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Conditions that weaken the heart muscle and its pumping action can cause congestive heart failure (CHF). If the diminished function of the heart worsens, the signs and symptoms of CHF become more severe. In the final stage, when the heart is no longer capable of pumping enough blood to the body, dying from congestive heart failure is the result.
The Stages of Congestive Heart Failure
According to MedlinePlus, when the heart cannot pump blood effectively, the blood backs up in areas of the body. This causes fluid congestion in various tissues and compartments in the body. There is no cure for CHF so, as the disease progresses, signs and symptoms get worse and other organs start to fail. With congestive heart failure, death can follow the more severe final stages.
To grade the increasing severity of congestive heart failure, doctors use the New York Heart Association class I to IV or the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology stages A to D.
Initial Stages of CHF
In the initial, mild stage A, there are underlying high-risk factors for CHF such as smoking or high blood pressure. However, the affected person has no symptoms or limitations at rest or with physical activity and there are no signs of CHF on evaluation by a doctor.
In stage B, the person develops mild symptoms of fatigue, shortness of breath, or heart palpitations with routine physical activity. There are minor signs of heart dysfunction on a doctor's evaluation. There might also be a mild, intermittent collection of fluid, known as edema, in the ankles and feet.
Moderate Stage of CHF
At Stage C, as the heart continues to fail, the person develops weakness and significant fatigue, shortness of breath or palpitations with the slightest physical exertion. She begins to limit activity because of these symptoms as she is only comfortable when resting. A doctor's evaluation and testing shows moderate signs of heart dysfunction,
Other possible symptoms might include more visible edema of the lower extremities and the hands might also swell as the fluid congestion in body tissues increases. Shoes and rings might be tighter. The pulse might become weaker because of the struggling heart.
Severe or End-Stage CHF
By stage D or advanced CHF, a person progresses toward death as her heart failure gets worse. Despite treatment, symptoms are severe even at rest and any physical activity makes them worse. At this stage, the function of the heart and lungs is severely compromised.
With increasing fluid congestion in end-stage CHF, more fluid builds up in several areas of the body and backs up into the lungs. On physical exam and testing, such as a chest X-ray, there are signs of severe lung and heart disease. The Mayo Clinic describes some of the following symptoms and signs of dying of congestive heart failure:
The affected person can begin feeling anxious, restless, unable to sleep, and loses her appetite.
She has to keep her head elevated on pillows or sleep upright in a chair.
The person can become more and more confused and disoriented, exhausted and weak as CHF death nears.
There is weakness, fatigue, and severe shortness of breath at rest, as well as increasingly shallow, difficult, labored breathing.
Respiratory distress progresses as the lung tissue becomes more and more congested with fluid.
She might have wheezing and chronic cough with spitting up phlegm because of fluid in her lung sacs. Rattling in the chest with each breath can occur as death approaches.
The heart might be enlarged, the rate faster than normal, and the pulse weaker because of the exhausted heart.
There is marked, persistent edema of the feet, ankles, legs, and thighs.
The hands and face become more swollen with fluid.
The abdomen gets bigger and bloated from fluid collection inside the belly.
Weight gain of three or more pounds a day occurs because of the increased fluid retention.
Electrolyte levels become abnormal and contribute to the cause of death.
The urine becomes concentrated and dark and urine output decreases and stops as the kidneys fail.
As death nears it the doctors will find it more and more difficult to get rid of the excess fluid in the lungs and belly, and around the heart. The extra load on the diseased heart leads to complete heart failure and death. Some people might also die suddenly because of an irregular heart rhythm.
Causes of CHF
Conditions that can damage heart muscle and lead to congestive heart failure include:
Untreated or poorly treated high blood pressure and defective heart valves which can strain the heart
Coronary artery disease which decreases blood to the muscle fibers of the heart
A heart attack that causes scarring of heart muscle
Infections of the heart muscle or heart valves
Problems such as diabetes, thyroid, liver, kidney, and lung disease
Management of CHF
Management of CHF depends on the stage and symptoms. Initial therapy is aimed at any underlying cause of the disease process. In the later stage D, it is important to try to reduce extra body fluid that stresses the heart. Treatment options include:
Medicines that improve heart function and oxygen therapy as needed
Diuretics to try to increase urine output to decrease the fluid accumulations
Decreased salt intake because extra salt holds on to fluid in the body
Fluid restriction: In the early stages if the person is still able to drink, she is restricted to about four glasses a day otherwise her IV fluids might be kept low.
Doctors might consider a pacemaker or heart transplant if appropriate.
Advanced Disease
As the disease advances and symptoms get worse, doctors might continue to remove fluid from the belly to improve comfort. When treatment options no longer work, and the person gets near to death, management is geared to making her feel comfortable. According to the American Heart Association, the patient and family should consider the need for palliative or hospice care ahead of this juncture.
Early Attention to Heart Disease
Congestive heart failure is one of the leading causes of death in the elderly and is not curable. The best course is to avoid or treat early known causes of the disease to prevent or limit damage to the heart. See your doctor if you notice early signs that might indicate CHF such as shortness of breath or fluid in your legs.
