Symptoms
A person with heart failure experiences weakening of the heart over time. Management and treatment options can help a person live with the symptoms that this condition causes, but heart failure is chronic, and there is no cure. In end stage heart failure, the body can no longer compensate for the lack of blood the heart pumps.
Causes
Learn about the stages of congestive heart failure here. There is no cure for end stage heart failure. At this stage, people will need to make difficult decisions regarding how much treatment they would like without sacrificing their quality of life. They may also consider palliative or hospice care.
Prevention
Although the name sounds like your heart has stopped working, heart failure means your heart isn’t able to pump blood as well as it should. When your heart has less pumping power, that can damage your organs and fluid can collect in your lungs. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center.
Complications
End stage heart failure is the most severe form of heart failure. A person with heart failure experiences weakening of the heart over time. Management and treatment options can help a person live with the symptoms that this condition causes, but heart failure is chronic, and there is no cure.
What happens to a person with heart failure?
What happens at the end stage of congestive heart failure?
What happens when your heart stops working?
Is there a cure for end stage heart failure?
What happens if you don't get treatment for heart failure?
Heart failure can reduce the blood flow to your kidneys, which can eventually cause kidney failure if left untreated. Kidney damage from heart failure can require dialysis for treatment.
How long can you live with heart failure and no treatment?
Although there have been recent improvements in congestive heart failure treatment, researchers say the prognosis for people with the disease is still bleak, with about 50% having an average life expectancy of less than five years. For those with advanced forms of heart failure, nearly 90% die within one year.
What is the goal of medical treatment for heart failure?
The goal of treatments for heart failure is to relieve symptoms; reduce the chances that you will develop complications; and slow, stop, or reverse the progression of the underlying process.
What is the end stage of heart failure?
In the final stages of heart failure, people feel breathless both during activity and at rest. Persistent coughing or wheezing. This may produce white or pink mucus. The cough may be worse at night or when lying down.
Does heart failure mean death?
Heart failure happens when the heart cannot pump enough blood and oxygen to support other organs in your body. Heart failure is a serious condition, but it does not mean that the heart has stopped beating. Although it can be a severe disease, heart failure is not a death sentence, and treatment is now better than ever.
What is death from heart failure like?
People who died from heart disease, including heart failure, had experienced a wide range of symptoms, often distressing and often lasting more than six months. In addition to dyspnoea, pain, nausea, constipation, and low mood were common and poorly controlled.
How quickly does heart failure progress?
Symptoms can develop quickly (acute heart failure) or gradually over weeks or months (chronic heart failure).
How long can you live with fluid around your heart?
In chronic cases, it can last for more than 3 months. Some people with pericardial effusion may not show any symptoms, and doctors may discover the condition by chance — for example, if they notice fluid around the heart spaces in medical imaging that they have conducted for a different purpose.
How do I know if my heart failure is getting worse?
Signs of Worsening Heart FailureShortness of breath.Feeling dizzy or lightheaded.Weight gain of three or more pounds in one day.Weight gain of five pounds in one week.Unusual swelling in the legs, feet, hands, or abdomen.A persistent cough or chest congestion (the cough may be dry or hacking)More items...
Is dying of congestive heart failure painful?
Number of functional impairments, median depression scores and percent of patients reporting severe pain or dyspnea increased as death approached, with 41% of patient surrogates reporting that the patient was in severe pain and 63% reporting that the patient was severely short of breath during the 3 days before death.
What are the signs of last days of life?
End-of-Life Signs: The Final Days and HoursBreathing difficulties. Patients may go long periods without breathing, followed by quick breaths. ... Drop in body temperature and blood pressure. ... Less desire for food or drink. ... Changes in sleeping patterns. ... Confusion or withdraw.
Is heart failure painful?
Patients with HF commonly experience pain in any part of their body. The pain is an important and frequent symptom, particularly during the time of exacerbation and hospitalization.
