Aslam was 58 when he noticed he was getting breathless walking to his car. He told himself he was out of shape. A few weeks later, his ankles were swollen and he was walking at night unable to breathe lying flat. By the time he saw a doctor, his heart was functioning at less than 30% of its normal capacity. Heart failure does not usually announce itself dramatically. It creeps in gradually — a little more breathlessness here, slightly swollen feet there — until the signs become impossible to ignore. The trouble is that by the time most people seek help, the condition has already progressed significantly. This article explains the early heart failure symptoms you should know, why they happen, and exactly when to act. What Is Heart Failure — and Why Do Symptoms Develop? Heart failure does not mean the heart has stopped. It means the heart muscle has become too weak or too stiff to pump blood efficiently around the body. As a result, blood backs up, fluid leaks into tissues, and orga...