As we age, those blood vessels become stiffer, a condition called atherosclerosis. 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.
Heart failure in people between the ages of 20–29 years is not common. Still, it is possible a person in their 20s could develop heart failure. An estimated . 02–1 out of every 1,000 cases of heart failure each year occur in people in their 20s.
Warning signs and symptoms of heart failure include shortness of breath, chronic coughing or wheezing, swelling, fatigue, loss of appetite, and others. Heart failure means the heart has failed to pump the way it should in order to circulate oxygen-rich blood throughout the body.
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.
You may have trouble breathing, an irregular heartbeat, swollen legs, neck veins that stick out, and sounds from fluid built up in your lungs. Your doctor will check for these and other signs of heart failure. A test called an echocardiogram is often the best test to diagnose your heart failure.
Breathlessness might occur, or become more noticeable, when walking or exerting yourself. People with more severe heart failure might experience breathlessness when resting and may notice that this gets worse when they lie flat. During the night, you may wake and feel an urgent need to sit up and get a breath in.
Since the symptoms of heart disease can range from mild to severe and from common to atypical, heart disease is often misdiagnosed as another health condition. Other diagnoses include anxiety, anemia, and kidney and lung diseases. Heart disease is most commonly mistaken as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
How long can you live with congestive heart failure? In general, more than half of all people diagnosed with congestive heart failure will survive for 5 years. About 35% will survive for 10 years.
Tests for 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.
Heart failure symptoms may include: Shortness of breath with activity or when lying down. Fatigue and weakness. Swelling in the legs, ankles and feet.
The main symptoms of heart failure are: breathlessness after activity or at rest. feeling tired most of the time and finding exercise exhausting. feeling lightheaded or fainting.
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. Heart failure may not cause symptoms right away.
If you wake up feeling not refreshed, you have daytime sleepiness or if you need to curtail your daytime activity because of lack of energy, these could be signs your heart failure isn't being managed as well as it could be, Dr. Freeman says.
Depending on how severe heart failure is, it may go unnoticed, only cause minor symptoms, or really affect your physical fitness. People who have advanced heart failure find it hard to carry out normal everyday activities. Various treatments can relieve the symptoms and help you live longer.
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.
Heart failure directly accounts for about 8.5% of all heart disease deaths in the United States. And, by some estimates heart failure actually contributes to about 36% of all cardiovascular disease deaths. One study notes that heart failure is mentioned in one in eight death certificates.
Patients with congestive heart failure have a high incidence of sudden cardiac death that is attributed to ventricular arrhythmias.
Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the center of your chest. It lasts more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back. Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach. Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.
A coronary angiogram is a type of X-ray used to examine the coronary arteries supplying blood to your heart muscle. It's considered to be the best method of diagnosing coronary artery disease - conditions that affect the arteries surrounding the heart.
If a GP thinks you may be at risk of CHD, they may do a risk assessment for cardiovascular disease, heart attack or stroke. This may be carried out as part of an NHS Health Check. The GP will: ask about your medical and family history.
The most common types of blood tests used to assess heart conditions are: Cardiac enzyme tests (including troponin tests) – these help diagnose or exclude a heart attack. Full blood count (FBC) – this measures different types of blood levels and can show, for example, if there is an infection or if you have anaemia.