Red Flag Symptom Legs: NHS Says Swelling Can Signal Heart Failure
The National Health Service says swollen legs, feet or ankles can be a red flag for heart failure. It lists other warning signs, from breathlessness to palpitations, and says when to see a GP or call 999.
The National Health Service (NHS) says swelling in the legs, feet or ankles can be a red flag symptom of heart failure, a long-term condition in which the heart cannot pump blood around the body efficiently.
The swelling is known as oedema. The NHS says it can make walking difficult and may ease in the morning but "get worse later in the day".
Heart failure usually happens because the heart has become too weak or stiff. The NHS says: "Heart failure is a long-term condition that tends to get gradually worse over time. It cannot usually be cured, but the symptoms can often be controlled for many years."
Why the legs swell
Health experts explain that the failing heart cannot pump effectively, so blood pressure rises inside the vessels. "This elevation in pressure forces fluid out of the blood vessels and into the surrounding tissues, resulting in swelling, or oedema," they say.
Oedema can show up as puffy ankles, feet or legs. Other signs include shiny or stretched skin, changes in skin colour, stiffness, discomfort and dents that stay when pressure is applied.
Swelling does not always mean heart trouble. Standing or sitting too long, salty food, being overweight, pregnancy, some medicines, thyroid problems and varicose veins can all cause it. So can injury, a blood clot, kidney or liver problems, an infection, or an insect bite or sting.
Other warning signs
Breathlessness is another symptom. It can strike during activity or at rest, and may worsen when lying down. Some people wake at night gasping for breath.
Fatigue, dizziness and fainting are also on the list. Fatigue can leave a person worn out much of the time and make exertion draining.
Less common symptoms include a persistent cough that worsens at night, wheezing, a swollen abdomen, loss of appetite and changes in weight. Confusion, a racing heart rate and a pounding, fluttering or irregular heartbeat (palpitations) can also occur. Some people with heart failure also experience depression and anxiety.
When to get help
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."
