Warning signs

The diagnosis of congestive heart failure typically is based on a variety of symptoms and clinical signs. You should know these warning signs!

If closely observed and monitored, symptoms and warning signs can be used to earlier detect worsening of your heart failure condition and to initiate effective treatment measures. Of note, the warning signs do not directly depend on the type or cause of your heart failure. You may wish to discuss with your doctor or nurse, which of these warning signs are most relevant for your condition and when to report these warning signs.

Frequently observed signs or symptoms, which can occur in isolation or in combination and can thus be used as “red flags” or warning signs include:

Importantly, none of these signs or symptoms is specific. For example, shortness of breath or chest pain can be due to other conditions than heart failure: it could also be a symptom of myocardial infarction or pneumonia with pleurisy.

However, the pattern of how these signs and symptoms repeatedly occur in your individual situation may well be specific and informative. This means that you can train yourself – with the help of your care team – to recognise early any alterations of your health status and react appropriately to these warning signs. In order to do so, it is very helpful for both you and your care team to record your symptoms in a diary. You will find a simple “symptoms and events diary” as a downloadable tool on the homepage. This information will be valuable when decisions about management of your symptoms need to be taken.

In this section, you find a more in-depth explanation of various warning signs. If you can’t find the question you’re looking for, try our Frequently Asked Questions section. Click on any of the topics to the left to view questions.

ESC Guidelines for Heart Failure

What patients need to know

This guide for patients from the European Society of Cardiology aims to provide an overview of the latest evidence-based recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of heart failure.

In particular, it should help patients to understand the:

  • main types of heart failure
  • medicines used to treat heart failure
  • devices that may be appropriate
  • importance of rehabilitation
  • management by a multidisciplinary team
  • importance of self-care in managing your own condition

Learn more

AN ANIMATED JOURNEY THROUGH HEART FAILURE

A series of 9 simple, captivating animations explaining heart failure and its treatment.

These narrated animations explain how a healthy heart works, what happens to it in heart failure and how various treatments work to improve your health.

PATIENT AND CAREGIVERS VIDEOS

In this section you can watch, listen or read interviews with other people with heart failure and their caregivers.

VISIT OUR FACEBOOK PAGE

and share your own views and experiences with other patients, families and caregivers.

heartfailurematters.org is a European Society of Cardiology website

The heartfailurematters.org website was developed under the direction of the Heart Failure Association of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). The ESC is a world leader in the discovery and dissemination of best practices in cardiovascular medicine. Our members and decision-makers are healthcare professionals who volunteer their time and expertise to represent professionals in the field of cardiology in Europe and beyond.

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