Khaberni - Many believe that "heart failure means death," but a famous doctor clarified that this is not necessarily true and provided deeper insights on managing this chronic condition.
Dr. Siraj Kokadia, also known as Dr. Sug, in a recent TikTok video says, "Many people believe that heart failure means death. This is not true, but it occurs when the heart can't pump blood through the body as it used to."
Dr. Siraj mentioned six main symptoms of heart failure to be aware of, saying, "Some common symptoms include feeling excessively short of breath during exercise or walking. Shortness of breath may also occur even when at rest. Shortness of breath usually occurs when lying flat. Sometimes people may wake up in the middle of the night gasping. There is also swelling of the ankles or legs, a condition called pitting edema, where you can press on the swelling and it leaves a mark."
In addition to these key indicators, there are less frequent warning signs of heart failure which may include:
Persistent cough that may get worse at night
Wheezing when breathing
Abdominal swelling
Loss of appetite
Weight increase or loss
Mental confusion
Rapid heartbeats
Palpitations or irregular heartbeat (palpitations)
Depression and anxiety
Dr. Siraj emphasized that many of these symptoms also appear in other conditions that may be less severe. Therefore, it is essential to rule out these alternative causes when diagnosing heart failure.
In the video, he continues: "For instance, many people experience ankle swelling when the weather is very hot outside. So if you are, say, in your twenties, generally in good health, and notice some shortness of breath during exercise, it doesn't mean you have heart failure. This could be due to a number of different reasons."
Health experts clarify that "heart failure does not mean your heart has stopped working. It means it needs some support to help it function better. It can occur at any age, but it is more common in older adults. Heart failure is a chronic condition that tends to worsen gradually over time. It cannot usually be completely cured, but its symptoms can often be controlled for many years."
