What are the 4 Stages of Congestive Heart Failure?
Lindsay Knake
| 3 min read
Lindsay Knake is a brand journalist and project plan...
Key Takeaways
- Heart failure progresses through four stages, from being at risk with no symptoms (Stage A) to advanced heart failure with symptoms at rest and significant disruption to daily life (Stage D).
- Symptoms generally worsen as the disease advances, often starting with fatigue, shortness of breath and heart palpitations during activity, and later including swelling, nausea and increased risk of hospitalization.
- While heart failure has no cure, early diagnosis and treatment can help manage the condition. Medications, heart-healthy lifestyle habits, regular exercise, limiting alcohol, avoiding tobacco and staying current on preventive care can help slow progression and improve quality of life.
When you hear the term “heart failure,” you may think it means the heart stops working. But that’s not the case.
Heart failure is a long-term, progressive condition in which your heart cannot pump enough blood through your body, your body doesn’t get enough oxygen to function properly, according to Harvard Health. This condition is classified into four stages to measure heart function and severity. Here’s a look at these stages, the symptoms and treatment options.
What is congestive heart failure?
Heart failure is typically the end stage of another type of heart disease, and it’s the leading cause of hospitalization in Americans age 65 and older, according to the Cleveland Clinic. You are more at risk of heart disease if you have:
- High blood pressure
- Coronary artery disease
- Cardiomyopathy
- Heart attack
- Cardiac arrhythmia
- Excessive alcohol use
What are the four stages of congestive heart failure?
Here’s a look at the four stages of heart failure, according to the American Heart Association.
Stage A: At risk for heart failure
People may not show symptoms at this early stage, and regular physical activity doesn’t lead to increased fatigue or shortness of breath. Risk factors at this stage include:
- High blood pressure
- Coronary artery disease
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- Family history of cardiomyopathy
Stage B: Pre-heart failure
At this stage, people may start to have some symptoms of heart failure such as fatigue, shortness of breath, heart palpitations and heart pain during regular physical activity.
Stage C: Symptomatic heart failure
This stage typically means limited physical activity because of heart disease symptoms listed in stage B.
Stage D: Advanced heart failure
People with the final stage of heart failure will experience increased symptoms, including swelling of the ankles and nausea, at rest and a disruption in their daily life. This stage may lead to hospitalization.
Treating heart failure
See your primary care provider for annual physicals and recommended screenings. Heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death for American adults, and preventive care can reduce your risk of developing this disease or catching it early.
If you have symptoms of heart failure, your healthcare team may want to do screenings such as a blood test, echocardiogram, cardiac computed tomography (CT), electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG) or a stress test, per the Cleveland Clinic.
Heart failure does not have a cure, but it can be managed. Early stages of heart failure treatment may include:
- Medications such as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACE-I), an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) and beta blockers
- A healthy diet
- No alcohol
- Regular exercise
Later stages may also include:
- More medications such as an aldosterone antagonist
- A low-sodium diet
- An implantable cardioverter defibrillator
- Heart surgery
- Heart transplant
Your care team will work with you on the medications, medical treatments and lifestyle habits for your condition.
To reduce your risk of heart disease and heart failure, here are a few key lifestyle habits for overall health:
- Eat a nutritious diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains and lean protein.
- Don’t exceed sodium guidelines.
- Limit or avoid alcohol.
- Quit or avoid smoking or vaping.
- Get about 150 minutes of exercise per week, or 30 minutes, five days a week.
- Get seven to eight hours of sleep per night.
- Manage anxiety and stress.
- Learn your family’s health history.
- Stay up to date on your preventive care.
Photo credit: Getty Images
