Heart Failure

[bryan]

what is Class 3 heart failure?

[Lisa Salberg]

Re: Heart Failure

Hi Bryan,
I know you asked a short question...and I am giving a LONG answer. But althought it is short..it is a complicated question.
Stages of heart failure
In 2001, the American Heart Association (AHA) and American College of Cardiology (ACC) developed the "Stages of Heart Failure." These stages will help you understand that heart failure is often a progressive condition and can worsen over time. They will also help you understand why a new medication was added to your treatment plan and may help you understand why lifestyle changes and other treatments are needed.

The stages classified by the AHA and ACC are different than the New York Heart Association (NYHA) clinical classifications of heart failure that rank patients as class I-II-III-IV, (1 being able to function normally...2 some limitations - 3 more limitations and 4 very symptomatic and unable to function well at all)according to the degree of symptoms or functional limits.
Stage A People at high risk of developing heart failure, including people with:
Hypertension
Diabetes
Coronary artery disease (including heart attack)
History of cardiotoxic drug therapy
History of alcohol abuse
History of rheumatic fever
Family history of cardiomyopathy

WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Exercise regularly
Quit smoking
Treat hypertension
Treat lipid disorders
Discontinue alcohol or illegal drug use

What MEDS are used?
An angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACE-I) may be prescribed if you've had a previous heart attack or if you have diabetes or hypertension
Beta-blockers if you've had a previous heart
attack

Stage B People diagnosed with "systolic" heart failure but who have never had symptoms of heart failure. The diagnosis is usually made when an ejection fraction of less than 40% is found during an echocardiogram test. Treatment methods above for Stage A apply
All patients should take an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACE-I)
Beta-blockers should be added for everyone
Patient and doctor should discuss surgery options for coronary artery repair and valve repair or replacement (as appropriate)
THIS IS NOT NORMALLY HCM pts..unless they are in "burnt out" or "endstage" HCM - less than 10% of HCM'ers are believed to fall into this area, and it normally comes late in life.

Stage C Patients with known heart failure with current or prior symptoms. Symptoms include:
n Shortness of breath
n Fatigue
n Reduced ability to exercise

Treatment methods above for Stage A apply
All patients should take an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACE-I) and
beta-blockers
Diuretics (water pills) and digoxin may be prescribed
Restrict dietary sodium (salt)
Monitor weight
Restrict fluids (as appropriate)
Drugs that worsen the condition should be discontinued
Spironolactone may be prescribed when symptoms remain severe with other therapies

Stage D Presence of advanced symptoms, after receiving optimum medical care. Treatment methods for Stages A, B & C apply
Patient should be evaluated to determine if the following treatments are available options: heart transplant, ventricular assist devices, surgery options, research therapies, continuous infusion of intravenous inotropic drugs and end-of-life care

Hope this helps a little.
Lisa

[bryan]

Re: Heart Failure

A little??? This helped alot. Thanks a bunch!!!

[dughr]

Re: Heart Failure

Hi Lisa,

So class III is the equivalent to stage C?

Doug

[Lisa Salberg]

Re: Heart Failure

Terms change slightly based on where a doc was trained...so yes, I am assuming that "C" and "3" are the same thing here.
Lisa