NHS says leg and ankle symptom can signal heart failure

The NHS has warned people to watch for a troubling symptom in the legs that could indicate a potentially deadly medical condition.

According to the health service, swelling in the legs serves as a warning sign of heart failure.

This condition, known as oedema, can also impact the feet and ankles, causing discomfort when walking. The symptom may improve during morning hours and "get worse later in the day", the NHS says.

Heart failure develops when the heart cannot effectively pump blood throughout the body, reports the Mirror.

This typically occurs because the heart has become excessively weak or rigid.

The NHS explains: "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."

Medical News Today specialists note that heart failure leads to elevated blood pressure in blood vessels because the heart cannot pump as efficiently as required.

"This elevation in pressure forces fluid out of the blood vessels and into the surrounding tissues, resulting in swelling, or oedema," they said.

Oedema may look like:

• Swollen or puffy ankles, feet or legs
• Shiny or stretched skin
• Changes in skin colour, discomfort, stiffness and dents when you press on the skin

It can also be caused by:

• Standing or sitting in the same position for too long
• Eating too much salty food
• Being overweight
• Being pregnant
• Taking certain medicines - such as some blood pressure medicines, contraceptive pills, Hormone therapy, antidepressants or steroids
• An injury - such as a strain or sprain
• An insect bite or sting
• Problems with your kidneys or liver
• A blood clot
• An infection

Additional indicators of heart failure include:

• Breathlessness - this may occur after activity or at rest; it may be worse when you're lying down, and you may wake up at night needing to catch your breath
• Fatigue - you may feel tired most of the time and find exercise exhausting
• Feeling lightheaded and fainting
• A persistent cough, which may be worse at night
• Wheezing
• A bloated tummy
• Loss of appetite
• Weight gain or weight loss
• Confusion
• A fast heart rate
• A pounding, fluttering or irregular heartbeat (palpitations)

Certain individuals with heart failure may also encounter feelings of depression and anxiety.

The NHS adds: "See your GP if you experience persistent or gradually worsening symptoms of heart failure.

"Call 999 for an ambulance or go to your nearest accident and emergency (AandE) department as soon as possible if you have sudden or very severe symptoms."