If you have these three related symptoms, it’s time to get to the root of the problem.
Dr. Jeremy LondonA heart surgeon based in Savannah, Georgia, warns that having difficulty breathing while walking or lying down and/or experiencing leg swelling may mean that your heart is weak.
“These should be red flags,” London said. tuesday on tiktok,
shortness of breath when walking
Shortness of breath – when you struggle to get enough oxygen, causing you to breathe harder, faster or deeper than usual – usually resulting from heart or lung conditions, According to the Mayo Clinic,
Symptoms may begin suddenly or persist for a long time. Common causes include heart attack, etc. irregular heartbeat or heart failure.
NJ Cardiovascular Institute urges seeking medical help If there is swelling in ankles and feet along with shortness of breath, difficulty in breathing while lying down, chills, cough, high fever or wheezing.
difficulty breathing while lying down
Orthopnea is the medical term for shortness of breath while lying down – sitting or standing often helps.
If your heart is weak, it will struggle to expel the extra blood that naturally redistributes from your legs to your lungs when lying down.
prop yourself up with a pillow Sleeping may temporarily relieve symptoms, but you should see a healthcare provider if you suffer from orthopnea, especially if you also have chest pain or tightness, heart palpitations, wheezing, or a cough.
orthopnea occurs frequently sign of heart failure,
swelling in legs
Fluid buildup in tissues causes swelling, is called edemaPooling of blood in the veins of your legs may indicate that your heart is not working as well as it should.
This is often the first noticeable sign of heart failure.
Experts suggest seeking medical care If the swelling begins suddenly and without any apparent cause and is accompanied by chest pain, trouble breathing, fainting, dizziness, or a cough that brings up blood.
London said at the doctor’s office, you’ll give your medical history and undergo a physical exam that may include an echocardiogram.
“An ultrasound probe that is placed on the chest … can usually measure the ejection fraction, which is the percentage of blood ejected from the heart with each heartbeat,” London said.
“Normal is 65 to 70%,” he adds, “if it falls markedly lower than that, it may indicate heart failure or a weak heart.”
