What Are the Stages of Heart Failure? A Cardiologist Explains

There are many ways to assess the stages of heart failure. These usually fall into two categories:

• A subjective assessment (based on personal experience) of how the patient feels during physical activity, and how much symptoms are limiting them

• An objective assessment (based on diagnostic testing) that looks for evidence of changes to the heart

The important thing to understand is that severe heart failure is not necessarily inevitable. Committing to healthy habits and sticking to your medications as prescribed may save you from severe illness. By following your prescribed treatment regimen, you may be able to continue living a relatively normal life with fewer limitations.

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Written by:

Lauren Smith, MA

Lauren Smith, MA, has worked in health journalism since 2017. Before joining GoodRx, she was the senior health editor and writer for HealthiNation.

Reviewed by:

Sanjai Sinha, MD

Sanjai Sinha, MD, is a board-certified physician with over 20 years of experience. He specializes in internal medicine.

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