What to do if you think you have heart failure?
If you think you may have heart failure or you are worried about your heart failure risk because of other underlying conditions, make an appointment with your family doctor. If heart failure is found early, your treatment may be easier and more effective.
How to diagnose heart failure?
To diagnose heart failure, your doctor will take a careful medical history, review your symptoms and perform a physical examination. Your doctor will also check for the presence of risk factors, such as high blood pressure, coronary artery disease or diabetes.
What are some medications that can't be tolerated?
They may be an option for people who can't tolerate ACE inhibitors. Beta blockers. These drugs slow your heart rate and reduce blood pressure. Beta blockers may reduce signs and symptoms of heart failure, improve heart function, and help you live longer.
What is the best medication for heart failure?
Hydralazine and isosorbide dinitrate (BiDil). This drug combination helps relax blood vessels. It may be added to your treatment plan if you have severe heart failure symptoms and ACE inhibitors or beta blockers haven't helped. Vericiguat (Verquvo).
Can heart failure be reversed?
Although many cases of heart failure can't be reversed, treatment can sometimes improve symptoms and help you live longer . You and your doctor can work together to help make your life more comfortable. Pay attention to your body and how you feel, and tell your doctor when you're feeling better or worse. This way, your doctor will know what treatment works best for you. Don't be afraid to ask your doctor questions about living with heart failure.
Is heart failure a chronic disease?
Heart failure is a chronic disease needing lifelong management. However, with treatment, signs and symptoms of heart failure can improve, and the heart sometimes becomes stronger. Treatment may help you live longer and reduce your chance of dying suddenly.
Is heart failure treatment easier?
If heart failure is found early, your treatment may be easier and more effective. Because appointments can be brief and there's often a lot to discuss, it's a good idea to be prepared for your appointment. Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment and know what to expect from your doctor.
What happens when your heart doesn't pump?
When your heart doesn’t pump right, the body starts to move blood from less vital parts like your arms and legs to the centers for survival -- the heart and brain. This can leave you feeling exhausted after everyday activities.
What are the best ways to treat heart failure?
If you or a loved one has heart failure, you probably know how important good daily habits are to treatment. A healthy weight, active lifestyle, and proper medication are all key ways to take charge of the disease.
Why is it so hard to breathe?
1. Trouble breathing or shortness of breath. When your heart can’t properly fill and empty, blood backs up in your veins. This causes fluid to leak into your lungs. Your doctor may call it pulmonary edema. This can make it hard to breathe during activities, rest, or even sleep.
What happens if you have fluid in your lungs?
As a result, your feet, ankles, legs, or belly may swell. Your shoes and socks to feel tight. You might notice a sudden weight gain.
Why does my heart feel like it's fluttering?
When your heart struggles to pump the right amount of blood, it may speed up to make up for it. This can lead to palpitations, which could cause your heart to race or feel like it’s fluttering or throbbing.
What happens if you have sodium in your blood?
Confusion, trouble thinking. Unusual amounts of things like sodium in your blood can bring disorientation, confusion, or memory loss. If you’ve seen any of these seven red flags, get medical help right away. Waiting for symptoms to get worse can be dangerous. With the right care, you can keep things under control.
Can heart failure be under control?
But even you’ve been carefully following doctor’s orders, it’s crucial to keep an eye out for the return of symptoms. That’s because heart failure can be under control for a time and then become an issue again. Keep up with your regular checkups, and know which symptoms may mean your treatment needs to be tweaked. 1.
What does it mean when your heart doesn't pump?
It doesn't mean the heart has "failed" or stopped working. It means the heart doesn't pump as well as it should. Heart failure is a major health problem in the United States, affecting about 5.7 million Americans. About 550,000 new cases of heart failure occur each year.
How to improve heart health?
It is up to you to take steps to improve your heart health. Take your medications as instructed, follow a low-sodium diet, stay active or become physically active, take notice of sudden changes in your weight, live a healthy lifestyle, keep your follow-up appointments, and track your symptoms.
