What Are The Advantages And Disadvantages Of This Procedure
The biggest advantage of heart transplantation is that its a life-saving option when other options didnt work, were too risky to use, or were unlikely to help.
The biggest disadvantages of heart transplant are:
- More people need a heart transplant than there are available donor hearts.
- Its an extremely complicated surgery, limiting it to only the most well-equipped and best-staffed hospitals.
- Some people may be too ill to survive the procedure.
- The procedure has several potential risks and complications .
What are the risks or complications of this procedure?
The most common risks and complications of heart transplant include the following:
- Organ rejection.
- Graft failure .
Treatments For Heart Failure
Treatment for heart failure usually aims to control the symptoms for as long as possible and slow down the progression of the condition.
How youre treated will depend on what is causing your heart failure.
Common treatments include:
- lifestyle changes including eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly and stopping smoking
- medicine a range of medicines can help many people need to take 2 or 3 different types
- devices implanted in your chest these can help control your heart rhythm
- surgery such as a or a heart transplant
Treatment will usually be needed for life.
A cure may be possible when heart failure has a treatable cause. For example, if your heart valves are damaged, replacing or repairing them may cure the condition.
Heart Failure Risk Factors
A recent report published by the American Heart Association estimates that 6.2 million American adults have heart failure, and that number is growing as the U.S. population continues to age. Heart failure is most common in African Americans, individuals with a family history of HF, and those who are 65 and older. It is the number one reason older people are hospitalized.
Unhealthy lifestyle factors and certain medical conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, chronic kidney disease and obesity are also associated with an elevated risk for HF.
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What Can You Do If You Have Heart Failure
Heart Failure is a serious disorder and is usually a chronic illness. Many forms of Heart Failure can be controlled with medication, lifestyle change and correction of any underlying disorder. The success of your treatment plan depends on your active involvement. Following your treatment plan can make you feel better, prevent your Heart Failure from getting worse and help you live longer.
What you can do:
Chf Is Not A Death Sentence
While serious, congestive heart failure diagnosis doesnt mean your life is over. Its important to understand how manageable it is. By taking the right steps, patients can learn to live a happy and fulfilling life.
Will there be necessary lifestyle changes? Certainly. But it doesnt mean you have to stop what youre doing. Do regular physical exercises like walking, swimming, biking, and light-weight exercises. Avoid activities such as running in very hot or very cold weather or doing heavy lifting. Stick to a diet thats low in sodium and avoid processed foods.
Consult a doctor for the best steps to combat your CHF.
Patient Experiences
- Small appearance
- Puffiness around the eyes
However, theres a slight problem when a child is suffering from congestive heart failure. The symptoms mentioned above can very likely be mistaken for a repertory infection or colic. This makes it difficult to diagnose congestive heart failure in children and infants when compared to adults.
If you have any of these symptoms, visit your doctor immediately.
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What Are The Signs Of Congestive Heart Failure
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 6.2 million Americans have heart failure, and heart failure was mentioned on more than 13% of death certificates in 2018. Knowing the signs of CHF and promptly seeking medical care can save lives. Be sure to speak with a medical professional if youre experiencing:
- Sudden weight gain
- Shortness of breath during routine activities
- A frequent urge to urinate, especially at night
- Irregular heartbeat
- Chronic cough or wheezing
How Prevalent Is Heart Failure
According to a circulation published by the American Heart Association , in February 2021, between 2015 and 2018, around 6 million Americans over 20 years old were diagnosed with heart failure.
AHA projections also show that by 2030, around 8 million Americans over 18 years of age may suffer from heart failure.
According to a 2017 review, heart failure survival rates are:
- 80-90% after one year
- 50-60% after five years
- 30% after 10 years
Ultimately, your outlook could depend on the severity of your condition and how well you manage HF. Each patient is unique, and it may be difficult to determine your chances of survival.
Doctors dubbed heart failure as an emerging pandemic as early as 1997. But with current medical advancements, innovations, and emerging treatments, there may be hope yet for HF patients.
What you can do now is take a more active role in your health and keep your doctor on speed dial. Understand your risk of heart disease now, and you might be able to prevent heart failure in the future.
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Left Ventricular Assist Devices
These may be implanted in the chest to increase heart pumping action. Until recently, LVADs required that the patient be hooked up to a large, hospital-based console while awaiting a transplant. Miniaturized battery-powered LVAD units, however, are allowing many patients to leave the hospital. The devices may be used as a primary treatment or as a bridge to heart transplant in adults.
