What is an early indicator of heart failure?

Weight gain is considered an early indicator of heart failure because it often reflects fluid retention, which is a common symptom in heart failure patients. As the heart becomes less effective at pumping blood, fluid can accumulate in the body, leading to an increase in weight. This can happen quickly and is often one of the first noticeable changes for patients, signaling that the heart is struggling to manage the body's fluid balance effectively.

While increased fatigue, shortness of breath, and weight loss can all be associated with heart failure, they may occur later in the disease process or as more chronic symptoms. Increased fatigue can be a result of decreased cardiac output, but it may not be as immediate or quantifiable as weight gain. Shortness of breath typically indicates worsening heart function and may accompany other signs, but it is not necessarily the first indication. Weight loss, while it can occur in certain contexts of heart failure, is not an early sign and is more commonly associated with advanced heart failure or cachexia. Thus, significant weight gain, signaling fluid retention, serves as an early and crucial warning signal in the context of heart failure detection.