Heart Attack Complications

What does "end stage" congestive heart failure mean for my mother?

My 80-year-old mother has had congestive heart failure for almost ten years. Last week she was admitted to the hospital and her doctor told us she's in "end stage" heart failure. What exactly does this mean?

1 Expert Answer

Helping Your Parent Live Well With Angina

Angina isn't actually a disease, but rather a symptom of a larger problem: coronary artery disease (CAD), which occurs when a substance called plaque builds up in the arteries leading to the heart. As CAD progresses, the blood flow to the heart decreases, leading to angina and potentially a heart attack...

8 Ways You Can Help Your Parent Manage an Arrhythmia

Whether your parent has tachycardia (rapid heartbeat), bradycardia (slow heartbeat), or fibrillation (chaotic, very rapid heartbeat), managing his arrhythmia will help him live a longer, more active life. Here are some practical ways you can help

10 Questions to Ask After a Heart Attack

If your parent has recently been hospitalized for a heart attack, the future may seem very uncertain. Now is the time to organize medical care and figure out how to make the transition from hospital to home as smooth as possible. Ask your parent's doctors and nurses the following:

What to Expect After a Heart Attack

When a parent suffers a heart attack, it can turn his -- and your -- world upside down. Although a heart attack always presents challenges, keep in mind that every heart attack is different. Symptoms vary, causes differ, and treatment depends on many factors...

10 Ways You Can Help Your Parents Prevent a Heart Attack

Heart disease is the number one killer of men and women in the United States. For people over 65 years of age, the risk is even greater: eight out of ten people who die of heart disease are 65 or older. Although these statistics sound dire, take heart: With these strategies, you can help your parents reduce their risk -- and reduce your own at the same time...

Managing Congestive Heart Failure

The term "heart failure" is something of a misnomer. It makes it sound like the heart has stopped working, but that isn't really the case. All congestive heart failure means is that the heart isn't pumping efficiently enough to keep up with the body's needs. "Heart inefficiency" might be a better term...

Although you're probably familiar with the classic heart attack scenario from movies and TV, most people don't just clutch their chests and fall to the ground. Heart attacks usually start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort, or even more subtle flu-like symptoms. Heart attack symptoms can be subtle, and it's not always easy to tell what's happening...

Why are my father's heart palpitations getting more frequent?

My elderly father has been complaining about heart palpitations for almost a year. He used to have about ten a day, but about two weeks ago, he started having them a lot more frequently. What could be causing this and what should we do about it?

1 Expert Answer

What Atrial Fibrillation Means for You and Your Parent

If your parent has been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (AF), he's not alone: According to the American Heart Association, 2.2 million Americans live with this heart rhythm abnormality. Atrial fibrillation means that the atria (the upper chambers of the heart) are beating very rapidly and irregularly, "quivering" instead of contracting normally...

Personal emergency response systems, or PERS, are home devices that connect your parent to a 24-hour call center with the push of a button. The transmitter is typically worn on a neck pendant or wristband, and it sends a signal to a receiver that's connected to the home telephone line...

TIA: What You Should Know if Your Parent Is at Risk for a Stroke

A transient ischemic attack (TIA) -- also called a "ministroke" -- is a brief episode of stroke symptoms. Unlike an actual stroke, a TIA doesn't result in serious brain damage and the symptoms clear up completely. The official definition of a TIA is an episode of stroke symptoms that disappear within 24 hours, but most last for less than ten minutes...

How to Tell if Your Parent Is Having a Stroke

According to the American Heart Association, a stroke occurs every 45 seconds. But there's good news: Even if your parent suffers a stroke, immediate treatment can greatly reduce the damage. For many strokes, treatment with intravenous clot-busting drugs can make a significant difference. The catch...

What to Do When Your Parent Experiences Depression After a Stroke

For most people, the word "stroke" brings to mind a constellation of problems, including paralysis and difficulty with speech. But if your parent has recently had a stroke, you're probably well aware that the effects go well beyond the physical. The emotional aftermath can be just as overwhelming and far more difficult to sort out...

10 Ways You Can Help Your Parents Prevent a Stroke

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, stroke is the number one cause of serious, long-term disability in the United States. Over the course of a lifetime, stroke affects an estimated four out of five families. Although these statistics sound dire, take heart: With these strategies...

Ongoing Treatment After a Heart Attack

Treatment after a heart attack doesn't suddenly end when someone is released from the hospital. But ongoing treatment is very different from acute care. Instead of focusing on immediate survival, long-term treatment is geared toward improving quality of life and preventing future heart attacks. Here's what it entails:...

You may know about art therapy for people with Alzheimer's and other dementias. But caregivers can benefit by using the arts, too -- as a break. It's an often-overlooked, quick pick-me-up, handy if a vacation is only a daydream and you're not into meditative breathing.

How long do people live with congestive heart failure?

1 Expert Answer, 1 Community Answer

What is the life expectancy for someone with advanced congestive heart failure?

I'm a 52-year-old woman with advanced congestive heart failure -- stage 3. I was diagnosed in March 2006. I'm currently taking two diuretics (aldactone and lasix), digoxin, micardis, metoprolol, and cardizem. I'm also on several meds for chronic asthma/COPD, which has been a problem for several years now...

1 Expert Answer

5 Ways to Connect With Other Heart Disease Caregivers

You probably have lots of friends and family members who care about you, but when you're caring for someone with heart disease, sometimes you just need to connect with someone who really understands what you're going through. Whether you need practical advice or a shoulder to cry on, being able to reach out to other caregivers can make a world of difference...