People are warned to be vigilant about a particular discomfort in their ankles, which could be a warning sign of a serious health issue. The NHS has highlighted that swelling in the ankles is a key indicator of heart failure.
This condition, known as oedema, can also impact the feet and legs, potentially making it harder to move around. According to the NHS, this symptom might not be noticeable in the morning but “get worse later in the day”.
Heart failure is a result of the heart’s inability to efficiently circulate blood throughout the body, often due to weakness or stiffness. The NHS advises that while heart failure is typically a progressive condition that worsens over time, its symptoms can be managed for many years.
Medical News Today experts pointed out that heart failure leads to increased blood pressure within the vessels because the heart isn’t pumping effectively. “This elevation in pressure forces fluid out of the blood vessels and into the surrounding tissues, resulting in swelling, or oedema,” they explained.
Oedema can present itself with symptoms such as swollen or puffy ankles, feet, or legs, skin that appears shiny or stretched, changes in skin colour, discomfort, stiffness, and indentations when the skin is pressed.
However, having oedema does not mean you definitely have heart failure. It has many potential causes, including:
- Standing or sitting in the same position for too long
- Eating too much salty food
- Being overweight
- Being pregnant
- Taking certain medicines – such as some blood pressure medicines, contraceptive pills,
- Hormone therapy, antidepressants or steroids
- An injury – such as a strain or sprain
- An insect bite or sting
- Problems with your kidneys or liver
- A blood clot
- An infection.
Other symptoms of heart failure to look out for include breathlessness, which may occur after activity or at rest and may worsen when lying down. You may also wake up at night needing to catch your breath.
Fatigue is another symptom; you may feel tired most of the time and find exercise exhausting. Feeling lightheaded and fainting, a persistent cough that may worsen at night, wheezing, a bloated tummy, loss of appetite, weight gain or weight loss, confusion, a fast heart rate, and a pounding, fluttering or irregular heartbeat (palpitations) are other signs to watch out for.
Some people with heart failure may also experience feelings of depression and anxiety. The NHS advises: “See your GP if you experience persistent or gradually worsening symptoms of heart failure.”
It adds: “Call 999 for an ambulance or go to your nearest accident and emergency (A&E) department as soon as possible if you have sudden or very severe symptoms.”