The New York Heart Association Functional Classification or NHYA for short, is a simple way for your doctor or nurse to classify your heart failure. It is based on your physical ability to do things, as well as other potential symptoms like your breathing and shortness of breath.

The 4 classes of heart failure The New York Heart Association (NYHA) Functional Classification categorizes HF based on the severity of symptoms and how they affect daily activities. If you have reached stage C or D heart failure, doctors will assess your symptoms and determine which class of HF you fall in. There are 4 classes. 1,3,4

NYHA Classification - The Stages of Heart Failure: Class I - No symptoms and no limitation in ordinary physical activity, e.g. shortness of breath when walking, climbing stairs etc. Class II - Mild symptoms (mild shortness of breath and/or angina) and slight limitation during ordinary activity.