Is there a way for improving congestive heart failure? My father is 78 years old and has been diagnosed with congestive heart failure and kidney about six years ago. He was recently in the emergency room due to shortness of breath. The attending cardiologist said he is in the final stages of CHF, has an ejection factor of 10%, and that there is nothing more that can be done for him. His prognosis is terminal and he is now on hospice care. However, I see support websites stating that there are women with EFs of 10% who are improving congestive heart failure. How is this possible?
Expert Answer by Jennifer Serafin, N.P.
I am sorry that your father is not doing well. Heart failure is a tricky problem, especially when people get uncomfortable with shorthess of breath. I understand that the CHF website may have told you stories of people doing fine with terrible hearts. Please remember that every patient is different. Part of the problem with your father is probably his kidneys, which you may understand are very important when you have heart failure. Many of the drugs we give for the heart make the kidneys work harder to pee out the excess fluid that gets into the lungs. If the kidneys are not doing well, they will not respond to the medications, and there is no other way to get the fluid out of the lungs if the kidneys are not working.
If the cardiologist at the hospital told you that your father is in the end stages of heart failure, I am sure it is true. What is important now is that he is comfortable and not in pain. Hospice will have other ways to help him make him comfortable since the heart medications are not working well anymore.
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i hope ur dad is ok my mum died 2 weeks ago from heart failure stay strong for him god bless
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In my opinion, I would seek advice from an Naturopathic doctor who can tell you of some natural remedies that can strengthen your father's heart and possibly kidneys as well. Sure you dad might be 78 but I don't think it's right to just have the medical profession throw up their hands and say, "time to let him go." I had that happen with my mom eight years ago. No doctor would try and find out why she was so anemic. After checking for a GI bled and finding nothing we were told to find her a Nursing Home. She died in just over 2 months. I am so sorry about your father but I wouldn't give up. Check out Dr. Bruce West, he has some wonderful ideas on heart health. Good luck and may God bless your dad and you.
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