Heart Failure - Understanding the Different Stages of Heart Failure

Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the United States. In fact, heart disease is the most common reason for death among Americans. Heart failure is a serious condition that can develop with no warning and without any symptoms in some people. Although it is not a contagious disease, heart failure can be catastrophic to a person's quality of life. There are four stages of heart failure, (Stage A, B, C and E). For understanding heart failure, keep reading here.

The first stage is "acute heart failure." People who have acute heart failure often experience shortness of breath, dizziness, nausea, fatigue and increased body pain. These symptoms are typically caused by decreased blood oxygenation and increased carbon dioxide production. Some of the symptoms of this condition include irregular heartbeat, sweating, and chest pain. People with this condition often do not seek medical attention until they are unable to breathe on their own or they are experiencing fainting spells.

The second stage of heart failure is "acute coronary syndromes." People with this condition often experience shortness of breath, chest pain, discomfort and lightheadedness. These symptoms are commonly caused by angina and elevated blood pressure. Other causes of these symptoms can be smoking, obesity and high blood cholesterol levels. It is important that people with heart failure to learn about the lifestyle changes that can help prevent them from suffering from these debilitating conditions. Some of these lifestyle changes include eating healthy foods and losing weight if possible, while others include lifestyle modifications such as avoiding alcohol and quitting smoking.

The third stage is "substance-induced recurrent heart failure." This is also known as "secondary heart failure." Some of the symptoms of this stage include nausea, sweating and shortness of breath. Symptoms of substance-induced recurrent heart failure include depression and anxiety, high blood pressure and congestive heart failure.

The last stage is called the "acute coronary syndromes." It is caused by the buildup of plaques in arteries. Some of the symptoms of this stage include a feeling of pain or discomfort in the chest area, sudden palpitations and dizziness. Some causes of this stage include high blood pressure and smoking, which are the main causes of heart failure. The symptoms of this stage can worsen over time and become very serious. If left untreated, it can cause hospitalization and permanent damage to the heart muscle.

Treatment for heart failure involves various types of medications as well as lifestyle changes. Medications can reduce some of the symptoms of heart failure, including shortness of breath and heart palpitations. It is important to lose weight if you have obesity because too much fat around the heart weakens the muscle that pumps blood through it. Lifestyle changes include increasing the amount of exercise and quitting smoking if you are a smoker. Smoking increases the buildup of plaques in the arteries, which weakens the heart muscle. Smoking causes several other conditions as well; therefore, quitting smoking is an important part of treating heart failure symptoms. You  may also click here for more.

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