Can chf make your heart weaker?

My dad has it and hes had spells where he coughs up phlem and we have to call 911 and take him to the hospital..

chf is what it is called when your heart is weaker. It is eventually fatal, but it can be controlled for years.

CHF- or congestive heart failure is not actually the cause to make your heart weaker. This is actually the consequence of a disease condition in the heart - be it a coronary atherosclerotic problem, or a heart valve problem.

CHF only means that the heart is weak., that it has difficulty pumping out the blood in it. When your dad coughs out blood phlegm, it speaks more of a left sided heart condition. Left sided heart conditions affect the lungs first.

CHF is a reversible condition. That is why the etiology, or the cause should be remedied.

My Mom who is 88, has COPD, and coughs up alot of phlegm, day and night. She also has congested heart failure, I would take your Dad to a pulmonary doctor,rather than take chances with it. They (parents) are to precious to take chances with.

Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) is a description of the result of a weakened heart. The heart may have been weakened by any number of causes - heart attack, viral infection,valve leakage, alcohol .... It's a long list.

CHF is a progressive illness. Over taxing the heart can cause it to enlarge and the condition to get worse. In that sense, you could say CHF could make your heart weaker. Overloading it with too much sodium / fluids or excessive activity could have the same effect over time.

The links below will give you more information.

Good luck. Help the old man do any exercises he's supposed to. It could help him a lot.

PS. Take away his pretzels. ( Low/No sodium!)