What Are The 4 Stages of Congestive Heart Failure & How Can You Treat It?

November 30, 2022
5 min read

Heart failure is an extremely serious condition that can lead to life-threatening results. After all, to live, your heart needs to be able to pump blood. When the pumping stops or your heart becomes too weak, your body can go into shock. This happens because the blood that’s supposed to go to your lungs doesn’t reach in time. Instead, excess fluid gathers there, causing shortness of breath, which can further trigger a heart attack. Or in extreme cases, even heart failure. However, there are 4 stages of congestive heart failure that you need to look out for.

What is Congestive Heart Failure?

Congestive heart failure, normally known as heart failure, is a severe heart condition. It’s caused by the lack of blood and oxygen supply to your organs. And when your body doesn’t get the blood it needs to function properly; it can go into overdrive.However, heart failure doesn’t mean your heart flatlines or completely stops working. Rather, it’s when your heart fails to work as it should due to weak muscles. Nonetheless, you can overturn the results with proper care and maintenance. This is precisely why doctors advise paying proper attention to your cardiovascular health.

Causes of Congestive Heart Failure

Heart failure doesn’t occur on its own. Your body alerts you when your heart muscles start to loosen. This means that there are always other conditions at play that trigger congestive heart failure. Here are some additional causes that can lead to such fatal results:

  • Congenital Heart Disease
  • Coronary Artery Disease
  • Diabetes
  • Excessive Alcohol Intake
  • Heart Arrhythmia
  • Heart Attack
  • Heart Valve Disease
  • High Blood Pressure
  • Hyperthyroid
  • Myocarditis
  • Obesity
  • Poorly Balanced Diet
  • Sedentary Lifestyle
  • Smoking Tobacco

What Are The 4 Stages of Congestive Heart Failure?

As easy as it is to categorize heart failure in a single compartment, that’s not how it works. In reality, congestive heart failure is divided into 4 different stages. These stages depict a chronological order of how the condition goes from concerning to severe. Here’s a basic rundown of these phases:

  • Stage A — Pre-Heart FailureThis stage indicates you possess the risk factors to suffer from heart failure but do not have symptoms of a heart condition.
  • Stage B — Silent Heart FailureKnown as the asymptomatic stage, silent heart failure is a big red flag. It means you have been diagnosed with heart failure or other heart disorders with no identifiable symptoms.
  • Stage C — Diagnosed Heart FailureDiagnosed heart failure stems from a proper diagnosis. It’s when you already suffer from structural heart disease and possess symptoms of congestive heart failure.
  • Stage D — Red ZoneBeing the final yet most threatening stage of all, the red zone signifies your heart disease is in an advanced state. You might require critical and aggressive medical therapy to help heal the condition.

How to Treat Congestive Heart Failure

Congestive heart failure, with all its 4 stages, is a life-threatening condition. However, there’s nothing modern medicine can’t fix. But for it to take effect, you need to visit a doctor and seek proper treatment. Even if you notice the slightest shift from your normal routine, schedule an appointment with a cardiologist.Here at NorthWest Cardiovascular Clinic, we offer critical Heart Failure Management, among other treatments. Our services also include a Physical Stress Test, which can determine the condition of your heart.There are plenty of actions that can ensure your heart activity remains stable. For instance, you can get back on track and restore your heart health by cutting out toxic habits and maintaining a healthy diet.

Closing Word

All in all, the 4 stages of congestive heart failure vary from benign, to asymptomatic, to severe and fatal. If you are facing heart-related issues, contact NorthWest Cardiovascular Clinic at (281) 807-5253 to schedule an appointment today. You can also visit our clinic in Houston at 18220 TX-249 Suite #230, Houston, TX 77070, located opposite Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital.

Take the next step towards a healthy heart

Request an appointment by clicking the button below or call our office staff at (281) 807-5253

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.