Sign 15. Restlessness or Anxiety: A Clue Often Missed in Heart Failure
Restlessness or anxiety is often brushed off as a stress response or an emotional issue, but these might be early signs of heart failure. In heart failure, reduced blood flow to the brain can cause feelings of anxiety and restlessness. These are symptoms often missed in the early stages, leading to delayed diagnosis and treatment.
These signs can be tricky to decipher as they can often be attributed to mental health issues or everyday stress. The key to understanding these symptoms lies in their persistence and the presence of other heart failure symptoms. A constant state of uneasiness, especially when coupled with shortness of breath or edema, could be cause for concern.
Restlessness and anxiety associated with heart failure might seem irrelevant, but they could be signals of a heart struggling to meet the body’s needs. So, staying attuned to changes in mental health could indeed be an early ticket to catching heart failure in its tracks.
Understanding the link between heart health and mental well-being is crucial. By recognizing and addressing symptoms like persistent restlessness and anxiety, it’s possible to spot potential heart failure early and initiate appropriate interventions. (15)
