Understanding the 4 Heart Failure Stages<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The Norton Heart & Vascular Institute Advanced Heart Failure & Recovery Program<\/a>\u2019s team of board-certified and fellowship-trained physicians and advanced practice providers has the experience and expertise to diagnose the progress of your heart failure and provide a comprehensive range of treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Our goal will be to halt, slow or even reverse the progression of your heart failure and improve your quality of life<\/a>. For some, heart failure can be reversed<\/a>, with the heart muscle returning to a healthy structure and resuming effective pumping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At this point you are at high risk for heart failure, but you don\u2019t have any symptoms and the structure of your heart hasn\u2019t changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Risks include a family history of heart failure or conditions such as hypertension (high blood pressure), diabetes, rheumatic fever, alcohol abuse or medications that can damage the heart muscle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Treatment options<\/p>\n\n\n\n At this heart failure stage, you may have mild shortness of breath and\/or angina. This usually will be revealed in an echocardiogram that shows a weakened left ventricle that pumps about 40% or less of the blood in your heart. The measure, called ejection fraction, is normally about 55% or higher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Treatment options<\/p>\n\n\n\n At this stage, your activity has been severely limited by symptoms such as wheezing, fatigue, nausea, increased nighttime urination, shortness of breath, swollen legs, ankles and feet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Treatment options<\/p>\n\n\n\n At this stage of heart failure, you are very limited in movement and spend large amounts of time in bed. At this point, you have undergone recurrent hospitalizations despite medical treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Treatment options<\/p>\n\n\n\n Heart failure can strike anyone at any age. African Americans are more likely to develop heart failure<\/a> at a younger age and with greater severity than other groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Monitoring your blood pressure and adopting healthy lifestyle habits, including quitting smoking<\/a>, are some of the steps you can take to reduce your chances of developing heart failure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In its early stages, heart failure can have the following symptoms. If you have any of these symptoms, you may or may not be developing heart failure. Discuss your symptoms with your primary care provider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In cases where other treatments have failed and symptoms have left you unable to perform daily tasks, we have treatments that can restore much of your quality of life<\/a>. Advanced heart failure<\/a> used to be called \u201cend-stage heart failure,\u201d but such a label doesn\u2019t reflect the reason for hope with new treatments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n More aggressive medication, ventricular assist devices or heart transplant are ways to slow the progress of advanced heart failure and alleviate symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to the common symptoms of heart failure, the condition is considered advanced when medication and other treatments improve symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Characteristics of advanced heart failure include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have advanced heart failure, the range of treatments to slow the progress of your disease is expanding rapidly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Norton Heart & Vascular Institute Advanced Heart Failure & Recovery Program offers a new way to look at the management of heart failure. Treatment options for advanced heart failure include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Heart failure can start with no symptoms, but a risk of developing the disease. The structure of the heart hasn\u2019t changed \u2014 a thickened heart muscle, for instance. At this point, the primary treatment is to reduce risk with lifestyle changes and treating conditions such as high blood pressure that may be contributing to the risk. Shortness of breath typically starts with stage B heart failure. Angina \u2013\u2014 chest pain \u2014 also may develop as oxygen levels feeding the heart decline. People are living longer with end-stage, or advanced heart failure, than ever before. Advances in medication and use of devices such as ventricular assist devices has allowed more and more patients to live better lives with improved symptoms.<\/p> <\/div> Yes. Medication regimens used at the Norton Heart & Vascular Institute Advanced Heart Failure & Recovery Program can cure the disease, reversing its effects, if diagnosed early and shortly after symptoms start.<\/p> <\/div> Life expectancy for all stages of heart failure has improved in recent years as more patients work with specialists who monitor their condition closely and take steps to correct situations, often before the patient even notices a change. At the Norton Heart & Vascular Institute Advanced Heart Failure & Recovery Program, we\u2019ll work to catch the slightest sign of deteriorating symptoms to prevent your condition worsening to the point that you need to spend time in the hospital.<\/p> <\/div> The first signs of heart failure can include shortness of breath, swelling in the feet, ankles and lower legs, chest congestion, and fatigue.<\/p> <\/div> Left untreated, heart failure can progress rapidly over the course of weeks or months. However, early treatment can cure the disease, even in those whose disease has progressed. For those with more advanced disease, life expectancy has been steadily improving, with newer treatments leading to more recovery.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div>\n\n\nStage A<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Stage B<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Stage C<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Stage D<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Heart Failure Classification<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Early Stages of Heart Failure<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Advanced Heart Failure<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Heart Failure Care Designed for Heart Recovery<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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