If you spot this alarming symptom you should speak to your GP as soon as possible.
A simple three-second test could reveal a potentially deadly health condition, according to experts. It may seem strange but pressing down on your leg could indicate if you have heart failure, alongside some other dangerous diseases.
Heart failure is a serious health condition that means that the heart is unable to pump blood around the body properly. This typically occurs because the heart has become too weak or stiff.
The NHS explains that there is no cure for heart failure. It is a long-term condition that tends to get gradually worse over time.
Although there is no cure, the symptoms can often be controlled for many years. Therefore, it’s important to spot any potential warning signs as soon as possible.
A lesser-known symptom can affect the legs and can be checked using a simple test. The Mayo Clinic in the US lists pitting oedema as a potential sign of heart failure.
Oedema is swelling caused by too much fluid trapped in the body’s tissues. It can affect any part of the body but is most common in the legs and feet.
To know for sure if you have oedema you can press down on your skin for a few seconds. If the dimple created holds its position for a while rather than disappearing quickly, this is oedema.
The clinic describes a sign of oedema as: “Skin that holds a dimple, also known as pitting, after it’s been pressed for a few seconds.”
Other markers of oedema are:
- Swelling or puffiness of the tissue right under the skin, especially in legs or arms
- Stretched or shiny skin
- Swelling of the belly, also called the abdomen, so that it’s bigger than usual
- Feeling of leg heaviness
Experts at the clinic revealed more about the link between oedema and heart failure. They said: “Congestive heart failure causes one or both of the heart’s lower chambers stop pumping blood well. As a result, blood can back up in the legs, ankles and feet, causing oedema.
“Congestive heart failure can also cause swelling in the stomach area. This condition also can cause fluid to build up in the lungs. Known as pulmonary oedema, this can lead to shortness of breath.”
However, oedema can also be a sign of liver damage, kidney disease, and deep vein thrombosis. It can also have some less serious causes such as pregnancy, sitting in one position for two long, eating too much salty food, and certain medications like blood pressure drugs and steroids.
Other signs of heart failure to look for include:
- Breathlessness after activity or at rest
- Feeling tired most of the time and finding exercise exhausting
- Feeling lightheaded or fainting
- A persistent cough
- A fast heart rate
- Dizziness
If you experience any of these symptoms or unexplained oedema you should speak to a doctor.