Beyond the Usual: Atypical Heart Failure and Stroke Symptoms

Prof Renate Schnabel (University Heart Center Hamburg, Hamburg, DE) discusses the importance of recognizing atypical presentations of stroke and heart failure. Beyond well-known signs, patients – particularly older adults, women, and those with co-morbidities – may show subtle symptoms such as confusion, vertigo, vomiting, or loss of appetite. Early recognition is critical: stroke is always an emergency, and delayed heart failure diagnosis worsens outcomes. Prof Schnabel calls for vigilance, simple diagnostic testing and clear pathways to ensure timely evaluation and treatment.