What is the term for a heart muscle that is damaged by a virus?
Cardiomyopathy . Cardiomyopathy is a term that describes damage to and enlargement of the heart muscle not caused by problems with the coronary arteries or blood flow. Cardiomyopathy can occur due to many causes, including viruses, alcohol or drug abuse, smoking, genetics and pregnancy (peripartum cardiomyopathy).
Why can't the ventricles relax?
Because of this, the ventricles can't relax properly and fill up all the way. Because there's less blood in the ventricles, less blood is pumped out to the rest of the body when the heart contracts. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission.
What is the EF of the left ventricle?
The left ventricle is the heart's main pumping chamber. Your EF is expressed as a percentage. An EF that is below normal can be a sign of heart failure. If you have heart failure and a lower-than-normal (reduced) EF (HF-rEF), your EF helps your doctor know how severe your condition is.
What happens when your kidneys don't filter enough blood?
Swelling in your ankles, legs and abdomen; weight gain. When your kidneys don't filter enough blood, your body holds onto extra fluid and water.
Why is it important to know your EF?
If you have a heart condition, it is important for you and your doctor to know your EF. Your EF can help your doctor determine the best course of treatment for you. Measuring your EF also helps your healthcare team check how well our treatment is working. Ask your doctor how often you should have your EF checked.
What to expect at end stage of heart failure?
End-Stage Heart Failure: What to Expect. If you or a loved one have heart failure, it’s important to plan for the future. By knowing what to expect, you’ll be able to make the best decisions about your care and ensure that your needs and wishes are met. Treatments and lifestyle changes can help people live well with heart failure ...
What is the life expectancy of a person with end stage heart failure?
Most people with end-stage heart failure have a life expectancy of less than 1 year. 4. The leading causes of heart failure are diseases that damage the heart, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes.
How does hospice help with heart failure?
This can be done through medication, therapies, counseling, and other supports.
Why is hospice important?
A key benefit of hospice is that it often enables the person to die at home, which is the wish of most people. People with end-stage heart failure and their families face a complex journey. But help is available so patients can get the right care at the right time, and live each day to its fullest potential.
What are the symptoms of heart failure?
Lack of appetite, nausea. Thinking difficulties, confusion, memory loss, feelings of disorientation. Increased heart rate, feeling like your heart is racing or throbbing. Frequent urination. In addition, people in the final stages of heart failure may suffer from: depression, fear, insomnia, and isolation.
What does it feel like to be breathless?
In the final stages of heart failure, people feel breathless both during activity and at rest. Persistent coughing or wheezing. This may produce white or pink mucus. The cough may be worse at night or when lying down. Weight gain or swelling (edema) of the feet, ankles, legs, abdomen, or neck veins. Tiredness, weakness.
What is abnormal heart rate?
abnormal heart rate. significant fatigue or shortness of breath. substantial decline in ability to do daily activities, such as self-care. The patient has already received the best possible treatment (s), which are no longer working well, and the patient is not a candidate for other interventions.
How long does it take to die from heart failure?
. , 38% of people who pass away due to heart failure die within a year after diagnosis, and 60% of people pass away within 5 years.
What is the end stage of heart failure?
Heart failure occurs when the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs. End stage heart failure is the most severe form of heart failure. A person with heart failure experiences weakening of the heart over time.
What are the symptoms of end stage heart disease?
Symptoms associated with end stage heart disease include trouble breathing, exhaustion, weight loss, changes in skin color, swelling, and abdominal pain all or most of the time.
How long do you live after a heart transplant?
People who receive a heart transplant have a 1-year survival rate of 91%. Trusted Source. and survive for a median of 12–13 years after the transplant. The survival rates for people who receive a left ventricular assist device after 2, 3, and 4 years are 71%, 62%, and 45%.
What does it mean when you have a Class IV heart failure?
