How Are My Symptoms Assessed And What Is The New York Heart Association Functional Class Ranking?

— -- Question: How are my symptoms assessed and what is the New York Heart Association Functional Class Ranking?

Answer: The New York Heart Association has four functional classes. Class one is when you have virtually no symptoms or symptoms with excessive activity. And symptoms can usually include trouble breathing when you are walking or trouble breathing with activity and occasionally some swelling. So class one you have virtually no symptoms.

Class two are symptoms with moderate activity. You do develop symptoms of trouble breathing and difficulty doing activities. However it's usually after you've walked about 10 blocks or eight blocks. It usually takes a moderate amount of activity to cause the symptoms.

Class three heart failure is when you have symptoms of trouble breathing with less activity, perhaps one block to two blocks and you'll develop symptoms of a shortness of breath.

In class four heart failure is when you have symptoms with very minimal activity or symptoms at rest. And again this usually includes trouble breathing. It may include trouble breathing when you're sleeping at night so you need to sleep with a pillow propped behind you to help make you breathe better. And it can include swelling of your legs.