HOW SERIOUS IS CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE?
About 285,000 people died of heart failure last year. For people over 65, it is the number one cause of death. Although the high mortality rates reported by most major studies are discouraging, they have not reflected the effects of the newer treatments, such as ACE inhibitors and beta blockers, that appear to be improving survival and slowing heart deterioration. Some encouraging studies, in fact, strongly suggest a steady decline in mortality rates from heart failure during the past few years. Classification of Severity A classification system was developed by the New York Heart Association to grade congestive heart failure by severity of symptoms. These classifications help physicians determine treatment options. It is important to note that classification methods are limited for the following reasons: • Symptoms may not relate to the actual severity of the condition and so not indicate changes for survival. One study found that half of heart failure patients who complained of breat
