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Heart failure affects approximately 64 million people worldwide.1 Although heart failure is a serious medical condition that should not be taken lightly, it does not mean that your heart has stopped working. Consider the following key facts of heart failure.

Heart failure doesn’t mean your heart has stopped beating. Heart failure occurs when your heart does not pump enough blood and oxygen to the organs and tissues of your body.

Heart failure is a serious and potentially fatal condition. However, effective treatment and lifestyle changes can help you reduce symptoms and prolong your life.

Heart failure is fairly common. Adults with heart failure account for about 6.2 million in the United States and more than 10 million in the European Union.2

Heart failure is not always a sign of aging. Although aging can cause changes in your heart, the most common causes of heart failure are coronary artery disease (plaque buildup in arteries) and high blood pressure.

Talk to your doctor about how to reduce your risk of heart failure or ways to manage your symptoms.

The Four Stages of Heart Failure

To recommend the best treatment, your doctor will classify your heart failure based on the severity of your symptoms. To do so, your doctor will use one of two classification systems: the stages of the American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology (AHA/ACC) or the classes of the New York Heart Association (NYHA).3

The AHA/ACC stages are:

  1. Stage A: There is a high risk of developing heart failure due to family history or other risk factors
  2. Stage B: Heart failure has been diagnosed but there are no symptoms
  3. Stage C: Heart failure has been diagnosed with current or previous signs and symptoms
  4. Stage D: Advanced heart failure with ongoing symptoms that require medical treatment

The four stages of heart failure are not the same as the four classes established by the NYHA.3 This system may be used by your doctor to classify your heart failure based on your physical limitations.

The NYHA classifications are:

  1. Class I: No limitations and no symptoms with ordinary physical activities
  2. Class II: Slight limitation and mild symptoms with ordinary activities
  3. Class III: Marked limitation with symptoms during less than ordinary activities
  4. Class IV: Severe limitations with symptoms even while at rest

Symptoms of heart failure include shortness of breath, fatigue, chest pain, and increased heart rate. Call your doctor if you have any of these symptoms, especially if you are at risk or have had heart problems in the past.

What can you do to lower your risk of heart failure?

Try the following to help you lower your risk of heart failure.

  • Stop smoking. Even if you gain weight, quitting smoking today can reduce your risk of heart disease within a year.
  • Lose weight. If you are overweight, losing just a few pounds can make a difference.
  • Exercise. Regular exercise helps to lower bad cholesterol (LDL), keep blood pressure from rising, and keep off excess weight.
  • Eat less saturated fat. If your LDL cholesterol is high, try leaner cuts of meat and 1% (low-fat) milk or skim (fat-free) milk instead of 2% milk.
  • Limit alcohol consumption. While there are indications that moderate red wine consumption may reduce the risk of heart disease, it is best to limit overall alcohol consumption.
  • Eat more fruits, vegetables, and other fiber-rich foods.

Clinical trials

Clinical trials are research studies that are conducted to determine whether a potential new medical advancement can help people and whether it has any negative side effects. Today, many people are able to keep their symptoms of heart failure under control thanks to medical advances. However, there’s no cure for heart failure. As a result, clinical research studies are essential for discovering and developing better treatment options and, ideally, a cure for heart failure.

Learn More

Joining a clinical trial is one way to help in the fight against this disease. If you’re interested in joining a clinical trial or just want more information, search for clinical trials on ClinicalTrials.gov.

1. https://world-heart-federation.org/news/whf-and-astra-zeneca-publish-new-heart-failure-gap-report/

2. https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-failure/what-is-heart-failure/classes-of-heart-failure