Disabling Effects

The person with mild heart failure is likely to have some shortness of breath on greater than ordinary exertion (such as running for a bus, running upstairs). Click on Levels of Exertion and Functional classification.

Mobility

They would normally be able to walk 500 metres or more on the flat.

There would be no need for guidance or supervision.

Care

These people are breathless on extra exertion. Therefore they are likely to be somewhat breathless on running for a bus or running upstairs but still would normally be able to do this.

A person with mild heart failure should, however be able to manage to look after all their own bodily functions without assistance. That is, bathing, dressing, attending to his/her own toilet needs and planning, preparing and cooking a main meal for one person.

Disabling Effects

With moderate heart failure, the affected person would normally be breathless on doing mild (ordinary) exertion. Click on Levels of Exertion and Functional classification.

Mobility

They would normally be breathless on mild exertion, but would normally be able to walk more than 100-200 metres, at a slower than usual pace. They avoid inclines, normally and limit their activity, according to their capability.

There would be no need for guidance or supervision.

Care

He/ she would still be likely to be able to carry out daily activities at a slower than normal pace. The condition may fluctuate.

He/ she would normally be able to bath and dress/undress him/herself without assistance but may at times need help getting out of the bath. He/she should be able to manage his/her own toilet needs and plan, prepare and cook a main meal for one. He/she would normally have to take stairs slowly and would normally be likely to stop for a brief time on the stairs.

At night he/she would normally not be able to lie flat but would normally sleep propped up on 2 or 3 pillows. Attention at night for assistance with toilet needs is not likely to be usual.

Disabling Effects

A person with severe heart failure would normally have severe functional limitations and be breathless on slight (minimal) exertion or at rest.

Click on Levels of Exertion and Functional classification

A condition called acute Pulmonary Oedema may occur and is life - threatening. He/she would normally have been admitted to hospital, within the previous 12 months, because of deterioration of health.

Mobility

He/she would not normally be able to make more than 20-30 yards, on the flat, before developing extreme breathlessness and could only manage stairs with extreme difficulty, hills being out of the question.

There would be no need for guidance or supervision.

Care

Severe heart failure has a huge and overwhelming impact on daily life.

A person with severe heart failure would normally move around very slowly and frequently be housebound. They would normally require help with most aspects of self-care, i.e. getting in and out of bed, getting dressed and undressed, bathing and getting to and on and off the toilet. Also because of breathlessness and fatigue a person with a severe condition (though likely to be able to plan and prepare part of a meal while sitting) would not normally be able to lift a pan of boiling water safely and would be too breathless to bend to get something out of the oven.

At night, with severe heart failure, he/she would not normally be able to lie flat and would normally sleep propped up on several pillows and the affected person would normally be likely to need assistance to rearrange pillows and to get in and out of bed to use a toilet or commode. However, if a bottle is placed conveniently within reach a person would normally be able to use a bottle but not to empty it.