Congestive Heart Failure Life Expectancy?

What is the average life expectancy of someone who is in stage 3 of Congestive Heart Failure. I have a friend who seems to not care. He is a 47 year old male who drinks daily, smokes 1 pack of cigarettes a day and consumes a high sodium diet. He has extreme fatigue, shortness of breath and nausea. His back heart muscle has been diagnosed as extremely weak and he does not take his heart meds. I'm concerned for his children and would like to know what to expect.

As someone who, like your friend, developed heart failure in middle age (I was 49 at the time), I can tell you that his life expectancy is directly related to how well he takes care of himself. And that, of course, is bad news for your friend.

As you realize, he is doing everything wrong. The shortness of breath would be relieved if he lost weight, gave up the cigarettes and dropped the sodium. I don't know what medications he was prescribed, but probably at least one of them would help him shed the fluid that may be getting into his lungs and making it harder for him to breathe.

It's no wonder he is always fatigued. How would anyone feel if they have reduced heart function and reduced lung capacity?

As to his other meds, there are wonderful drugs now that can lighten the load on his heart and make it easier for the heart--the part that's still funtioning--to do its job. If he doesn't take them, he is overstressing the working portion of his heart as it tries to do the job of the entire organ. It can't, at least not without help.

The nausea is a very worrisome symptom. That one suggests angina, which sometimes comes out that way. His poor heart, overworked as it is, may be sending out distress signals which are perceived as nausea.

Depending on how much alcohol his is consuming, daily drinking may or may not be a problem. One or two drinks a day (NO MORE, and NO doubles) actually seems to benefit the heart. But some people think that if one is okay, four must be great. It's not. The beneficial aspects of alcohol completely reverse if you have more than about 2 drinks (just one for a woman).

Overall, this man needs to go back to his doctor and lay all his cards on the table. Could he be depressed and "giving up"? That is very common with heart patients. He needs to tell his doctor *everything* he is doing and not doing, and why.

I believe that patients have rights, and so does your friend. But he also has children, which means he has a responsibility to be around for them until they are well established on their own. If he lets himself die while they are still young, they will never fully forgive him. What's worse, he will have missed out on seeing them grow up, which one of the best parts of life.

Good luck!!

You laid it right on the line clooth. I have DCM along with CHF. I was diagnosed 6.5 yrs. ago.Life expectancy is said to be 5 years. I don't smoke(stopped 15 yrs. ago), drink, and I push myself to stay active. My EF was down to 32, now is 45 so I guess the Drs. and I are doing something right. Report It

at this rate it could be only a few months. a person with his condition has to abstain from such items for the rest of his life, but it is a small price to pay for seeing your kids grow up.

WOW! I guess he has a death wish.

First let's start out by saying that cardiac surgery in the U.S. is a very advanced field. However, the problem is treating the patient before it's too late. So for example if the person is in pain and is suffering from 100% blockage in some arteries, as long as they live long enough to get stents put in to open one artery, they should be good. Sorry I cant give you a number for average life expectancy however, over 5 million Americans have CHF, also it is the leading cause of hospitalization in people older than 65. Therefore CHF may reduce life expectancy but most people out there with CHF are probably over 65, keeping in mind life expectancy average for a U.S. male is about 78

If the person doesn't follow the prescribed treatment, his/her life expectancy is very short. CHF can be treated, but it is a fine line when you get to stage three.

JFA0209 states a 100% blockage! That would be a "Heart Attack"and given its location could be fatal. I would say this guy is either looking for attention or is oblivious to his surroundings and just doesn't care one way or the other! How do you help someone with this kind of an attitude? The first thing a cardiologist tells you heart problems or not, NO SMOKING, NO BOOZE, LOTS OF EXERCISE!!!!