Congestive heart failure, or just heart failure, is known as a long-term heart condition, which gets much worse with each time passing. You might think that heart failure means the heart has stopped working completely.
Here, heart failure means that the heart is not pumping blood like it used to. When the pumping power of the heart is less, it might damage the organs and fluids will gather in the lungs.
Besides that, there are also several stages of heart failure according to which Heart Attack Treatment is provided. Do you know what these stages are? Go through this post to find out.
The Stages of Heart Failure and Its Treatments
Heart failure has four stages, which are stages A, B, C, and D. These stages range from the high chance of developing heart failure” to “advance level of heart failure”.
Stage A [A High Chance of Developing Heart Failure]
This stage is known as the pre-heart failure stage. Stage A means that there is a high chance of developing heart failure. It’s mainly because you have a family history of this condition. You might also be at a high risk of developing heart failure if you have any of these medical conditions:
● Having a family history of Cardiomyopathy
● Diabetes
● Having a history of Alcohol Abuse
● Hypertension
● You have a history of consuming drugs, which can ruin the heart muscle
● Coronary Artery Disease
● Having a history of Rheumatic Fever
● Metabolic Syndrome
Treatment for Stage A Heart Failure
There are several ways you can treat this particular stage of heart failure:
● Stop or quit smoking
● Taking prescribed medications for “coronary artery disease”, “cardiac or vascular conditions”, or “high blood pressure”.
● Regularly do workouts or exercise
● Receive proper treatment for Lipid Disorders
Stage B [ Heart Conditions, With No Signs of Heart Failure]
This stage is also viewed as a pre-heart failure. In other words, your physician will diagnose the “Systolic Left Ventricular Dysfunction”. You might not experience any symptoms or signs of heart failure. People who suffer from Stage B heart failure have an “ECHO” or “Echocardiogram”. This helps display the EF or “Ejection Fraction”, which is less than 40%.
Under this stage, it includes all those individuals who have reduced EF [HR-rEF] and heart failure.
Treatment for Stage B Heart Failure
Here are the following ways through which you can treat this stage of heart failure:
● As a patient, you must take the ACE [Angiotensin Converting Enzyme] inhibitor. Otherwise, you can opt for ARB [Angiotensin II Receptor Blocker]
● You must take beta blockers when your EF is less than 40% and when you have a heart attack.
● If you have a heart attack, you must take an “Aldosterone Antagonist”. You can also take this medication when you have an EF of less than 35% and diabetes.
● You might have to opt for surgery to treat heart attack, congenital heart disease, coronary artery blockage or valve disease.
Stage C [Heat Conditions with Symptoms of Heart Failure
Patients who suffer from Stage C heart failure undergo a diagnosis of this heart condition. The diagnosis only occurs when the patient experiences the symptoms/signs of heart failure. Heart failure has numerous symptoms, but the most common ones are:
● Waking up just to urinate
● Shortness of breath
● Swollen abdomen, lower legs, feet and ankles
● Cannot exercise properly
● Feeling extremely tired
● Weak legs
Treatment for Stage C Heart Failure
There are options available when you’re looking for the best treatment for Stage C heart failure. These are:
● The doctor will prescribe digoxin and water pills [Diuretics] when the symptoms continue.
● You will be prescribed “Aldosterone Inhibitor” when the symptoms of this condition remain serious with various other therapies.
● ICD [Implantable Cardiac Defibrillator] or Pacemaker might be suggested by the doctor
● Monitor the weight. Notify your doctor if you have lost or gained weight over 4 pounds
● Limit the consumption of sodium or salt
● Lessen the fluids
● Use beta blocker
● Opt for medications that can slow down the heart rate when the heart rate is over 70 beats each minute, and you’re still experiencing the symptoms.
Stage D [ Heart Failure and Not Responding to Any Medication]
Patients with the Stage D of heart failure will experience the advanced signs/symptoms of heart failure that do not respond to treatments. Stage D is also known as the final and last stage of heart failure.
Treatment for Stage D Heart Failure
Doctors must evaluate their patients to determine whether or not the following treatment options are available for them:
● End-of-life, hospice, or palliative care
● Research therapies
● Heart transplant
● Surgery options
● Ventricular assist machines/devices
Final Words
In this post, you will get detailed information on the various stages of heart failure, along with the treatment options available for each. Make sure to go through all of them to have a good understanding.
Read more health blogs about first aid for heart attack.
