November 20, 2025 : When we think of heart failure, movie scenes of someone clutching their chest and collapsing often come to mind. In reality, heart failure usually creeps in quietly, with subtle signs that many of us overlook. Recognising these early warning signals can make all the difference, allowing timely care before the condition becomes serious.
Dr Dmitry Yaranov, a cardiologist and heart transplant surgeon specialising in advanced heart failure, heart transplantation, and mechanical circulatory support, has shared five unexpected warning signs of heart failure that people often overlook. In an Instagram post shared on November 20, the cardiac surgeon emphasises, “Most people think they’d recognise heart failure right away – but the reality is very different. The earliest warnings are often subtle, quiet, and easy to blame on stress, age, or ‘just being tired’.”
Heart failure warning signs
Dr Yaranov highlights that heart failure symptoms are not always as dramatic as people expect them to be. He warns, “As a heart transplant cardiologist, I see the same pattern again and again: patients overlook the small changes that were actually their first red flags. Things like sudden weight shifts, a cough that gets worse when lying down, unexplained nausea, new trouble focusing, or restless nights – they can all be early signals that the heart is struggling long before the classic symptoms appear.”
Summary:
A heart surgeon cautioned that persistent coughing when lying down may indicate early heart failure, urging timely medical evaluation to prevent worsening symptoms and complications.