Stages of heart failure

The article was professionally consulted by Dr. Nguyen Quoc Viet - Cardiologist and Cardiovascular Interventionist, Vinmec Danang International General Hospital.

Heart failure does not mean the heart stops working. Rather, heart failure is a condition in which the heart works less efficiently than normal. There are many causes of heart failure. Blood is still being moved from the heart to the organs, but with less efficiency, the pressure in the chambers of the heart increases. As a result, the heart cannot supply enough blood and oxygen to meet the body's needs. The chambers of the heart may respond by dilating, or thickening, to increase their ability to pump blood. This helps the heart muscle to temporarily adapt to pump blood to meet the body's needs, but in the long run, the heart muscle will weaken, not meeting the requirements to pump blood to the organs, causing blood stasis. This condition is beyond the ability of the kidneys to adjust, resulting in fluid retention and salt retention. Symptoms of edema can be in the hands, feet, ankles, feet, fluid appears in the lungs and other organs, the body becomes congested and "Congestive heart failure" is the term used to describe this condition. .
You may not have any symptoms of heart failure, or symptoms may range from mild to severe. Symptoms may be persistent or come and go. Symptoms may include:
Symptoms of pulmonary congestion : Fluid buildup in the lungs can cause shortness of breath on exertion or difficulty breathing even at rest, especially when lying flat on your head. Pulmonary congestion may cause a dry cough or wheezing. Fluid and water retention: Anemia to the kidneys leads to the kidneys retaining water and fluid, resulting in swollen ankles and legs, bloating and weight gain. There may be symptoms of an increased need to urinate at night. Stomach congestion can cause loss of appetite or nausea. Dizziness, fatigue, weakness: Lack of blood supply to major organs and muscles makes you feel tired and weak. Lack of blood to the brain makes you feel dizzy. Fast and irregular heartbeat: The heart beats faster to try to pump enough blood to the body. This makes the heart beat faster and irregularly.

Understanding the stages of heart failure will help you understand that heart failure is a progressive process that can get worse over time, understand your medication regimen and help you understand why changes Lifestyle changes and other treatments are needed.
The table below shows the basics of a plan of care that may or may not apply to you, based on the cause of your heart failure and the special conditions you have. Ask your doctor to explain the therapies listed if you do not understand or why you may or may not have them.

To prevent further damage to the heart muscle you need to:
Quit smoking. Change and optimize body weight. Well control blood pressure, blood fat and blood sugar. Exercise regularly. Abstain from drinking alcohol. Perform surgery and other procedures to treat heart failure when recommended. Early recognition of the stages of heart failure is the key to effective treatment and avoidance of dangerous cardiovascular events. Understanding this, Vinmec International General Hospital has implemented the Heart Failure Examination Package. This is an effective measure to help you and your loved ones detect the risk of disease early, so that doctors can advise on a suitable treatment plan for your health condition.
The package of examination is specially designed for customers with risk factors for heart failure, indicated for medical examination and when the customer needs it.