2025 Cardiologists Identify Symptoms That May Signal Heart Failure

Heart health specialists have cautioned that persistent weakness and severe difficulty in breathing may be early warning signs of heart failure. They explained that the condition can appear suddenly or develop gradually, often going unnoticed until it begins to interfere with daily activities. While some people may experience abrupt breathlessness, others first notice fatigue and difficulty performing routine tasks.

Prof. James Ogunmodede, a Professor of Medicine at the University of Ilorin and consultant cardiologist at UITH, explained that heart failure may progress differently depending on its cause.

“Heart failure can occur suddenly, which we call acute decompensation or acute de novo occurrence, where the first episode happens abruptly. But in many cases, symptoms progress gradually,” he said.

According to him, individuals may continue with normal life—working, running businesses, or carrying out daily tasks—before gradually experiencing weakness, fatigue, or breathlessness during basic activities like climbing stairs. Others may suddenly wake up at night due to severe difficulty in breathing.

Ogunmodede stressed that both sudden and gradual forms can be incapacitating if not managed properly. He listed tiredness, breathlessness, leg swelling, cough, and sudden night-time breathing difficulty as key red flags.

He cautioned, however, that not every case of fatigue should be assumed to be heart failure, noting that symptoms are usually considered in clusters, supported by diagnostic investigations such as echocardiograms, electrocardiograms, and chest X-rays.

Describing heart failure as a growing public health concern, Ogunmodede linked its rise to hypertension and other risk factors. He noted that unlike in developed nations where it mainly affects the elderly, in Nigeria it often strikes people during their most productive years.