Symptoms of Heart Failure

What are the Symptoms of Heart Failure?

The signs and symptoms of heart failure are:

• Shortness of breath
• Ankle oedema
• Difficulty to sleep lying down
• Decreased exercise tolerance
• Breathlessness
• Sleep apnoea
• Fatigue
• Abdominal ascites/ swelling
• Rapid weight gain
• Cough
• Elevated JVP
• Crackles on lung auscultation

Red Flags for GP’s to consider early referral

• NYHA Class 3-4 patients
• Syncope
• Orthopnea/ Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea
• Heart rates > 100 bpm
• Heart rates < 40 bpm
• Hypotension – Systolic BP < 90 mmHg
• Heart murmur (considered significant)
• Abnormal ECG
• Increased troponin levels
• LVEF < 40%¹.

Diagnostic Tests for Heart Failure

• ECG:
  • To assess baseline cardiac rhythm, QRS duration, identifying underlying conditions such as left ventricular hypertrophy, myocardial ischaemia etc
• CXR:
  • Helpful to detect underlying pulmonary congestion, identifying cardiomegaly (enlarged heart)
• LFT's / FBC
• BNP Levels:
  • HF rule out BNP < 100 ng/L
  • HF rule in BNP > 400 ng/L
• NT proBNP levels:
  • HF rule out proBNP < 300 ng/L
  • HF rule in NT proBNP > 450 ng/L (levels depend on age group and may be higher than 450 ng/L)
• Echocardiogram:
  • Assesses underlying cardiac structures and effectively assesses the function of the heart via LVEF measurement, and may, therefore, help classify stages of heart failure and treatment options².

The table below outlines potential diagnostic workup for patients with suspected heart failure:

Source: Heart Lung Circ³.

Learn More About The Treatment Options For Heart Failure For Australians.

Patient Disclaimer: All content on the Hope For Hearts site is created and published online for general information purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice and should not be relied on as health or personal advice. Please see your doctor if you have any questions or concerns.