Heart Failure: symptoms, causes & treatment in Nigeria
Also known as weak heart, congestive heart failure.
This page is general health information, not a diagnosis. Always consult a licensed clinician about your own health.
Overview
Heart failure means the heart muscle has become too weak or stiff to pump blood effectively, causing fluid to build up in the lungs and legs. In Nigeria, untreated hypertension is the leading cause. With the right medicines and follow-up, symptoms can be controlled and life extended significantly.
Symptoms
Breathlessness on exertion or when lying flat
Waking at night gasping for breath
Swollen feet, ankles or legs
Persistent tiredness
Swollen abdomen
Cough, sometimes with frothy sputum
Rapid weight gain from fluid
Causes & risk factors
Long-standing, poorly controlled hypertension
Heart muscle disease (cardiomyopathy), including after childbirth
Heart valve disease, often after childhood rheumatic fever
Heart attacks damaging the muscle
Anaemia and thyroid disease worsening the strain
Treatment & self-care
Doctors prescribe a combination of heart medicines that strengthen the pump, remove excess fluid and protect the heart long-term — taken daily and adjusted at follow-up visits. Reduce salt strictly, weigh yourself regularly to catch fluid build-up early, and stay as active as your doctor advises. Never stop heart-failure medicines without medical guidance.
See a doctor urgently if
Breathlessness at rest or needing extra pillows to sleep
Rapidly increasing leg or abdominal swelling
Weight gain of more than 2 kg in a few days
Fainting or severe palpitations
Coughing pink, frothy sputum
Frequently asked questions
What are the first signs of Heart Failure?
Early signs often include breathlessness on exertion or when lying flat, waking at night gasping for breath, swollen feet, ankles or legs. Symptoms vary from person to person, so a proper assessment by a doctor is the only way to be sure.
Can Heart Failure be treated?
Doctors prescribe a combination of heart medicines that strengthen the pump, remove excess fluid and protect the heart long-term — taken daily and adjusted at follow-up visits. Reduce salt strictly, weigh yourself regularly to catch fluid build-up early, and stay as active as your doctor advises. Never stop heart-failure medicines without medical guidance.
When should I see a doctor about Heart Failure?
See a doctor promptly if you notice: breathlessness at rest or needing extra pillows to sleep; rapidly increasing leg or abdominal swelling; weight gain of more than 2 kg in a few days; fainting or severe palpitations; coughing pink, frothy sputum.