Typical signs of heart failure grade 2

The article was professionally consulted by Doctor General Internal Medicine - Department of Medical Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Hai Phong International General Hospital.

Most patients with heart failure do not realize their disease, because typical signs of heart failure stage 2 appear only when the patient is exerted and quickly disappear when resting. However, if you miss the opportunity to treat the disease at this stage, grade 2 heart failure can progress more seriously and cause many dangerous complications.

According to the New York Heart Association (NYHA) Heart Failure Classification system, grade 2 heart failure is assessed based on mild limitation of physical activity. The patient feels comfortable at rest, but normal physical activities make them tired, palpitations, and short of breath.
Patients with grade 2 heart failure often have structural heart disease, a history of myocardial infarction, low ejection fraction or valvular disease but no symptoms of heart failure at rest.

Although only in a mild stage, with little impact on the patient's physical health, grade 2 heart failure is the key stage. Because if not treated well, heart function will increasingly weaken and quickly progress to grade 3, 4 heart failure.

At this time, the patient will often feel chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, ... even at rest, seriously affecting physical strength. Even performing daily activities is difficult for patients with advanced heart failure. Along with that, the patient will have a higher risk of serious complications such as stroke, heart attack, death, ...

Heart failure is an extremely dangerous disease that directly affects the blood regulation process in the body.
Life expectancy of people with heart disease is unpredictable, because it depends on the condition of the disease, the treatment process and the ability to recover. However, once the heart failure has progressed to stage 3 or 4, the chances of survival are extremely low.

When exercising, patients with grade 2 heart failure may experience typical heart failure symptoms including: Shortness of breath, shortness of breath; fatigue, helpless limbs; palpitations; dizziness, lightheadedness, lightheadedness; chest heaviness; Numbness in limbs, cold extremities.
After being diagnosed with heart failure, the patient should be careful with the following signs of worsening: Fatigue, irregular heartbeat; swelling of the ankles, feet, and legs; cough caused by a blocked lung; weight gain; wheezing; increased urination, especially nocturia; Shortness of breath, possibly due to pulmonary edema.

Treatment for heart failure depends on the severity of the disease. Treatment in the early stages helps symptoms improve quickly, but you still need regular checkups every 3 to 6 months.
Drug treatment
The early stages of heart failure can be treated with medication to relieve symptoms and prevent it from getting worse. These drugs are able to: Improve the heart's ability to pump blood; Reduce blood clots; Reduce heart rate (if necessary); Remove excess sodium and replenish potassium; Reduce cholesterol. Surgery
Sometimes drugs can't completely cure the disease, but more difficult procedures to intervene:
Coronary bypass surgery. Angioplasty. Implant a pacemaker. Heart transplant (usually applied in the late stages). Lifestyle changes
Check your weight daily. If you gain 2 kg in 2 days, see your doctor right away. Don't smoke: Smoking reduces the amount of oxygen in the blood and damages artery walls. Stopping smoking is one of the most important things to improve your condition. Eat less salt: Salt causes the body to retain water. Make sure you eat less salt, no salt, or reduce salty foods. Do not add salt to food or during cooking.

Eat lots of fresh vegetables. Limit saturated fat intake and avoid trans fats. Replace harmful fats with healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. Limit alcohol: Alcohol can damage the heart. Please consult your doctor. Limit caffeine and carbonated water, they cause your blood pressure to rise, the heart beats fast and does not pump blood properly. Exercise every day, consult your doctor about exercises that are right for you.

Heart Failure Clinic, Cardiovascular Center, Vinmec Times City Hospital is a specialized heart failure clinic organized and put into operation since March 2019. This is one of the few specialized heart failure clinics built early in Vietnam with reference to the models of the US and Singapore, bringing hope of effective treatment for patients with heart failure.
The advantages of heart failure examination and treatment at the Cardiovascular Center, Vinmec Times City Hospital include:
Patients are managed according to a unified medical record form, which is convenient for searching and storing in principle. information security. Assess the degree of heart failure, make a specific, optimal and appropriate treatment plan for each patient, on the basis of applying updated guidelines from major cardiology organizations in the world. For patients with late-stage heart failure, the heart failure specialist clinic will hold consultations to offer enhanced treatment measures: resynchronization, ventricular assist device, heart transplant. Comprehensive treatment of diseases that can lead to heart failure, including optimal medical treatment combined with lifestyle modification, elimination of possible causes leading to heart failure by surgery, cardiovascular intervention, intervention arrhythmia. In addition, at Vinmec International General Hospital, there is also a HEART FUNCTION PACKAGE for customers with risk factors for heart failure, with indications for medical examination and customers in need, to help you detect the condition early. disease, from which the doctor will advise a treatment plan suitable for your health.

Source: Mayoclinic.org; Heart.org