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How Long Can You Live With Congestive Heart Failure Topic Guide
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How Is Congestive Heart Failure Treated
Doctors will assess the current health status of the patient to establish a baseline, and develop a long-term health plan with the goal of improving the patients health. This may involve the optimization of medicines and therapies, adding new medication, or possibly enrollment in a clinical trial.
Stabilizing and/or reversing a patients condition often involves long-term, collaborative follow-up with a referring cardiologist or physician.
In serious situations, advanced therapies, which include mechanical solutions, a heart transplant, or hospice, may be offered.
Living With Congestive Heart Failure: What To Expect
Yes, there are several lifestyle changes you should take into account if youve been diagnosed with congestive heart failure. But remember your diagnosis doesnt mean you should necessarily stop doing things you love.
You are supposed to be exercising walking, biking, swimming, or doing light weight exercises, says Mountis. The American Heart Association recommends at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity aerobic activity at least five days a week for optimal heart health. Avoid exercises that make you feel breathless, and make sure to talk to your doctor before starting a new exercise routine.
Your healthcare provider will also likely suggest dietary changes that can help reduce the swelling associated with congestive heart failure and slow the progression of the condition. Those changes may include following a low- or reduced-salt diet, or reducing how much fluid you drink to lessen the bodys water content.
Other lifestyle changes that can slow the progression of heart failure include:
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Stage 1 Of Congestive Heart Failure
If youve been diagnosed with stage one of congestive heart failure, it is because a doctor has noticed a weakness in your heart. This news may be surprising, as stage one of CHF does not exhibit any symptoms. Although CHF cannot be cured, you can make healthy lifestyle changes and take certain medication to manage this condition.
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At the Drake Center for Veterinary Care, we believe that pets are members of the family both yours and ours and should be treated as such. And family is deserving of the greatest treatment possible. Providing high-quality and compassionate pet care to families in Encinitas, CA and the neighboring areas of North San Diego County for more than two decades, we have built a reputation for excellence.
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When Should I Call An Ambulance
If you have any of the symptoms below, call triple zero immediately and ask for an ambulance. If calling triple zero does not work on your mobile phone, try calling 112.
- chest pain thats severe or worsening, or has lasted longer than 10 minutes
- chest pain that feels heavy, crushing or tight
- other symptoms, such as breathlessness, nausea, dizziness or a cold sweat
- pain in your jaw or down your left arm
What Is The General Prognosis Of Congestive Heart Failure
The congestive heart failure is a progressive disease and is demarcated into four classes. With the progression to the next class, the condition of the patient is seen to deteriorate.
Class I The heart failure is mostly not symptomatic apart from the complaint of weakness by the patient.
Class II Patients of congestive heart failure avoid strenuous activities as such lead to heart palpitation and fatigue.
Class III Patients with Class III congestive heart failure are pretty symptomatic where most activities get limited due to the weakness.
Class IV The CHF is characterized by severe symptoms where the patient cannot even carry out basic life activities and experience severe heart palpitations and shortness of breath.
The general prognosis of the disease primarily varies from patient to patient because an amalgamation of factors leads to the disease. Nevertheless what can be definitely said is if the symptoms are brought to notice at an earlier stage, which is followed by early diagnosis. The prognosis will be much better as compared to late diagnosis.
Early diagnosis and early treatment is effective in reducing the symptoms so that the patient can live a quality life.
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Manage Depression And Anxiety
Depression and anxiety are common in people with congestive heart failure. Feeling unwell, being unable to do some of the things they once enjoyed, and uncertainty about the future can all contribute to feelings of sadness. But if the person youre caring for seems consistently unhappy, they may be depressed. Look out for these signs of depression, and if you notice any, notify their doctor:
- Frequent crying episodes
- Feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness
- Poor appetite or increased appetite
- Sleeping too much or not enough
- Increased agitation and restlessness
- Loss of interest in life
- Expressing thoughts of dying or suicide
Depression is a serious problem that requires evaluation and treatment. But you may be able to help manage your loved ones moods with these activities:
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Take Care Of Your Mental Health Too
While stress is never pleasant, it can be especially hard on your heart. Anger management is also an important aspect of heart health.
Talking with a therapist or joining a support group can help with keeping your stress levels down and giving you accountability for the lifestyle changes youre making.
End Stages Of Heart Failure: What To Expect
Congestive heart failure is one of the most common reasons for hospital admissions for senior citizens. In fact, over 5 million adults in the United States experience heart failure.
