Q. How fatal is congestive heart failure?

Doctor Answer is medically reviewed by SecondMedic medical review team.

Answered by Seconmedic Expert

Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) is a serious medical condition and can be fatal in some cases. However, it is important to keep in mind that there are different levels of severity and mortality associated with CHF.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that about 5.7 million adults aged 20 or older in the U.S suffer from heart failure, which means that one out of every nine American adults has been diagnosed with CHF at least once during their lifetime. The risk of death from congestive heart failure increases with age as most people over 65 have at least one form of cardiac disease making them more vulnerable to developing complications related to CHF such as respiratory issues, infection risks and fluid retention leading to severe shortness of breath or organ damage caused by poor blood circulation due to weakened heart muscles.

Even though having an aging demographic puts them at higher risk for death due to CHF, not all elderly patients succumb to this condition; studies show that about half the elderly people who develop advanced stages of this diseases fail without timely diagnosis and treatments offered by healthcare professionals such as medication therapy combined with lifestyle changes including quitting smoking if relevant, weight-loss if overweight or obese, exercise regimen adjustment etc..Moreover, early detection can significantly improve survival rates among those affected thanks to both prompt diagnosis and treatment recommended by qualified doctors familiarized with individual circumstances; according to the American College Of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA), when managed properly life expectancy for 60 percent of folks suffering from congestive heart failure could be prolonged up till ten years despite their age or other comorbid conditions impairing their overall health status even further.

Overall it is estimated that around 10% die within a year since they were first diagnosed while only one third are alive after 5 years since being admitted into the hospital following congestive heart failure symptoms manifestation; however these numbers can vary substantially depending on patient's past medical history but also timely start & adherence towards proper therapy along various approaches mentioned earlier enabling them better manage cardiovascular disease long term which makes a difference between living longer versus succumbing faster than expected given premise how problematic this acute yet chronic health issue might be when left unattended .

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