Heart failure occurs when the heart can no longer pump blood efficiently and the blood becomes oxygen deprived. When the heart becomes weak and the surrounding muscles become stiff, the walls become thickened, the heart can no longer keep up with the workload. Warning signs of heart failure include:
- Shortness of breath
- Fatigue
- Lightheadedness
- Persistent cough
- Wheezing
- Racing heart
- Inability to workout
- Nausea
- Confusion
- Chest pain
- Swelling in the ankles and joints
If you’ve ever suffered from high blood pressure, had a prior heart attack, obesity issues, smoking, alcoholism, vitamin deficiency, sleep apnea, or are in poor cardiovascular health you are at a much higher risk for heart failure. When risk factors for heart failure are present, there usually is inflammatory stress, which further damages the cardiac muscle depleting cells of energy and antioxidants.
