NYHA Classes
This NYHA class includes patients with no limitations of physical activity
What is class I?
This term is often used for heart failure and includes fluid build up.
What is Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)?
Another name for systolic heart failure based on ejection fraction.
What is HFrEF (heart failure with REDUCED ejection fraction)?
A hallmark symptom of systolic heart failure.
What is dyspnea? (shortness of breath)
This type of heart failure occurs when the left ventricle becomes stiff and can’t relax properly, reducing the heart’s ability to fill with blood.
What is diastolic heart failure?
In this NYHA class, ordinary activity causes fatigue or shortness of breath.
What is class II?
This type of heart failure results from the left ventricle not pumping properly.
What is left-sided heart failure?
The primary problem in systolic heart failure is the heart's inability to do this.
What is contract or (pump blood effectively)?
The type of swelling usually starts in the legs or ankles due to heart failure.
What is edema?
In diastolic heart failure, this critical measurement, the percentage of blood pumped out with each beat, remains normal.
What is ejection fraction?
This class involves marked limitation of physical activity; symptoms occur with less than ordinary activity.
What is class III?
Heart failure where both sides of the heart are affected.
What is Biventricular Heart Failure?
Systolic heart failure is usually located in this chamber of the heart.
What is the left ventricle?
This symptom may cause pink-colored frothy mucus.
What is coughing or wheezing?
This diagnostic imaging test is used to distinguish between diastolic and systolic heart failure by examining heart structure and function.
What is an echocardiogram?
Patients in this class experience symptoms even at rest?
What is class IV?
The part of the heart that pumps blood to the lungs.
What is the right ventricle?
This term describes when EF is between 41% and 49%.
What is HFmrEF (mildly reduced ejection fraction)?
This device may be used to assist heart pumping in severe cases.
What is a left ventricular assist device (LVAD)?
Name two common symptoms of diastolic heart failure that are also seen in systolic heart failure.
What are shortness of breath and swelling (or fatigue)?
The NYHA classification helps physicians do this.
What is assess, plan and monitor?
The measurement, usually 55-60% as normal, is used to assess how much blood the heart pumps with each beat.
What is Ejection Fraction (EF)?
A narrowd aortic valve whichcan lead to systolic heart failure.
What is aortic stenosis?
This surgical option is considered when all else fails.
What is heart transplant?
This medication, a potassium-sparing diuretic, has shown promise in treating selected patients with diastolic heart failure.
What is spironolactone (Aldactone)?