10 Subtle Signs Your Heart May Not Be Pumping Blood Efficiently

Our heart is the body's powerhouse, tasked with pumping blood, rich in oxygen and nutrients, to all the organs. When it fails to pump the blood properly, the body begins sending strange signals, quietly but others loudly, to warn us. It is essential to identify these signs in their early stages, as they can help prevent the complexities of heart conditions, such as heart attacks or cardiomyopathy. Metabolic doctor, Dr. Sudhanshu Rai, shares a list of 10 warning signs that one must not ignore!A slight feeling of dizziness, or at least feeling as though one is going to pass out, is possible when the brain is not getting an adequate supply of oxygenated blood from a weak heart. It may be accompanied by blurred vision (occasionally), and must never be dismissed as a sign of weakness. It could be a warning that something is amiss.If one is waking up frequently at night, particularly because of coughing, with a feeling of shortness of breath, or having to use the bathroom more frequently, the heart may be the culprit. Heart failure tends to become worse at night, particularly when the fluid shifts while recumbent, which makes it more difficult to breathe and sleep.A piercing pain, which is like a stab in the heart, is commonly linked with heart issues. It may be a feeling of tightness, squeezing or heaviness, particularly with exertion. It could be indicative of angina (limited blood supply to the heart), or could be a warning sign that it might be developing into a heart attack. Do not ever dismiss any chest pain, even if it is mild or intermittent.If one observes that on or after climbing stairs, walking short distances or performing household tasks, one all of a sudden begins to feel considerably more difficult than before, then it could be that the heart is lagging behind the body requirements. Exercise intolerance is one of the most prevalent early indicators of diminishing cardia function.Gaining 2-3 kilograms suddenly, in a short span of time, it could be due to fluid retention and not fat gain. This often means the body is holding onto more water because the heart is not moving blood effectively, and the kidneys are compensating poorly.Persistent cough, particularly one that yields white or pink frothy mucus, may indicate the presence of fluid in the lungs, caused by cardiac failure. This is all too often misdiagnosed as a lung condition; if other signs of heart disease accompany it, then checking the cardiovascular health is worthwhile.At times, the heart appears to be racing, fluttering or skipping beats, it may be attempting to make up for the diminished capacity of the heart to circulate blood, commonly referred to as palpitations. These can be signs of arrhythmias, or simply referred to as irregular heart rhythms. These are commonly accompanied by underlying cardiac complications.One of the most widely neglected indicators of heart trouble is fatigue or decreased energy level. When the heart fails to pump sufficient blood, the organs and muscles lack the supply of oxygen and nutrients that they need. Consequently, a person feels tired, sluggish or even weak, even if they get plenty of rest.Swelling in the legs, which is clinically known as peripheral edema, takes place when the circulation of blood instantly ceases and fluids accumulate in the tissues. The heart is pumping too weakly, leading to blood pooling and the fluids escaping from the blood vessels into nearby tissues, particularly in gravity-dependent body organs like the ankles.If, upon lying down, a person becomes breathless and wakes up in the morning suddenly requiring more pillows to be able to breathe, this may be an underlying symptom of fluid buildup in the lungs, an old sign of heart failure. Medically, this is referred to as orthopnea and usually signifies that the heart cannot pump blood effectively.