What Are the Symptoms of Heart Function Decline?

The heart is crucial to human health, and the incidence of heart diseases has been particularly high in recent years. A decline in heart function often leads to various symptoms and may even trigger more serious health issues. Therefore, it is essential to promptly seek medical attention and undergo proper examinations to understand the underlying causes and initiate targeted treatment. Let's explore the symptoms associated with heart function decline:

1. Palpitations, Shortness of Breath, and Chest Tightness: These symptoms may arise during physical exertion, such as performing household chores or climbing stairs. After resting, the symptoms may improve, but the individual may still feel a significant increase in heart rate, accompanied by rapid breathing and chest tightness. Some people may also experience episodic dyspnea at night, which are initial signs of cardiac dysfunction.

2. Chest Pain: This pain, often described as a tight, squeezing sensation, may occur after exertion, excitement, eating, or exposure to cold. The pain may radiate to the left shoulder, arm, and even the little finger of the left hand. Although the pain is usually brief, it can be indicative of coronary heart disease, angina, or even a precursor to acute myocardial infarction. Heart aortic diseases can also manifest as angina.

3. Dizziness and Fainting: Suddenly experiencing dizziness, palpitations, and blackouts, often accompanied by a feeling of near-falling or loss of consciousness, can be due to a sudden decrease in cardiac output, leading to cerebral ischemia.

4. Localized Discoloration: A purplish discoloration of the lips, nose tip, earlobes, and fingertips can be a characteristic sign of certain heart conditions, such as pulmonary heart disease and cyanotic congenital heart disease. This discoloration is primarily caused by impaired blood flow, indicating a decline in heart function.

5. Lower Extremity Edema: Edema in the lower extremities, initially manifesting in the dorsum of the foot, toes, and ankle joints, can be a sign of right heart dysfunction.

6. Coughing and Hemoptysis: Hemoptysis, or coughing up blood, can occur in heart disease when there is pulmonary congestion, edema, or infarction. Therefore, when experiencing any of these symptoms, it is advisable to promptly seek medical attention for examination and treatment.