Congestive heart failure

[Terriallen]

help please !!!! My husband is 32 years old and was just told he has heart failure his heart is only pumping about 15% can someone explain to me what's going to happen to him in the next 5 years how can I help him can he live a normal life ????

[Smiley2000]

We are very fortunate to have a Cardiologist on board!  Your post is very informative and your English is perfect!  Nothing to apologize about.

Have a great day :)

[gedankenkatze]

Hi,

Left ventricular ejection fraction of 15% is a severe condition.  But, the response to treatment differs among the cause of heart disease.

If the patient has coronary heart disease, surgery on coronary arteries may improve the heart function significantly. The presence of coronary heart disease is easily detected by CT, scintigraphy, exercise test, or stress echo. Cardiac catheterization is gold standard to assess the status of coronary arteries, and this is nowadays a safe examination. I think 32-year old people rarely have this type of heart disease.

If the patient has idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, drug named as carvedilol usually helps the patients. Carvedilol is originally a blood-pressure-lowering drug. But, this is very effective on the hearts with idiopathic cardiomyopathy. I think your hasband may have this type of disease from statistical knowledge.

If the heart function does not recover after these treatment, you can consider the use of a heart-failure-treatning pacemaker (cardiac resynchronization therapy). This devise is implanted to subcutaneous layer (under the skin) and stimulates the heart.

Some patients do not respond to all of these treatment. In such case, cardiac transplantation is considered.  

Many people with initial ejection fraction of 15% survive 5 years. Carvedilol is not so expensive and does not show severe side effect in most patient. I believe you and your husband can relax a little bit. But, diagnosis and initiation of proper treatment in near future is vital.

Sorry for my wrong English (I am a Japanese doctor).
Thank you

[vienna13]

Of course we can help. Tell a little more what he was told? How much you know?
Many of us here had 20% or under and our EF  went back to normal. Lot the doctors and you can do!

  Keep your chins up!!

[erijon]

So sorry to hear of your husband's troubles, it must be difficult. Can I ask if the doctors told you why he is in heart failure? The quality of his life going forward will depend much on the cause of his condition as there are many treatment options based on the underlying condition.

Let us know so we can help,

Jon