My grandfather has congestive heart failure. How long will it take to kill him? How long do most people live after being diagnosed with this? I'd rather not get pasted "answers" about how most heart problems don't have symptoms, what I can do to help slow heart failure, etc.
I'm just asking about the average amount of time people live after being diagnosed with congestive heart failure.
Thanks again. My sweet hubby has lived with heart failure for around 23 years. 2 years ago when he was in I.C.U. (3 heart attacks in 17 hours WITH pneumonia) Docs. said he had less than a10% chance to survive. This morning he was out raking the lawn...cleaning the garage out. We have done everything we can to make the proper choices for a long & happy life. It all depends on the general health & mind set of the person. There is no set answer. Congestive Heart Failure
Congestive heart failure (CHF), or heart failure, is a condition in which the heart can't pump enough blood to the body's other organs. This can result from
narrowed arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle 鈥?coronary artery disease
past heart attack, or myocardial infarction, with scar tissue that interferes with the heart muscle's normal work
high blood pressure
heart valve disease due to past rheumatic fever or other causes
primary disease of the heart muscle itself, called cardiomyopathy.
heart defects present at birth 鈥?congenital heart defects.
infection of the heart valves and/or heart muscle itself 鈥?endocarditis and/or myocarditis
The "failing" heart keeps working but not as efficiently as it should. People with heart failure can't exert themselves because they become short of breath and tired.
As blood flow out of the heart slows, blood returning to the heart through the veins backs up, causing congestion in the tissues. Often swelling (edema) results. Most often there's swelling in the legs and ankles, but it can happen in other parts of the body, too. Sometimes fluid collects in the lungs and interferes with breathing, causing shortness of breath, especially when a person is lying down.
Heart failure also affects the kidneys' ability to dispose of sodium and water. The retained water increases the edema.
How do you diagnose and treat congestive heart failure?
Your doctor is the best person to make the diagnosis. The most common signs of congestive heart failure are swollen legs or ankles or difficulty breathing. Another symptom is weight gain when fluid builds up.
CHF usually requires a treatment program of
rest
proper diet
modified daily activities
drugs such as
ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) inhibitors
beta blockers
digitalis
diuretics
vasodilators
Various drugs are used to treat congestive heart failure. They perform different functions. ACE inhibitors and vasodilators expand blood vessels and decrease resistance. This allows blood to flow more easily and makes the heart's work easier or more efficient. Beta blockers can improve how well the heart's left lower chamber (left ventricle) pumps. Digitalis increases the pumping action of the heart, while diuretics help the body eliminate excess salt and water.
When a specific cause of congestive heart failure is discovered, it should be treated or, if possible, corrected. For example, some cases of congestive heart failure can be treated by treating high blood pressure. If the heart failure is caused by an abnormal heart valve, the valve can be surgically replaced.
If the heart becomes so damaged that it can't be repaired, a more drastic approach should be considered. A heart transplant could be an option.
Most people with mild and moderate congestive heart failure can be treated. Proper medical supervision can prevent them from becoming invalids. Hi NoNames
Here are some ideas on how to heal the heart.
Causes of Heart Disease
There are numerous causes of heart disease. These include poor diet, nutritional deficiencies, lack of exercise, smoking, genetic predisposition, chronic infection, chronic inflammation, anxiety, depression, diabetes, high blood pressure, hypothyroidism, insulin resistance, obesity, stress, gum (periodontal) disease, mercury and other environmental toxins, poverty, and oxidized cholesterol. But the most important and usually undiagnosed cause of most types of heart disease is vulnerable plaque.
Quick Action Plan for Preventing and Treating Heart Disease
1. Since up to 50 percent of heart disease cases can strike without any warning symptoms, it鈥檚 important to regularly be screened for signs of heart disease. In addition to conventional heart disease signals, such as high blood pressure and cholesterol and triglyceride levels, have your health care provider also screen you for markers such as C-reactive protein, homocysteine, fibrinogen, lipoprotein(a), glucose, insulin, and iron.
2. Also be sure to be screened for vulnerable plaque, which is the primary cause of 85 percent of all cases of heart disease. Effective screening tools for vulnerable plaque include ultra-high-speed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and darkfield microscropy.
3. You should also be screened for infectious agents such as Chlamydia, Helicobacter pylori, cytomegalovirus (CMV), and the herpes family of retroviruses
4. Oxidized cholesterol, rather than elevated cholesterol levels by themselves, is another primary factor in most cases of heart disease, and therefore should also be screened for.
5. A healthy diet is essential for a healthy heart. Emphasize a diet rich in organic whole foods, especially plenty of fresh, raw fruits and vegetables, oats, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and organic, free-range poultry and wild-caught, cold water fish, such as halibut, mackerel, orange roughy, and salmon (avoid farm raised salmon). Beans and legumes are also advisable due to their high fiber content. Throughout the day, drink plenty of pure, filtered water, and avoid drinking鈥攁s well as bathing, and showering in鈥攗nfiltered tap water, because tap water contains heavy metals and pesticide residues that can contribute to and worsen heart disease. Also be sure to regularly use healthy oils such as extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, flaxseed oil, and fish oils for the essential fatty acids they contain.
6. Useful nutritional supplements for protecting your heart include beta carotene; vitamins B3 (niacin), B6, B12, C, and E; folic acid; the minerals calcium, chromium, magnesium, potassium, and selenium; the amino acids L-arginine, L-lysine, L-proline, and L-carnitine; coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10); and proanthrocyanidin (PCA).
7. Useful herbs include foxglove, garlic, ginkgo biloba, ginger, hawthorn berry, linden flower, and motherwort.
8. Be sure to engage in a regular exercise program that combines aerobic exercise and strength training. For best result, devote 30 minutes three times per week to aerobic exercise, and 45 minutes twice a week for strength training.
9. Learn how to properly manage stress. Useful stress reduction techniques include biofeedback training, meditation, and yoga.
10. If you smoke, stop immediately. Also avoid all exposure to secondhand cigarette smoke, and minimize your exposure to environmental pollutants.
Best of health to you hmmm! My mother lived with it for about 20 years after being diagnosed. There is no answer to this question and no one can predict when someone is going to die. How long your grandfather can live with this is how well he takes his medication, pays attention to more than 2 pound weight gain in a single day, has his doctor see him if he is having more trouble breathing or his ankles swell more than usual. He can continue to live a long life if he takes care of himself. He can live a normal and fulfilling life if he follows a few basic rules-
Restricts his fluid intake to no more than 1.5L fluid per day.
Restricts salt intake.
Checks his ankles and legs for swelling, and consults his Doctor at the first sign of any.
Takes his medications, especially his diuretics (fluid tablets). Even if he's feeling 'better', he needs to keep taking them!
Weighs himself daily at home.
Elevates legs when sitting.
CCF is not a death sentence. Just means he needs to make a few alterations to his lifestyle. Congestive Heart Failure is not the same thing as a heart attack. It means that the heart is not pumping good enough.
Someone with CHF may get short of breath and tired. They may have swelling in their lungs or legs. The doctor will likely prescribe a number of medicines, a healthy diet (good foods like fruits and vegetables and whole grains; not the kind of things most Americans eat), and certain types of exercise.
Unless your grandfather is particularly old or otherwise in poor health, I would not order the funeral flowers yet. Like other people have said, someone can live for years with CHF. When the heart gets bad enough, the person can possibly go on the list for a donor heart.
That is one reason why we should all seriously consider being an organ donor.
Best wishes to your grandfather. |
