A prominent medical expert has issued a critical warning that a specific symptom disrupting sleep could be an early indicator of heart failure. This condition, characterised by the heart's diminished ability to pump blood effectively, often manifests through subtle signs that, if recognised promptly, can lead to better management and treatment outcomes.
Understanding Heart Failure and Its Symptoms
Heart failure typically develops when the heart muscle becomes weakened or stiff, impairing its efficiency in circulating blood throughout the body. It is generally a chronic, progressive condition that worsens over time. While rarely curable, symptoms can often be controlled with appropriate medical intervention, making early detection paramount.
In a recent educational video shared on TikTok, NHS doctor Suraj Kukadia, known online as Dr Sooj, addressed common misconceptions and outlined vital symptoms. He clarified, "A lot of people think that heart failure means death. It does not, but it does happen when the heart is not pumping the blood around the body as well as it used to."
Key Warning Signs to Monitor
Dr Sooj emphasised that one particularly telling symptom is waking up "in the middle of the night in a huff and a puff" due to breathlessness. This occurs because individuals with heart failure frequently experience difficulty breathing, especially when lying flat. He explained, "Some of the common symptoms would include getting excessively breathless when exercising or walking, and there could be breathlessness at rest. There's usually some form of breathlessness when lying flat. Sometimes people may even wake up in the middle of the night in a huff and a puff."
This advice aligns with the NHS website, which lists "breathlessness after activity or at rest" as a primary symptom of heart failure. Additionally, Dr Sooj highlighted ankle or leg swelling, known as pitting oedema, where pressing on the skin leaves an indentation that persists for several seconds. However, he cautioned that these signs are not definitive proof of heart failure, as they can occur in various conditions or even as a normal variation, such as swollen ankles in hot weather.
NHS Guidelines on Symptoms and Action
According to the NHS, the main symptoms of heart failure encompass breathlessness after activity or at rest, persistent fatigue, lightheadedness or fainting, and swollen ankles and legs. Other potential symptoms include a persistent cough, rapid heart rate, and dizziness. These can emerge abruptly in acute cases or develop gradually over weeks or months in chronic instances.
The NHS advises consulting a GP if you experience persistent or worsening symptoms. For sudden or severe manifestations, it is crucial to call 999 for an ambulance or visit the nearest A&E department immediately. Dr Sooj reinforced this, recommending that anyone noticing such symptoms seek professional medical evaluation to rule out or confirm heart failure and explore other possible diagnoses.
He noted, "So if you are, let's say 20 years old, you're normally fit and well, and you've noticed that you're getting a bit breathless when you're exercising - that doesn't mean that you have heart failure. That could be any number of different things to diagnose." This underscores the importance of personalised assessment rather than self-diagnosis.