Heart failure occurs when the heart muscle becomes damaged and can no longer pump blood effectively. Although symptoms can be managed, this is a chronic condition with no cure. In time, patients will reach the final stages of congestive heart failure.
Patients in the end stages of heart failure want to know what to expect. The symptoms of end-stage congestive heart failure include dyspnea, chronic cough or wheezing, edema, nausea or lack of appetite, a high heart rate, and confusion or impaired thinking.
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What Happens During This Procedure
A heart transplant is a complicated surgery that usually involves the following steps.
General anesthesia
Heart transplant always involves general anesthesia, which puts you into a deep sleep. While youre asleep, providers will insert a tube down your throat, attaching the end of the tube outside your body to a machine called a ventilator. The ventilator will keep you breathing even though youre under anesthesia.
After youre under anesthesia, providers will lower your body temperature to around 82 degrees F . Lowering your body temperature means the activity of your cells slows down. That prevents damage to your cells when blood flow stops during various steps of the surgery.
Removing your heart
At some point, providers will also add blood thinners like heparin to your blood to keep it from clotting at the wrong time. Theyll then reroute all the blood in your body through a device called a heart-lung bypass machine. That device adds oxygen and removes carbon dioxide from your blood, and also keeps your blood circulating.
To make room for the donor heart you’ll receive, doctors have to perform a procedure called cardiectomy to remove your heart. This procedure involves clamping off all the major blood vessels that connect to your heart and disconnecting your heart from them.
Implanting the donor’s heart
Easing Congestive Heart Failure With Diet And Exercise
Following a diet specifically designed for people with congestive heart failure can dramatically diminish the diseases symptoms. The key to this diet is limiting salt, because too much sodium can lead to fluid retention, which worsens congestive heart failure symptoms. Although you should ask the doctor for specific dietary information, the following guidelines are some of the keys to a better diet.
Cook with Less Salt
Reducing the sodium in a patients diet doesnt mean condemning them to a lifetime of bland foods. Season with herbs, spices, and freshly ground pepper instead of salt. Citrus juices and vinegars can make a delicious base for marinating meat. For treats that are naturally low in sodium, stock up on plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. Ask the doctor for a referral to a nutritionist who can offer more tips on preparing low-sodium foods.
Look for Sodium Content on Labels
Packaged foods, canned soups, and condiments are often loaded with sodium. Before buying, examine the nutritional information. Be sure to look at how many servings each package contains and how much sodium is in each serving. And dont forget to check the ingredient list: If sodium or salt is listed in the first five ingredients, find an alternative. For example, look for low-sodium versions of canned vegetables.
Be a Salt Sleuth When Dining Out
Keep Them Moving
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Weight Loss Diabetes And Obesity
A 2018 study published in the Canadian Journal of Diabetes suggests that a sustained weight loss of more than 5% of body weight will lead to an improvement in glycemic control and cardiovascular risk factors. By employing healthy lifestyle choices such as exercise, eating a better diet, and other behavior interventions, both weight loss and lowering hemoglobin A1C can be reached.
Medication to manage weight may improve glycemic and metabolic control in both people with diabetes and obese patients, and, when deemed appropriate, bariatric surgery may be an option for obese and diabetic patients.
Before you begin any sort of weight-loss program, consult with your cardiologist and diabetes management team first.
Helping Someone Manage Congestive Heart Failure
Whether your loved one lives alone, with you, or in a long-term care facility, you should encourage them to care for themselves as much as possible. Although you may be tempted to take care of everything for them, theyll feel better about themself if you help them perform tasks on their own. As long as theyre able, they should be involved in managing their symptoms and making decisions about treatment. By taking on too much responsibility for your loved one, you risk taking away their independence and exhausting yourself in the process.
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Acute And Chronic Heart Failure
The distinction between acute and chronic HF may be artificial, as both usually occur at some point in most patients with HF but clinical practice and research have traditionally separated the two groups. When discussing prognosis with a patient it can be useful to consider their recent level of symptom stability as the evidence base draws on studies that have tended to recruit from either stable, chronic community patients or those admitted with an acute episode of HF. The European Society of Cardiology’s definition of chronic HF is where the patient has had the condition for some time stable is where there has been no significant change in the past month.3 A chronic, stable patient who suffers a deterioration in their condition can be said to have acutely decompensated, but acute HF can also refer to a patients first presentation with HF.1