Daijiworld Media Network- New Delhi
New Delhi, Jul 30: In today’s high-pressure lifestyle, chronic heart failure (CHF) has silently emerged as a growing health threat. Unlike sudden heart attacks, CHF develops slowly and dangerously, often worsening at night when the body is at rest. Doctors have raised concern over how this condition quietly escalates while people sleep, with symptoms going unnoticed until they turn life-threatening.
Medical experts explain that as a person lies down to sleep, body fluids shift from the legs to the chest, adding pressure to the lungs and heart. For individuals with weakened heart muscles, this fluid shift becomes dangerous. Patients often wake up gasping for breath, a condition known as paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea (PND), or find it difficult to breathe while lying flat, a symptom called orthopnea. These episodes, doctors say, are early warnings of worsening heart function.
The heart’s natural slowing during sleep reduces its pumping efficiency. At the same time, patients with CHF may experience frequent nighttime urination and low oxygen levels, especially if sleep apnea is present. These factors, combined, put additional stress on the heart, making nights riskier for heart patients.
Early symptoms of CHF are often subtle and show up during sleep. People may require extra pillows to sleep comfortably, wake up multiple times to urinate, or feel unusually tired even after a full night’s rest. Chest discomfort and irregular heartbeats, too, may become more noticeable at night.
Doctors highlight that men below 45 are more prone to CHF, but after the age of 50, women, especially post-menopause, face equal risk due to hormonal changes. Both genders are advised to be alert to nighttime symptoms and not dismiss them as fatigue or stress.
Health professionals categorise heart failure into stages. In the early stages, nighttime breathlessness may be the only clue. In moderate stages, patients often struggle to sleep flat and wake up coughing or gasping. In severe cases, nights become unbearable, and hospitalisation or even heart transplant may be required.
Doctors advise simple preventive steps to reduce nighttime risk – such as sleeping with the head elevated, controlling fluid and salt intake before bedtime, maintaining a consistent sleep routine, and undergoing regular medical checkups. Avoiding alcohol, smoking, and managing stress also contribute to better heart health.
In many cases, what seems like disturbed sleep could be the heart’s silent cry for help. Health experts urge timely action, stressing that awareness and early intervention can make a life-saving difference.