congestive heart failure... help me understand it

someone close to me is currently in the hospital. the first update we were given was that it could be congestive heart failure.

i have spent a little time looking up information, but i feel that i'm getting google information overload.

i keep reading so much conflicting info.
is this going to kill him quickly or is this going to be something that will kill him slowly?

i think i don't know how to read english because i have so many emotions running around, right now.

thanks for any info that i can wrap my head around.

congestive heart failure... help me understand it

My father in law has been in CHF for a few years. His condition has remained the same. He’s on a number of meds and has had a few surgeries along the way as well.

Re: congestive heart failure... help me understand it

My BiL grandma was in CHF for as long as I knew her. She passed from something unrelated. It is usually well controlled by medication and lifestyle changes

Re: congestive heart failure... help me understand it

From what I know it's something that can be controlled with medication etc.
It's something you can live with it just has to be closely monitored

Re: congestive heart failure... help me understand it

It can be controlled with medication and lifestyle changes - namely dietary and quitting smoking.
If untreated, it will kill.

CHF causes the body to fill with fluid because the heart is not pumping blood efficiently. The heart may become enlarged or it may become stiff. The kidneys respond by building up fluid in the body and lungs, hence "congestive".

congestive heart failure... help me understand it

thank you for the information.
now it makes sense.

sadly, unless God himself comes down and has a chat with this person, he is not likely to change anything in his current lifestyle.

congestive heart failure... help me understand it

CHF can be quick or slow and someone can live in that state for years. As others posted diet and life style change can elongate the persons life. It really also depends on overall health of the body too, not just heart and lungs.

Re: congestive heart failure... help me understand it

There are some things that might be able to be done for your friend if he is interested....

There is something called a "Cardiomems"....its a device they implant (Very easy procedure, through the groin) to help measure the persons fluid levels at home. Once the device is in, they lay on a pillow daily and measurments are sent to their doctors office to make sure that they are not becoming fluid overloaded. It helps keep them from needing to be admitted to the hospital.

If the persons heart is really weak (usually measured by an "ejection fraction" of around 20%- Norm is 60-65%)...they usually recommend an AICD to help the heart in the event that the person has an arrhythmia...

Patient should be on a beta blocker (usually Coreg/Carvedilol or Lopressor/Metropolol

Patient is usually on a diuretic as well (Lasix) to help pull fluid off of them

Diet- Try to encourage LOW SALT if nothing else... its definitely not easy to completely change your lifestyle but it will be instrumental in this case...

If you have any specific questions, let me know...i'm a cardiac nurse

Message edited 4/3/2019 9:30:04 PM.

congestive heart failure... help me understand it

thanks again.

NursemomOf3, thanks for the offer for further info.

i pray that this information scares him straight. i have a feeling it won't, but i will be hopeful.
this is someone who eats nothing but junk food (high in sodium) eats A LOT at all times of the day, he is morbidly obese, and he uses drugs. he's a functioning junkie would be the best way to describe it.

at this time, i can just hope and pray that there are still more tests to run and it might end up being something else.

i'm going to have to start preparing my mind and heart for the worst news.

Re: congestive heart failure... help me understand it