If you are worried about congestive heart failure, then it makes sense that you would want to learn as much as you can about the congestive heart failure symptoms and stages you might need to watch out for. Heart failure within the United States affects around six million Americans, and around 670,000 people are diagnosed with this condition on a yearly basis. In fact, within the country, this kind of heart condition is considered to be the leading cause of hospitalization for people who are older than sixty-five.
Although it is difficult to accurately predict the factors that might lead to congestive heart failure symptoms and stages, it’s worth noting that there can be signs and risk factors that should prompt you to act more carefully. For instance, one in every five people will develop heart failure at some point during their lifetime, and some of the most common risk factors involved will be obesity, smoking, age, hypertension, prior heart attacks, and metabolic syndrome.
Congestive Heart Failure Symptoms
People who suffer from congestive heart failure may not always suspect that they have a heart condition, as congestive heart failure symptoms and stages are not always linked obviously to the functions of the heart. Early symptoms can sometimes include coughing, lack of breath, a feeling of being unable to breathe probably, and problems with the lungs when you lay down.
Because many congestive heart failure symptoms of stages relate to the lungs and breathing, people who already have problems with their breathing because of conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, or emphysema may think that they’re simply having an “attack”, which indicates a worsening of their current problem. On the other hand, even if people don’t have existing breathing issues, they may simply assume that they’re suffering from a different condition, such as bronchitis, the flu, or a cold.
Congestive Heart Failure Stages
After a doctor has been able to establish a diagnosis of congestive heart failure, it’s important to have your condition evaluated as quickly as possible to determine what kind of stage your body is in. During this time, remember that it is essential to provide an accurate and complete history of your symptoms. According to the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology, patients can be staged according to the progression of their condition using the following guidelines:
– The first stage, or stage A, represents a person who is it at high risk of developing heart failure.
– The second stage, or stage B, represents someone who is asymptomatic of congestive heart failure. During stage B, a patient might have a dysfunctional left ventricle, or problems that are related to heart failure.
– Patients with stage C congestive heart failure are seen as having symptomatic heart failure, which means that they might experience various symptoms like difficulty in breathing, an inability to exercise, or general fatigue.
– Stage D patients with congestive heart failure will have end-stage symptoms in spite of any medical treatment that might have been used. Stage D is often considered to be the most serious type of congestive heart failure.