There is no need to question that the heart is an important organ in the human body that has many roles. One of the roles of the heart is to pump blood to all parts of the body. This is done to support blood circulation throughout the body through a complex network of blood vessels known as the circulatory system. In fact, an adult's heart can flow an average of 5-6 liters of blood per minute at rest. The blood pumped by the heart carries oxygen and important nutrients to every part of the body as well as transporting carbon dioxide and metabolic waste products, to be transported to the lungs and finally expelled from the body. With such complex functions and roles of the heart, we must know and pay attention to the condition of the heart. One condition that reduces the performance of this organ is a weak heart. Unfortunately, there are still people who do not realize that they have a weak heart, especially when the heart pump is decreased and are simply left without any treatment or further treatment because they think it is just the effect of fatigue. So, what are the characteristics of a weak heart that are rarely noticed?
Out of breath
Shortness of breath is the most prominent symptom of a weak heart, this condition is caused by weak ability of the left heart which can result in accumulation of fluid in the pulmonary blood vessels and pressure in the pulmonary blood vessels can also increase which causes fluid to shift to the lung interstitial tissue and lung parenchyma. . Apart from this, patients with weak hearts can also experience shortness of breath without being accompanied by excess fluid in the lungs but this can be caused by reduced blood flow to the respiratory muscles which work hard. Shortness of breath in someone with a weak heart may initially appear when someone is doing heavy activity, then as the heart becomes weaker, shortness of breath will appear during light activity and can even appear at rest when the heart can no longer compensate because the heart condition is getting weaker.
Get Fatigued Easily
One of the often overlooked signs of a weak heart is unreasonable fatigue. A person may feel tired and fatigued easily when doing heavy activities, even during light activities, sometimes these complaints are felt. This complaint is caused by the heart's weakened ability so that it cannot pump blood throughout the body optimally, which results in the function of organs and other body tissues decreasing because nutrition and oxygen are not distributed properly.
Difficulty Breathing When Sleeping on Your Back
In conditions of a weak heart, a person will feel uncomfortable breathing or short of breath when sleeping on their back or with one pillow, and usually they will be more comfortable with 2 pillows or higher. This occurs due to redistribution of fluid from other parts such as the stomach or lower extremities towards the lungs because it is influenced by gravity when sleeping on your back and sometimes when you return to a sitting or standing position complaints of shortness of breath will decrease or even improve, because the volume of blood going to the lungs begins to decrease. reduced by the influence of gravity.
Coughing at night and waking up at night because of shortness of breath
Night coughs can also be found in someone with a weak heart due to the large volume of fluid that accumulates in the lungs when lying down. When the condition is severe, coughing can usually be accompanied by blood due to rupture of the bronchial veins due to the accumulation of excess fluid in these veins. A weak heart can also cause a person to wake up at night due to shortness of breath, this is due to the gradual absorption of edema of the interstitial tissue of the lower extremities which re-enters the circulation when lying down, resulting in an expansion of the volume of fluid into the circulation and an increase in venous return to the heart and lungs. which causes shortness of breath that makes a person wake up during sleep. Apart from this, when you fall asleep, there is a decrease in the respiratory response in the brain and a decrease in sympathetic activity in the myocardium so that it takes longer for blood to accumulate in the heart and of course in the lungs, which causes the patient to wake up due to shortness of breath.
Swelling of Feet
Swelling of the feet, especially the ankles and lower legs, this occurs because a weak heart cannot pump blood efficiently enough so that blood and fluids can collect in certain parts of the body. This swelling often looks worse during the day, after standing or sitting for a long time and will look better in the morning after sleeping on your back at night.
Indigestion
Some people with a weak heart condition may experience digestive disorders such as abdominal discomfort which may be caused by the accumulation of excessive fluid in the liver or known as hepatic congestion. Apart from that, complaints such as nausea, vomiting or loss of appetite can also be found in someone with a weak heart which can is associated with swelling of the digestive tract which is also caused by excessive fluid accumulation.
Pounding
A weak heart can cause the heart to beat faster than usual which results in complaints of palpitations, this is associated with weak heart function, making the heart have to continue to meet metabolic needs by pumping blood throughout the body, but with a weak heart condition, the amount of blood pumped is certainly less. than the normal amount which causes the heart to work or beat faster to meet the energy and oxygen needs of the body's tissues and organs. Apart from this, complaints of palpitations can also be caused by heart rhythm disturbances due to enlarged and widened heart chambers or due to causes of heart weakness itself such as coronary heart disease which increases the risk of heart arrhythmia.
These are some of the signs of a weak heart that someone may not be aware of. It is important to remember that symptoms of heart failure can vary from person to person, and often develop slowly. If you or someone you know experiences these symptoms or has risk factors for a weak heart, immediately consult a trusted and professional EMC Hospital doctor. With our best doctors, you will get integrated health services and the right diagnosis. Immediately plan medical treatment with us and continue to improve the quality of your health in the future!
Article written by dr. Kadek Satrya K. Suratna, Sp.JP, FIHA (Heart and Blood Vessel Specialist at EMC Cibitung Hospital).