Congestive Heart Failure Life Expectancy

Congestive heart failure is a long-term condition that results in your heart not being able to pump enough blood to your body. It can be potentially life threatening but there are ways to manage it. In this post, we’ll review what you need to know about congestive heart failure life span and other related topics.

What is Congestive Heart Failure in the Elderly?

Congestive heart failure occurs when the heart muscle is less able to contract over time or has a mechanical problem that limits its ability to fill with blood. Due to this, blood returns to the heart faster than it can be pumped out. It then gets backed up, resulting in difficulties with oxygen-rich blood getting to the body’s other organs. Now that we know more about the definition, let’s take a look at life expectancy with congestive heart failure.

How Long Can You Live with Congestive Heart Failure?

According to an article in the National Library of Medicine, congestive heart failure life expectancy in elderly estimates that more than half of all people with the condition will survive for five years after diagnosis. Meanwhile, about 35% will survive for 10 years. However, congestive heart failure life expectancy can be extended through lifestyle changes, surgery, and medication. Now that we know more about life expectancy with congestive heart failure, let’s take a look at the causes of congestive heart failure in the elderly.

What Causes Congestive Heart Failure in the Elderly?

Causes of congestive heart failure include

• Alcohol, tobacco and recreational drug use
• Arrhythmia
• Cardiomyopathy
• Congenital heart disease
• Diabetes
• Eating foods high in salt or fat
• Family history of congestive heart failure
• Heart attack and/or coronary artery disease
• High blood pressure
• Kidney disease
• Medications such as cancer drugs and chemotherapy
• Sedentary or inactive lifestyle

What Are the Symptoms of Congestive Heart Failure?

Living with congestive heart failure results in several symptoms. Sometimes, they may appear in mild forms or not appear at all. They may come and go but over time, you may have more or different signs. Some of these symptoms include:

• Bloated or hard stomach
• Chest pain
• Dry, hacking cough
• Fatigue when performing activities
• Heart palpitations
• Loss of appetite, upset stomach, or nausea
• Needing to urinate while resting in the evening
• Shortness of breath and waking up at night with shortness of breath
• Swelling in the abdomen, legs, or ankles
• Weight gain

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How Do You Treat Congestive Heart Failure?

Treating congestive heart failure depends on the stage (A, B, C, D). We’ll go over some management methods for all four but be sure to consult your doctor for the best course of action:

Stage A (high risk of developing heart failure)

• Regular exercise
• Treatment for high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol
• Stop using tobacco products, alcohol, and recreational drugs

Stage B (left ventricle isn’t working or is structurally abnormal)

• Beta blocker
• Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin II receptor blocker
• Aldosterone antagonist
• Possible surgery or intervention

Stage C (congestive heart failure diagnosis)

• Medications that slow your heart rate
• Fluid restriction or diuretics
• Possible cardiac resynchronization therapy
• Possible implantable cardiac defibrillator therapy

Stage D (advanced symptoms that don’t get better with treatment)

• Continuous infusion of inotropic drugs
• Heart transplant
• Heart surgery
• Palliative or hospice care
• Ventricular assist devices

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