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The Two Stages of Heart Failure

Heart failure is a medical condition that can be fatal if not treated promptly. There are four stages of heart failure (stage A, B, C and D) available. The stages range from "unstable" to "pre-existing heart failure." At the first indication of a heart problem, get help. Stage A is when there is no evidence that heart problems are present. Keep reading to know more about what is heart failure.

In Stage A, lifestyle changes are the first step toward treatment. To treat the underlying cause of heart failure, you will likely need to make changes in your lifestyle, including reducing stress, exercising regularly and quitting smoking and alcohol. Your healthcare team can provide support and help with these activities. Your doctor will also provide guidelines for lowering cholesterol and blood pressure and recommend that you lose weight. If lifestyle changes do not improve your heart problems, your healthcare team can provide medication or surgical treatment.

As stage B heart failure gets worse, there is still no evidence of heart muscle damage. However, the muscles become weaker. Your healthcare team may recommend that you get blood pressure measurements done to determine whether your blood vessels are becoming blocked by calcium deposits or if you are at risk for a more severe heart muscle disease such as myocardial ischemia.

Stage C is the final stage of heart failure. This is the most common stage, because it is often caused by long-term unhealthy lifestyles, such as smoking and high blood pressure. It is characterized by symptoms such as shortness of breath, coughing, dizziness and fainting. As stage C gets worse, you may have an irregular heartbeat and increased blood pressure. This condition is called congestive heart failure.

If your symptom was developed before you reached the stage of heart failure, then you may be able to treat it yourself. Some symptoms to look out for include shortness of breath, coughing, dizziness or lightheadedness. People with shortness of breath usually depend on inhalers to get their breaths in, but they cannot work up enough strength to use them. Dizziness can also occur due to being out of breath. If your cough is accompanied by symptoms like coughing fits, chest pains or ear pain, you may need to see your healthcare professional.

The two stages of heart failure mean that if you don't take action quickly, you could go from C to D. If you think you have staged, you may have to undergo surgery. But the good news is that this condition rarely gets worse. About three out of every four people with heart failure eventually return to normal. Of course, the treatment is ongoing - whether you have just reached stage A or whether you are still in the early stages. However, many sufferers find that lifestyle changes can help bring their health back to normal levels. Understand more about heart failure when you visit www.heartfailurematters.org.