What are the types and causes of Heart Failure?
Recognizing signs and symptoms of heart failure is important to successful management of your condition. Patients who recognize worsening heart failure symptoms do better than patients who do not. Patients who quickly recognize worsening heart failure signs and symptoms can more quickly notify their provider, who can change therapies before symptoms spiral out of control. Below are worsening heart failure symptoms that require attention:
- shortness of breath (dyspnea) at rest, with mild activity, or at night causing you to wake up breathless
- loss of energy or feeling tired from very little effort
- rapid weight gain (5 lbs in a week, 3-4 lbs in 1-2 days, or 2 lbs overnight)
- swelling of the lower limbs (legs, ankles, feet)
- swelling, bloating or pain in the abdomen (belly)
- a dry, hacking cough (most often when lying flat)
- loss of appetite (or nausea)
- trouble sleeping unless propped up on 2 or more pillows
- abnormal breathing while sleeping, new onset snoring, or louder snoring than before
The presence of heart failure symptoms means that you have AHA/ACC Stage C or Stage D heart failure (see “how does my doctor determine I have heart failure”). In addition to “staging” your heart failure condition, your physician will also “classify” your condition according to the severity of your symptoms. This classification system, known as the New York Heart Association (NYHA) Functional Classification, places you into one of four categories based on your physical activity limitations.
| New York Heart Association (NYHA) Functional Classification | |
|
Class |
Patient Symptoms |
|
Class I |
No limitation of physical activity. Ordinary physical activity does not cause undue fatigue, palpitation, or dyspnea (shortness of breath). |
|
Class II (Mild) |
Slight limitation of physical activity. Comfortable at rest, but ordinary physical activity results in fatigue, palpitation (feeling heart beats), or dyspnea. |
|
Class III (Moderate) |
Marked limitation of physical activity. Comfortable at rest, but less than ordinary activity causes fatigue, palpitation, or dyspnea. |
|
Class IV (Severe) |
Unable to carry out any physical activity without discomfort. Symptoms of cardiac insufficiency at rest. If any physical activity is undertaken, discomfort is increased. |
|
Learn more about signs and symptoms of heart failure: Module 4: Following Your Treatment Plan and Dealing with Your Symptoms (Heart Failure Society of America) |
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