Every year, millions of Americans face heart failure, a condition that can turn deadly if ignored.
Heart failure doesn’t mean your heart has stopped — it means it’s struggling.
Early diagnosis is vital. Dr. Lynn Lester, medical director for WellMed, said that the goal is to start early, at about age 60, to identify warning signs. By doing so, outcomes are improved.
“We want to make sure that our heart failure patients are identified early so that we can intervene and help them before it leads to worsening symptoms with emergency room visits and possibly admission to the hospital,” she said.
What is heart failure?
Heart failure happens when your heart can’t pump enough blood and oxygen to meet your body’s needs. It doesn’t mean your heart has quit working, but it’s working harder than it should — and still falling short. Over time, this strain can damage your heart muscle and other organs.
According to Dr. Lester, many patients dismiss symptoms like shortness of breath or fatigue, assuming they are simply out of shape. However, these can be early signs of heart failure.
By asking simple screening questions clinicians can identify issues before they become severe:
- Do you feel more short of breath than you would expect when exerting yourself or performing normal daily activities?
- Have you noticed a change in your ability to exercise or exert yourself due to shortness of breath or breathlessness?
- Have you reduced your level of physical activity due to shortness of breath?
Symptoms of heart failure you shouldn’t ignore
- Shortness of breath during daily activities or when lying down
- Fatigue and weakness
- Swelling in legs, ankles, feet, or stomach
- Rapid or irregular heartbeat
- Persistent cough or wheezing
- Sudden weight gain from fluid buildup
- Loss of appetite, or nausea
- Difficulty concentrating or feeling confused
If you notice any of these, call your doctor.
Why you should see your doctor immediately
Early diagnosis and treatment can improve quality of life. Doctors can prescribe medications, recommend lifestyle changes and even use advanced therapies to help your heart work better. Ignoring symptoms or delaying care can lead to repeated hospital visits, worsening health, and even the need for devices like pacemakers or heart transplants.
Dr. Michael Almaleh, chief of cardiology with WellMed Specialists for Health, sees patients who have been referred to him with, among other heart issues, heart failure.
“Patients need to understand that heart failure is dangerous, and left untreated, it can cause damage to the kidneys or liver, fluid in the lungs, an irregular heartbeat and even cardiac arrest,” he said.
Heart failure is an incurable, progressive disease, but it can be treated.
“Patients shouldn’t be afraid to face their symptoms,” Dr. Almaleh said. “Without treatment, your heart works harder, grows weaker and eventually cannot keep up.”
Different types of heart failure
There are two basic types of heart failure:
- A weak heart – When the heart muscle becomes weaker, it can no longer pump enough blood through the body, and the organs don’t get enough oxygen.
- A tense heart – The heart muscle is strong, but the tissue is stiffer, so it cannot expand enough to fill with enough blood to flow through the body, especially during exertion.
“Identifying heart failure by its pumping ability is critical to being able to treat it properly,” Dr. Almaleh said.
Heart failure treatments: What can help?
Treatment focuses on easing symptoms, slowing progression and improving quality of life.
Here are the main approaches:
Medications for heart failure
- Diuretics to reduce fluid buildup
- ACE inhibitors or an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) to relax blood vessels
- Beta-blockers to slow heart rate
- ARNIs, medication that helps the heart pump blood more effectively, for advanced cases
- Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists to prevent further damage
Devices and surgery
- Pacemakers and internal defibrillators (ICD) to regulate heart rhythm
- Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT)
- Valve repair or replacement
- An implanted pump or heart transplant for severe cases
With the right treatment plan, many people live longer, more active lives despite heart failure.
Take action today
WellMed is focused on identifying the signs and symptoms of heart failure early in a dedicated effort to save more lives. Not only that, but our clinicians are emphatic about improving the quality of patient lives by minimizing symptoms and hospital visits.
“Our approach to treating heart failure is end to end,” Dr. Lester said.
With proper care — medications, diet changes, exercise and regular checkups, you can live longer and feel better.
But the first step is yours: Don’t ignore the signs. If you think something is wrong, see your doctor. Your heart — and your life — depend on it.
