What Are the Stages of Congestive Heart Failure?
There are four stages of heart failure, which are A, B, C and D, with patients in A and B not having heart failure yet but demonstrating risk factors for the development of heart failure, according to American Family Physician. Heart failure affects 5.7 million Americans with 10 percent of those Americans suffering from advanced heart failure, according to the American Heart Association.
In stage A of heart failure
The patient usually does not have any symptoms and definitely does not have heart failure. However, patients in stage A may have heart failure risk factors that make them susceptible to developing heart failure at a later date, reports Emory Healthcare.
In stage B of heart failure
There are still no symptoms present but heart disease is present. There are also some structural changes that have taken place within the heart itself.
In stage C of heart failure
The patient has heart disease and is experiencing the symptoms, including coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, body fluid found in body tissue, nausea, increased heart rate and persistent feelings of being tired, according to the American Heart Association.
In stage D of heart failure
The patient not only has heart disease but now has heart failure. In this stage, medical treatment becomes aggressive and the patient’s condition is considered deteriorated.
