What is the Prognosis Of Congestive Heart Failure?
In general, the prognosis of the congestive heart failure depends on a variety of factors associated with the patient. There are various risk factors which contribute to congestive heart failure which need a special mention in order to understand the prognosis of the disease. If the patient is diagnosed with the disease at an early stage, the treatment along with lifestyle changes works effectively in reducing the symptoms. However, if the diagnosis is made at an advanced stage, treatment and management procedures may take some time to work effectively. Research shows that life expectancy of people with congestive heart failure is around five years or so.
What are the Types Of Congestive Heart Failure?
The types of congestive heart failure include-
Broadly, congestive heart failure can be of two types- the left sided and the right sided. Out of the two, the most common type is the left sided congestive heart failure. It occurs due to the inability of the left ventricle to function properly.
On the contrary, right sided congestive heart failure occurs when the right ventricular muscles of the heart cannot function properly to pump blood to the body. The left sided congestive heart failure can be further of two types namely the systolic heart failure and the diastolic heart failure.
Diastolic heart failure occurs when the left ventricle muscles become stiff and unable to pump blood in between the heart beats. Systolic heart failure is characterized by inability of the left ventricle to contract properly in order to pump blood to all parts of the body.
It may happen so the left sided congestive heart failure may spread to the right in case the condition is left untreated.
Can the Progression Of The Congestive Heart Failure Be Stopped?
Congestive heart failure and its progression cannot really be stopped. However, if proper lifestyle changes and proper medical guidance is followed, the progression of the disease can slow down. Some of the changes in lifestyle include-
Exercise: Getting routine exercise can help patients lead an active life that prevents the progression of the disease. It may happen so that some patient may need modified version of the already existing regime. The patient should consult the doctor if need be.
Losing Weight- It is important to maintain a healthy weight. Being obese can make patient more prone to getting tired and feeling fatigued. It is recommended that the patient checks his weight from time to time to ensure proper body weight.
Relaxing- Stress can act as a precipitating factor lead to the rapid progression of the disease. Stress management techniques like therapy or meditation can help patient relieve from stress and keep the mind calm.
Healthy Diet: It is important to concentrate on a healthy diet which is particularly low in sodium and trans fat. Sodium increases the risk of water retention which in turn can lead to increased body weight.
Regular Vaccination: A patient must get his regular vaccines especially pneumococcal pneumonia. Exposures to infections like this may lead to rapid progression of congestive heart failure.
Rest: It is important to avoid extreme temperatures as they can make the patient prone to infections. Also, ample amount of rest in a day is essential.
Conclusion
Early treatment and management techniques are always effective and the prognosis can be up to 5 years or a little more. It is to be remembered that congestive heart failure can be potentially fatal if treatment is not given at the right time. Lifestyle changes can help improve the quality of the patient’s life in many ways. It can help the patient stay active and provide relief from various painful symptoms of the disease.
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