You’re sleeping well. Eating okay. But you feel drained — all the time.
This kind of fatigue isn’t normal.
When your heart can’t pump efficiently, oxygen delivery drops — leaving you tired, weak, and unable to handle daily tasks.
✅ Common in:
- Heart failure
- Coronary artery disease
- Women before a heart attack (often dismissed as stress or anxiety)
🩺 Don’t ignore persistent exhaustion — especially if new or worsening.
2. Shortness of Breath During Normal Activities
If you get winded walking to the mailbox, climbing stairs, or lying flat — it could be more than poor fitness.
This may mean your heart isn’t moving blood effectively, causing fluid to back up into the lungs.
✅ Often appears with:
- Swelling in legs/ankles
- Waking up gasping at night
- Needing extra pillows to sleep comfortably
💡 Known as dyspnea — a key sign of heart strain.
3. Swelling in Legs, Ankles, or Feet (Edema)
Puffiness that leaves an indentation when pressed may signal fluid retention — a common sign of weakened heart function.
When the heart struggles, blood backs up in the veins — forcing fluid into surrounding tissues.
⚠️ Other causes include kidney issues, liver disease, or venous insufficiency — but heart-related edema is often bilateral and progressive.
🩺 See a doctor if swelling persists or worsens.
