Most people picture heart failure as something dramatic: crushing chest pain, serious shortness of breath, or swollen ankles that you can’t ignore.
But Dr. Dmitry Yaranov, an advanced heart failure and transplant cardiologist from the US (better known online as @heart_transplant_doc), says it doesn’t always start out that loud.
Before we dig into the hidden signs, let’s clear up a common myth: heart failure doesn’t mean your heart has stopped working.
According to the American Heart Association, nearly 6.7 million adults in the US are living with heart failure right now, and that number keeps climbing as the population ages.
Instead, he pointed out five easy-to-miss signs that your heart might be in trouble long before things get dangerous.
Most people picture heart failure as something dramatic: crushing chest pain, serious shortness of breath, or swollen ankles that you can’t ignore. But Dr. Dmitry Yaranov, an advanced heart failure and transplant cardiologist from the US (better known online as @heart_transplant_doc), says it doesn’t always start out that loud. In fact, the earliest clues can sneak up so quietly that you could shrug them off as nothing more than getting older, a little indigestion, rough sleep, or just everyday stress.
Before we dig into the hidden signs, let’s clear up a common myth: heart failure doesn’t mean your heart has stopped working. It just means your heart isn’t able to pump blood as strongly as your body needs. That leads to blood and fluid backing up into your lungs and other tissues, while your organs go without enough oxygen.
According to the American Heart Association, nearly 6.7 million adults in the US are living with heart failure right now, and that number keeps climbing as the population ages. Spotting the problem early and getting treated can make a huge difference, helping people avoid hospital stays and keep a better quality of life.
In a recent Instagram post, Dr. Yaranov pushed back against the idea that you have to wait for those classic, dramatic symptoms. Instead, he pointed out five easy-to-miss signs that your heart might be in trouble long before things get dangerous.
