Who is at risk of congestive heart failure?

Unhealthy lifestyle habits, such as an unhealthy diet, smoking, using cocaine or other illegal drugs, heavy alcohol use, and lack of physical activity, increase your risk of heart failure. Heart or blood vessel conditions, serious lung disease, or infections such as HIV or SARS-CoV-2 raise your risk.
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What are three risk factors for congestive heart failure?

Smoking tobacco. Eating foods high in fat, cholesterol, and sodium. Not getting enough physical activity. Excessive alcohol intake.
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What is the most common cause of congestive heart failure?

The most common cause of congestive heart failure is coronary artery disease. Risk factors for coronary artery disease include: high levels of cholesterol and/or triglyceride in the blood.
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What are the early warning signs of congestive heart failure?

15 Signs and Symptoms of Congestive Heart Failure
  • Shortness of Breath. If your loved one has CHF, they may experience shortness of breath. ...
  • Fatigue. ...
  • Edema (Swelling, in the Feet, Ankles, and Legs) ...
  • Arrhythmia (Irregular Heartbeat) ...
  • Persistent Cough. ...
  • Wheezing. ...
  • Changes in Urination. ...
  • Swelling of the Abdomen.
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At what age does congestive heart failure occur?

In men, this typically starts around age 45, and in women, around age 55. This requires the heart to work harder to get the blood moving, the same way it is harder to pump water through clogged pipes. This extra workload on the heart increases the risk of developing heart failure.
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Heart Failure Risk Factors



How do you prevent congestive heart failure?

Prevention
  1. Stop smoking—better yet, don't start. It's a major factor in the arterial damage that can cause heart failure. ...
  2. Eat in heart-healthy ways. ...
  3. Lose pounds if you're overweight. ...
  4. If you have another type of heart disease or related condition, closely follow your treatment program.
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What are 4 things that can lead to heart failure?

Most often, heart failure is caused by another medical condition that damages your heart. This includes coronary heart disease, heart inflammation, high blood pressure, cardiomyopathy, or an irregular heartbeat.
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How do you rule out congestive heart failure?

After the physical exam, your doctor may also order some of these tests:
  1. Blood tests. ...
  2. Chest X-ray. ...
  3. Electrocardiogram (ECG). ...
  4. Echocardiogram. ...
  5. Stress test. ...
  6. Cardiac computerized tomography (CT) scan. ...
  7. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). ...
  8. Coronary angiogram.
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Does EKG show heart failure?

Tests you may have to diagnose heart failure include: blood tests – to check whether there's anything in your blood that might indicate heart failure or another illness. an electrocardiogram (ECG) – this records the electrical activity of your heart to check for problems.
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Can a doctor tell if you have congestive heart failure?

A test called an echocardiogram is often the best test to diagnose your heart failure. Your doctor can also use this test to find out why you have heart failure, and then monitor your condition going forward every three to six months.
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Can an EKG show congestive heart failure?

This testing also helps to determine the underlying cause of heart failure. Diagnostic tests for congestive heart failure may include: Resting or exercise electrocardiogram (also known as EKG, ECG, or stress test) Echocardiogram.
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Where does heart failure usually start?

As the heart loses the ability to pump blood, blood backs up in other parts of your body, including your lungs, liver, gastrointestinal tract, and your arms and legs. The most common cause of heart failure is coronary artery disease, the narrowing of the blood vessels that supply blood and oxygen to your heart.
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Can you recover from congestive heart failure?

Although heart failure is a serious condition that progressively gets worse over time, certain cases can be reversed with treatment. Even when the heart muscle is impaired, there are a number of treatments that can relieve symptoms and stop or slow the gradual worsening of the condition.
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Is there a difference between heart failure and congestive heart failure?

Actually, heart failure means that the heart isn't pumping as well as it should be. Congestive heart failure is a type of heart failure that requires seeking timely medical attention, although sometimes the two terms are used interchangeably.
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What is the average lifespan of a person with congestive heart failure?

Most people with end-stage heart failure have a life expectancy of less than 1 year. 4. The leading causes of heart failure are diseases that damage the heart, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes.
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Can you live a normal life with congestive heart failure?

It is possible to lead a normal life, even if you have Heart Failure. Understanding and taking control of Heart Failure is the key to success. Your doctor and healthcare providers will provide guidelines and a treatment plan. It is your responsibility to follow the treatment plan and manage your Heart Failure.
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What is a commonly prescribed drug for congestive heart failure?

Commonly prescribed include:
  • Furosemide (Lasix)
  • Bumetanide (Bumex)
  • Torsemide (Demadex)
  • Chlorothiazide (Diuril)
  • Amiloride (Midamor Chlorthalidone (Hygroton)
  • Hydrochlorothiazide or HCTZ (Esidrix, Hydrodiuril)
  • Indapamide (Lozol)
  • Metolazone (Zaroxolyn)
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Can you live 40 years with congestive heart failure?

In general, about half of all people diagnosed with congestive heart failure will survive 5 years. About 30% will survive for 10 years. In patients who receive a heart transplant, about 21% of patients are alive 20 years later.
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Is congestive heart failure terminal?

CHF is NOT a death sentence

While serious, congestive heart failure diagnosis doesn't mean your life is over. It's important to understand how manageable it is.
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What is the number one symptom of heart failure?

Shortness of breath with activity or when lying down. Fatigue and weakness. Swelling in the legs, ankles and feet. Rapid or irregular heartbeat.
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What are the two main symptoms of heart failure?

Symptoms
  • Breathlessness or Shortness of Breath (Dyspnea) When the heart begins to fail, blood backs up in the veins attempting to carry oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart. ...
  • Fatigue As heart failure becomes more severe, the heart is unable to pump the amount of blood required to meet all of the body's needs.
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What does heart failure fatigue feel like?

Tiredness, fatigue

...a tired feeling all the time and difficulty with everyday activities, such as shopping, climbing stairs, carrying groceries or walking. The heart can't pump enough blood to meet the needs of body tissues.
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How do doctors treat congestive heart failure?

Medicines are the main treatment for heart failure, but for some people surgery may help. Operations that can help with heart failure include: heart valve surgery. a coronary angioplasty or bypass.
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Does a chest xray show congestive heart failure?

Chest X-rays can show changes or problems in your lungs that stem from heart problems. For instance, fluid in your lungs can be a result of congestive heart failure.
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What is the gold standard test for heart failure?

While most patients with suspected HF do not require invasive testing for diagnosis, the clinical gold standard for diagnosis of HF is identification of an elevated pulmonary capillary wedge pressure at rest or exercise on an invasive hemodynamic exercise test in a patient with symptoms of HF.
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