Heart Failure in Young People: Symptoms, Causes & Diagnosis

On hearing the term heart failure, most people think the heart has completely stopped working, but it is not. The actual meaning is that the heart cannot pump blood as efficiently as it should. The heart is one of the most crucial organs of the human body. The body’s functioning depends on the heart’s efficiency in pumping oxygen and nutrient-rich blood. Thus, when a person suffers from heart failure, cells do not receive sufficient amounts of oxygen and nutrients. Previously, the condition was more common in older people, but now the news of heart failure in young people is often heard.

How does the body try to cope with the condition of heart failure?

It’s wrong to underestimate the adaptability mechanism of the human body. The moment body detects some unusual changes, it tries to activate ‘Plan B’ to control the glitches. Similar things happen when the heart fails to pump sufficient quantity of blood. At that time, the heart makes up the situation by:

• Stretching itself to contract more strongly. This, in turn, lets it pump more blood, but over time, the heart enlarges.

• Develops more muscle mass and pumps at a faster rate to increase the output.

On the other hand, the body also tried to compensate by:

• Narrowing down the blood vessels to keep the blood pressure up.

• Kidneys retain more water and salt rather than excreting it. This also helps in maintaining blood pressure and lets the heart pump more strongly. However, it also overtasks the heart and makes the condition of heart failure more severe.

Signs & symptoms of heart failure in young people

The signs of heart failure in young people are the same as that in older people. These include the following:

• Shortness of breath

• Persistent coughing

• Excess build-up of fluid in the body

• Nausea

• Lack of appetite

• Confusion

• Increases heart rate

• Pain in the chest

• Dizziness or Fainting

• Fatigue

Causes of heart failure in young people

The main cause of heart failure is due to a weak, damaged and stiff heart. The weakening of the heart could be due to the following health conditions:

• Coronary artery disease and heart attack

• High blood pressure

• Heart valve disease

• Inflammation of the heart muscle, also called myocarditis

• Congenital heart defect

• Arrhythmias (Irregular heart rhythms)

• Other conditions like HIV, hypothyroidism and others.

Apart from this, conditions like allergic reactions, blood clots in the lungs, severe infections, and certain medications could cause sudden heart failure. Thus, ignoring the causes of heart failure in young people can cause severe consequences.

Diagnosis of heart failure in young people

Some of the tests that can help in diagnosing heart failure include the following:

• Blood Test

• Electrocardiogram (ECG)

• Echocardiogram

• Breathing tests

• Chest X-ray

myMD+ is a polyclinic where experts conduct the above-mentioned tests. It is necessary to get regular check-ups to diagnose the condition as early as possible. This will help to prevent the increasing incidence of heart failure in young people.