How Long Does End-Stage Congestive Heart Failure Last (And Why)?

How Long Does End-Stage Congestive Heart Failure Last (And Why)?

Exact Answer: 6 Months to 1 Year

There are many illnesses, diseases, health problems that can be easily cured, while some have a fair chance. Yet, some diseases and health issues can be permanent, never be cured and there is not a single permanent remedy for them. When someone has fallen into the grips of such diseases and illnesses, all their loved ones can do, is make sure they are comfortable in the end. Some even try the most desperate remedies, and to some, it may work with a shot of luck, but for some, it might not.

The life expectancy of a person depends on many factors, but when they are contradicted with an illness or health problem with no cure, the life expectancy is pretty much safe for all. One such problem, that no one has still been able to find a complete cure for, is end-stage heart failure. It can happen due to various reasons, but the end is similar to all those who have it. When a loved one is nearing their end due to end-stage heart failure, it is better to make the right decisions about their care and to make sure all their wishes are fulfilled.

Some people try a left ventricular assist device or a heart transplant as a solution, but it doesn’t completely take away the problem. It can maybe prolong the life of the patient. It is better to let them have a peaceful life than let them live in pain.

34 2

How Long Does End-Stage Congestive Heart Failure Last?

Life expectancy and remediesTime
Maximum life expectancy1 year
Minimum life expectancy6 months
Left ventricular assist device or a heart transplant1 to 3 years

Normally, when one has end-stage heart failure, their maximum life expectancy is around a year, and the minimum is around 6 to 9 months. When people try methods like left ventricular assist devices or getting a heart transplant to prolong their life, they can live around 1 to 3 years sometimes, but that is only around 50 to 60 percent of the people who get them. Heart failure is technically defined as the weakening of the heart, and this will slow down the heart bit by bit. This will make it hard for the heart to pump blood to all the other parts of the body as it actually should.

Though the heart starts weakening a long time before it shows symptoms, it can change first to try and pump blood like it used to. The heart might enlarge, stretch, or even pump more faster than it should. Normally, the heart beats about 60 to 100 times every minute if it’s normal.

Since the symptoms don’t show themselves until it becomes serious, some people might not even notice they have heart issues until it’s very late. When the person doesn’t know, it tends to get weaker and weaker as days pass by until the symptoms start showing.

Why Does End-Stage Congestive Heart Failure Last That Long?

When someone recognizes the symptoms initially, they can get treatments to manage the disease and slow down the progress, but it can be only as much as effective. Weakening of the heart is a chronic condition that has no cure to date. As time passes, the patients go through the end stages of these heart failures.

More than 6 million people in the US have heart failure and more than half of the people who were diagnosed die within 5 years after the first diagnosis. The main causes for heart failure include shortness of breath, continuous wheezing or coughing, gaining weight rapidly, being tired, weak, confusion, feeling disoriented, and the main factor, increase in heart rate. First, the symptoms are very light, but after a while, they can get severe.

Conclusion

While all these symptoms get severe as time passes by, some symptoms start showing up immediately when one goes through end-stage heart failure. The symptoms include anxiety, depression, and trouble navigating through literally anything.

When one has an end-stage heart failure condition, if they want to stay alive, there are some medications, surgeries, and using medical devices that can be used. Yet, it is better to live the life in their best comfort until they can, before the patient passes peacefully.

References

  1. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0002914989909120
  2. https://academic.oup.com/ndt/article-abstract/20/suppl_7/vii32/1905204
dot 1
One request?

I’ve put so much effort writing this blog post to provide value to you. It’ll be very helpful for me, if you consider sharing it on social media or with your friends/family. SHARING IS ♥️

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *