Sign 12. Change in Skin Color: A Complex Symptom of Heart Failure
A subtle but serious sign of heart failure is a marked change in skin color, often dismissed as inconsequential. At the heart of this symptom is the circulatory system’s decreased capability to deliver oxygen-rich blood to the body’s tissues and organs. This often leads to noticeable paleness or a grayish tone, primarily affecting areas like the face, hands, and legs.
Skin pallor is the body’s distress signal, alerting us to the fact that our heart may not be functioning optimally. The color change in the skin may be gradual, making it less noticeable initially. But as the heart’s pumping capacity continues to decline, the skin color may become markedly different, enough to draw attention.
The correlation between skin color and heart health isn’t always readily apparent. The skin, the body’s largest organ, is an important barometer of a person’s overall health, including the heart. Any change in skin color beyond the usual can reflect a potential internal health issue.
Paying heed to this seldom-discussed sign of heart failure is paramount. Even if changes in skin color seem unrelated to cardiac health, when paired with other heart failure symptoms, the connection becomes more transparent. An altered skin tone can be the final piece in the heart failure puzzle, especially when it accompanies other symptoms such as edema, breathlessness, and fatigue.(12)
