heart Failure Warning Signs

Heart failure is the leading cause of morbidity (ill health) and mortality (death) in the United States. More than five million Americans are living with heart failure, and 550,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. At age 40, the lifetime risk of developing heart failure for both men and women is one in five.

Heart failure can be managed through treatment and close adherence to all physician recommendations. Patients can decrease their chances of hospitalization by knowing the warning signs of heart failure.

Chronic (ongoing) heart failure symptoms:

• Sudden weight gain from fluid retention (three or more pounds in one day, five or more pounds in one week, or whatever amount patients you were told by their physician to report)
• Shortness of breath (dyspones) not related to exercise or exertion
• Increases in swelling of the lower limbs (legs, ankles, or feet)
• Swelling or pain in the abdomen
• Trouble sleeping (waking up short of breath, using more pillows)
• Rapid or irregular heartbeat
• Frequent dry, hacking cough
• Increased fatigue and weakness
• Reduced ability to exercise
• Nausea and decreased appetite
• Persistent coughing or wheezing that may include white or pink (blood-tinged) phlegm
• Decreased concentration or alertness

Acute (sudden onset) heart failure symptoms:

Call your doctor immediately if any of these warning signs appear. If caught early, these symptoms may only require an adjustment in medication, which often can be explained over the phone.

Encourage your patients to post all phone numbers for their primary care physician and cardiologist by the telephone, along with a complete list of current medications, any other medical conditions, and allergies.

Heart Attack Warning Signs

Frequent signs of a heart attack are the following:

• Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest. The discomfort lasts for more than a few minutes or it may go away and come back. The discomfort may feel like pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain.
• Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. This may include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach.
• Shortness of breath may occur with or before chest discomfort.
• Other symptoms may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea, or light-headedness. Treatments are most effective when they occur in the early stages of chest pain.

Heart attacks are often viewed as a man's problem when, in fact, more women in the United States die of heart disease each year than men. Women often experience signs and symptoms that are different from those that men experience. This is because smaller arteries may be blocked in women whereas men often have blockage in the main arteries.

 Heart attack signs in women sometimes go unnoticed. They include the following:

• Pressure, fullness, squeezing pain in the center of the chest, spreading to the neck, shoulder or jaw.
• Light-headedness, fainting, sweating, nausea, or shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort
• Upper abdominal pressure or discomfort
• Lower chest discomfort
• Back pain
• Unusual fatigue
• Unusual shortness of breath
• Dizziness
• Nausea

Don’t delay! Don’t take chances! If you have chest pain or other heart attack symptoms, call 911 and seek medical attention immediately.

Why Call 911?

Because every minute counts when having a heart attack, it seems that getting ED as quickly as possible would be everyone’s first choice. Unfortunately, more than 50 percent of all patients experiencing chest pain walk into the ED rather than calling 911. The reasons for this are numerous, ranging from the instinct to just jumping in the car and driving to the nearest hospital to the misunderstanding that the emergency squad is just a transport vehicle. The fact remains that every minute counts, and calling 911 starts treatment earlier.

• 911 dispatchers are often trained to not only locate you quickly but also assist you in early treatment options.
• In many areas of the country, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) can diagnosis a heart attack by using an electrocardiogram (ECG) and also initiate early treatment.
• Arriving by ambulance to the ED helps to ensure that you will not wait to be seen by a physician. Many patients who experience chest pain drive themselves, only to find that they may wait in the ED lobby until they can see the doctor. Do not let this happen to you.
• EMS is able to radio ahead to the ED that you are on your way. This enables the ED staff to be ready for you when you arrive through their doors.

Early Heart Attack Symptoms  

Not every heart attack displays the same symptoms as those we may see on the many medical TV shows we are exposed to daily. In fact, many people ignore the early signs of a heart attack, simply dismissing the more subtle symptoms because they expect the drama associated with a Hollywood episode. Unfortunately, when these early signs are ignored, we miss a “window of opportunity” to prevent the attack before any heart damage can occur. The following signs and symptoms are ones to be aware of in yourself or in your family members:

Shortness of Breath without Exertion

Although most of us experience shortness of breath when we are exercising or expending energy outside of what we do normally, difficulty breathing when performing normal activities is an early sign that should be investigated.

Heartburn

The sensation of heartburn or a burning in the chest can be mapped to spicy food and quickly discarded. This sensation can also be an early sign of a heart attack, especially if the condition becomes chronic. If you find yourself taking over-the-counter antacids on a regular basis, the underlying cause of your trouble needs to be discussed with your doctor.

Discomfort or Pain

Although we think of heart pain as pain occurring in the area of the heart, for some individuals this is not the case. People who have suffered a heart attack have described their early symptoms everywhere from crushing to squeezing to pressure occurring in the chest and even other areas of the body. Shoulders, neck, and jaw are areas reportedly affected prior to a heart attack. Always seek immediate attention if you are experiencing this type of pain, even if the symptoms disappear or are only intermittent.

A Feeling of Impending Doom

Some patients describe a feeling of anxiety and fear prior to the occurrence of a heart attack. Although not usually thought of as an early symptom, and certainly attributable to other matters, this “feeling” can still be an early indicator, especially when combined with any of the other symptoms listed above.