While getting the diagnosis of heart failure or congestive heart failure might be terrifying, it is important to remember that it is not always fatal. Although your heart may not be pumping blood normally, a diagnosis of heart failure does not always indicate that your heart has completely failed.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart failure indicates that your heart cannot pump adequate blood and oxygen to the rest of your body.

"I am seeing more and more patients who initially present with significant symptoms and signs of moderate to severe heart failure, but who, after starting on the various drugs that are now available for heart failure and making lifestyle changes, experience a virtual remission of their disease and become asymptomatic," the doctor said.

Is Recovery Possible After a Heart Failure Diagnosis?

Despite the dismal statistics, Allen insists that there are reasons for hope for heart failure patients. That paraphrase, "there weren't a lot of drugs to truly make the heart operate better thirty years ago," he says.

Over the past three decades, we have witnessed the emergence of several classes of medications that have been shown to enhance cardiac function and reduce the advancement of the illness.

Patients are not healed since they must continue taking medications and engaging in healthy habits daily, but a growing population is making extraordinary recoveries.

Why Heart Failure Occurs and What Can Be Done About It

According to the AHA, coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, and a prior heart attack are the most prevalent causes of cardiac weakness that can eventually develop into heart failure. Heart failure can also be caused by unhealthy lifestyle choices, including smoking, being overweight, eating meals rich in fat and cholesterol, and not getting enough exercise.

Heart failure can also be caused by other medical issues, such as:

• Malformed heart valves
• Injury to the cardiac muscle
• Infection of the cardiac muscle
• Congenital cardiac disease
• Chronic bronchitis

Progress of Congestive Heart Failure

According to the American Heart Association, heart failure is a chronic, progressive heart health issue that can deteriorate over time, regardless of the "stage" at which it is diagnosed. The sooner you start adjusting to your lifestyle to treat the problem, the better your prognosis will be.

A better prognosis after a diagnosis of congestive heart failure can be achieved via education on the disease's progression and treatment options. Some people with heart failure may require more intensive therapy than others, but even with a heart failure diagnosis, it is still possible to have a full and satisfying life.

Stage A

According to the Cleveland Clinic, this is the stage before full-blown heart failure. Heart failure risk factors include a personal or family history of the condition and conditions including diabetes, hypertension, coronary artery disease, and cardiomyopathy. History of rheumatic fever, chronic alcoholism, or the use of medicines that weaken heart muscle increases a person's risk of developing heart failure.

Stage B

Pre-heart failure is another term for this condition. The heart shows certain alterations that may eventually lead to heart failure, although there are no outward symptoms. The Cleveland Clinic reports that an ejection fraction of 40% or less is typical for patients with stage B heart failure. How much blood the left ventricle ejects with each contraction is quantified by a metric called the ejection fraction.

Stage C

At this point, a person has been diagnosed with heart failure and is experiencing or has experienced symptoms such as weak legs, or waking up to urinate, as well as swelling of the feet, ankles, lower legs, and abdomen.

Stage D

This is the most severe kind of heart failure, and its victims are at the end of their lives. Unfortunately, many of the reasons for end-stage heart failure are neither reversible nor fixable, as Allen puts it.

Commonly, but not always, this is what ultimately kills people. Heart transplants or artificial hearts, such as left ventricular assist devices, may help younger people with end-stage heart failure who do not have additional health concerns.

How To Manage Congestive Heart Failure in Daily Life

You might need to adjust your daily routine if you've been diagnosed with congestive heart failure. But remember that just because you've been diagnosed doesn't mean you have to give up on your passions. The cardiovascular system can benefit from modest activities like walking, riding, swimming, or lifting weights.

The American Heart Association advises that individuals obtain at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise each week. Before beginning any new form of physical activity, you should consult your doctor.