What Are the Meanings of Numerical Heart Failure Classifications?

QUESTION: I suffer from heart failure. During his discussion with me, my
doctor told me I am a 2B classification, but he didn't explain what that term
means. Could you please provide that information for me?
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ANSWER: It is pretty complicated, but if you follow along carefully, you can
learn the meaning and reasons for these classifications. Congestive heart
failure is a condition in which the heart's pumping ability is impaired. The
heart is unable to maintain circulation sufficient to meet the body's needs.
Doctors call this "low cardiac output" and it affects people in different
ways, and to different degrees. This led the New York Heart Association to
classify the various ways that you could be affected. The numbers 1 to 4 are
used for a functional classification. The letters "A" through "E" serve as a
therapeutic classification, and serve as a guide to the management of a
patient's activities. The letter classifications also provide for
recommendations as to the amount of physical activity advisable for those in
each class. Patients with Class 2 congestive heart failure have a disease
resulting in slight limitation of physical activity. They are comfortable at
rest, but ordinary physical activity results in fatigue, palpitations, dyspnea
of anginal pain.
The "B" classification means ordinary physical activity need not be
restricted, but the patient is advised against severe or competitive efforts.
These classifications are especially helpful to doctors trying to monitor
changes in a patient's condition.