"Why Am I Like This Lately?" Sudden Shortness of Breath at Night... Suspect Heart Failure [Kok! Health]

Symptoms Suggesting Heart Failure Due to Impaired Cardiac Function

Key Sign: More Severe Breathlessness When Lying Down ("Paroxysmal Nocturnal Dyspnea")

Early Diagnosis and Standard Treatment Make Management Possible

Once referred to as “the final stage of heart disease” and regarded with fear, heart failure is now entering the realm of manageable chronic diseases thanks to early detection and systematic care. As Korea becomes an aging society and the number of people with chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension rises sharply, the number of heart failure patients in the country is also increasing rapidly. However, experts unanimously emphasize that, rather than vague fear, it is most important to recognize symptoms accurately and pursue active treatment.

Heart failure does not simply mean that the heart has become weaker. In some cases, damage to the heart muscle from conditions like myocardial infarction causes a decrease in the heart’s contraction strength. In other cases, hypertension or aging leads to thickening and stiffening of the heart wall, resulting in impaired relaxation function. Ultimately, when the heart cannot adequately accept or pump out blood, the body does not receive enough oxygen and nutrients, which leads to the appearance of symptoms.

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The most important signs to watch for are shortness of breath and fatigue. When the heart fails to circulate blood properly, blood can flow backward into the lungs, causing pulmonary congestion, and even minor physical activity can result in breathlessness. A particularly important characteristic to note is changes according to posture. If you find it more difficult than usual to climb stairs, or experience increased shortness of breath when lying down, or wake up suddenly at night gasping for air-a phenomenon known as “paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea”-these are strong indications of heart failure. Swelling of the legs and ankles, or peripheral edema, is also a common symptom. If you notice pitting edema-where a fingerprint mark does not return quickly after pressing with your finger-or if your weight increases rapidly by 2 to 3 kilograms in just a few days and these symptoms recur, you should consult a specialist.

The problem is that heart failure, even when chronic, can suddenly become “acute” due to certain triggers. When infections, arrhythmias, or myocardial infarction occur together, the burden on the heart can exceed its capacity. If you experience an emergency situation such as foamy sputum, cold sweats, and altered consciousness, you should visit the emergency room immediately. Professor Moon Inki, Department of Cardiology at Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, explained, “If an infectious disease like pneumonia induces a systemic inflammatory response in a heart failure patient, the burden on the heart can increase rapidly,” and emphasized, “Preventing infections and seeking early treatment are extremely important.”

Treatment for heart failure begins with precisely identifying the underlying cause. An echocardiogram is used to assess the heart’s structure, and depending on the cause, procedures such as stent placement, valve repair, or the use of an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) to prevent sudden cardiac death may be combined. Standard medications-including beta-blockers, renin-angiotensin system inhibitors, and SGLT-2 inhibitors-not only alleviate symptoms but also help slow the progression of heart failure and reduce the risk of hospitalization and death. Professor Moon warned, “The most dangerous thing is to dismiss symptoms like shortness of breath or edema as simply a natural part of aging,” and advised, “The key to prevention is to thoroughly manage risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia, and to practice smoking cessation, moderation in alcohol consumption, and regular exercise.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.