What is the length of time someone can live with congestive heart failure if they take medication?

Answer 1

As the above answerers said, it depends on the individual and the cause of the problem, the extent to which the ejection fraction is impaired, the comorbidities (other conditions affecting the patient), the patient's age, etc.. Some causes of congestive heart failure, such as viral or peripartum cardiomyopathy or alcoholic cardiomyopathy, can reverse partially or completely. The patient should follow the physician's advice, learn as much as he or she can about his condition, and keep abreast of the best therapies for the condition to facilitate a dialogue with the people providing the medical care.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

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Answer 4

Congestive heart failure is the failure of the heart to properly pump the oxygen rich blood supply throughout the body. Basic broken pump problems. When the tissues of the body are unable to get the oxygen the require from the heart (pump), the body responds by making the heart work harder. This response causes the heart muscle to enlarge; specifically in the Left Ventricle. This enlargement is known as "remodeling" and eventually lowers the ejection fraction of the heart (output of blood pumped).
{Picture a closed system of clear water hoses with a large clear bag you must pump by hand. Once you get the flow going, if you decide to slow down squeezing your hand the fluid will slow down and "backed up" in the system.}
The prognosis of a patient would depend on how soon the condition was diagnosed and treatment began. The patient's medication compliance, diet, daily activites, daily stress, and age all play a part as well. I did do some research on the American Heart Association web site and found they claim "women greater or equal to 70 y/o and men greater or equal to 80y/o that are diagnosed with congestive heart failure will die from complications within 8 years of diagnosis."

You should talk with your doctor and research the AHA website if you would like some further information. I am a critical care nurse, but I do not have your chart or history in front of me.

I hope the information helps you.

Answer 5

It all depends on the individual person and a few other factors.First like what has caused the CHF? Is it from a problem in the ventricles or is it secondary to something else such as multiple lyemloma?Is the patient overweight?Do they have any other medfical problems???Diabetes will complicate many types of other problems..CHF being one of them...lifestyle,eating habits,quit smoking etc all play into the longevity of someone with CHF. If a person with this keeps up on their medications,eats and makes lifestyle changes for the better then they can extend their life..but if there's an underlying reason onther than cardiac for this problem then no matter what you do it may not extend life...I have treated many with this condition and those that did take care of themselves seemd to have a better quality of life...but best thing you can do is talk to your doctor and follow his orders,make lifestyle changes that you need to and keep a close eye on yourself for any changes in your condition...dont do what alot have done...think its nothing to have gained a few extra pounds in a week and then when breathing gets a little harder wait too long to call 911...that extra weight is fluid building up..not what you ate that week...but this is manageable and you'll be able to continue to enjoy life

Answer 6

I've had CHF for 3 years now and I have Peri Partum Cardiomyopathy.I got both from the birth of my child.I take my medications Coreg,Altace and Spironolactone and Lipitor.I ask myself the same question sometimes.I'm 30 and don't know many people with this.I got it at age 27.They put me on a donors list 3 years ago.They said I had 6months before it would fail but that was 2003.Look at my Q&A on Congestive Heart Failure question I asked to know just what I'm going through.They have forums for this illness.

Answer 7

Depends on the general health of the person other than the CHF, I have CHF but I also have diabetes and on dialysis with lots of others stuff going on.
If the CHF were the only factor I could live a good long life, but with all this other *$#% going on it will be nice to see if I get to see the new year come in.

Answer 8

I was diagnosed with CHF in 1981 ! I am now on carvedillol which according to the manufacturer can sometimes reverse CHF so some patients who were on the transplant list could be taken off the list. My last echo said no sign of pulmonary hypertension . !!!!

Answer 9

There are many factors in which contribute to this! Overall general health, age, diet, exercise, genetics, but if all goes well, you can live for years with it!!!