This 5-second leg test may help spot early heart failure

Written by: Sneha Jajoo Reviewed by: Dr. Anuj Saini 3 Feb 2026

[{"selector":"#anim-dbf73b62-5f45-40a8-998c-3a8e9d082e89","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-78e2b218-3b5a-4839-afc9-2b130392d3df","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 153.34634%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Heart problems don’t always start in the chest. Sometimes, your legs can show the first sign. This American Heart Month, do this test and spot the heart condition early! Photo Credit: Freepik

What Is Heart Failure?

[{"selector":"#anim-d1f1dc94-b005-4318-80f7-d81567303fe4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d81a1019-0270-4cfe-84fd-6c9f156a63f6","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 146.32879%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-21ff49de-dff5-48cc-8881-90e38a9d8eb7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9ed015f2-ab9f-4754-a725-29e6f34341aa","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 795.06218%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Heart failure doesn’t mean the heart has stopped. It means the heart isn’t pumping blood efficiently. This can cause fluid buildup in the body. Photo Credit: Freepik

The 5-Second Leg Test

[{"selector":"#anim-b03c1ac4-5e6d-47d7-b532-9e7e0934fba7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-26f87f76-0699-4aaf-ad78-b5fb635b5a4b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 171.38504%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5accf383-fe53-4d1e-a1bc-5cfc771c1068","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d6ecb951-a7fa-4eb4-a3f1-12c80d19f7bb","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 795.06218%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Just stand straight and look at your lower legs. If swelling appears or worsens within a few seconds, it may signal fluid retention. Photo Credit: Freepik

Reason Behind Swollen Legs

[{"selector":"#anim-5933c90d-15a4-434e-beab-ca6c9656c688","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ea6ddeda-fb30-4502-8fc4-e03949769ce1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 196.0838%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6efff27b-a236-4149-bce0-9fd6f37a834b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6d237795-38b0-49d6-81e6-4073fb6212d4","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 451.7972%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] When the heart struggles to pump blood, fluid can collect in the legs and ankles. This swelling is called edema. Photo Credit: Freepik

What This Test Can — And Can’t — Do

[{"selector":"#anim-fa91c431-7340-419b-bfcf-925aaabec128","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ee139c54-c32b-4cec-8e26-d402caedcf6e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 171.38504%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-007cdae4-aacd-4c22-b71b-acb6aab6a385","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-133d5116-22c7-40a3-9195-bc8248a4d458","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 465.03257%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] This test does not diagnose heart failure. But it can act as an early warning sign. Persistent swelling should never be ignored. Photo Credit: Freepik

What You Should Do

[{"selector":"#anim-86d81ccb-8990-4537-9c36-3c9b83d32823","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-61693516-bb72-40d6-aeae-3ceecab3a8b8","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 178.23438%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-54c849d5-2b37-44ca-beb1-245c6939e895","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-69dfa870-6f92-46fd-8cea-3979037bd814","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 822.83992%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] If swelling appears, cut back on salt, stay active, monitor weight, and see a doctor. Small signs matter—listen to your body early. Photo Credit: Freepik

Other Early Signs to Watch

[{"selector":"#anim-c493992f-e95e-4bd3-a247-2d42d51ce972","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e18a6c79-e42d-4b07-9ab9-45f2a12ecc75","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 148.66797%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f98b95eb-5b98-4578-86a8-24c74ce149f3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c33d3f11-f5c9-43be-9962-47ee99eabcc4","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 473.85606%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Along with leg swelling, look out for: - Shortness of breath - Unusual fatigue - Rapid weight gain - Difficulty climbing stairs Photo Credit: Freepik

Talk To An Expert Now!

[{"selector":"#anim-072f663b-2c15-4835-b236-452623e38ea8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7ec2c19a-8f71-4986-9c4f-d17b72c391bf","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 173.22939%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-08c8969a-ab89-424b-90c9-e7898f950ba9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-71983a54-2eff-47b6-b4c2-cc0acfff6a88","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 184.1503%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Occasional leg swelling can be harmless, but consult a doctor if swelling persists for days, worsens over time, or affects both legs. Or Photo Credit: Freepik