If a person has Class IV heart failure, it means they: are unable to do any amount of physical activity without experiencing discomfort. have symptoms of heart failure even when resting. experience increasing discomfort with any amount of physical activity. If a person has Stage D heart failure, it means they:
What is the most severe form of heart failure?
End stage heart failure is the most severe form of heart failure. A person with heart failure experiences weakening of the heart over time. Management and treatment options can help a person live with the symptoms that this condition causes, but heart failure is chronic, and there is no cure. In end stage heart failure, ...
Why does heart failure happen?
Causes. Heart failure can be chronic and develop over time due to medical conditions that make the heart work harder than normal or damage it. It may also be acute and develop with conditions that cause sudden damage to the heart, such as infection, blood clots in the lungs, or a heart attack.
How does heart failure affect you?
These are common ways that heart failure can affect you: Shortness of breath. Heart failure can make it hard to breathe when you walk up a flight of stairs. With advanced heart failure, you may get winded in a shorter period of time, or you may have trouble even when you’re sitting still. Sleep problems.
What is it called when your heart doesn't work?
Articles On End-Stage Heart Failure . Your heart pumps blood around your body to supply all of your organs with oxygen. When it doesn’t work the way it should anymore, you have what’s known as heart failure.
What does it mean when your heart isn't pumping enough blood?
This is called heart palpitations . When your heart isn’t pumping the amount of blood it should, it can try to make up for the loss by going faster. If you have advanced heart disease, you may notice this more often or to a greater degree. Feeling anxious. This disease can make you worry about your health.
What does it mean when your heart is getting worse?
Over time, if your health gets worse, you may learn that you have advanced heart failure, also known as end-stage heart failure. It means the treatments you’ve used in the past to keep your health stable no longer work.
Can you lose weight with advanced heart failure?
Eating less. You might not feel hungry anymore, so you may eat less. Advanced heart failure can make this more pronounced. You may not lose weight, either . Fluid buildup in your body often leads to weight gain. More bathroom visits. You may have to go to get up and pee in ...
Can heart failure cause anxiety?
You may even have physical symptoms like sweating, shortness of breath, or fatigue. Depression or anxiety may be even more likely with advanced heart failure. Talk to your doctor about ways to get help.
Stage A
Stage A is considered the first stage of CHF. Technically, people in this stage are considered “pre-heart failure.” 1 This means that you are at higher risk of developing CHF because of your family history, personal health history, and lifestyle choices.
Stage B
Stage B is the second stage of heart failure, but it’s still considered pre-heart failure. You don’t have symptoms of heart failure, but you may have been diagnosed with systolic left ventricular dysfunction, which is reduced power in the left ventricle of your heart.
Stage C
Stage C is the first significant stage of heart failure in terms of how you feel. At this stage, you have been officially diagnosed with heart failure and have or had symptoms. Symptoms in this stage include: 2
Stage D
Stage D is advanced or severe heart failure. At this point, medications and other treatments don’t offer much relief from symptoms. Your symptoms are similar to those in stage C, but more severe. It may be difficult to do much physically without becoming severely tired or out of breath. 1
Prevention
Heart failure is a chronic, progressive disease. Once you have reached a certain stage, you may be able to slow its progression, but you can’t undo damage that has already been done to the heart. For this reason, prevention is a key strategy, especially for people with risk factors of CHF.
Frequently Asked Questions
In the end stages of heart failure, most physical activities will become difficult. You will likely require frequent or prolonged hospitalization or need home health or skilled nursing care. You may also need to wear oxygen or receive intravenous medications.
Summary
Congestive heart failure is a chronic condition that can progress. The stages range from pre-heart failure to advanced heart failure. Once you move on to the next stage, you can’t go back even with treatment.
What happens when the heart stops?
Once the heart stops, there is no further distribution of oxygen-rich blood. Any remaining oxygen in the body is used up by cells. Death is not determined solely by cessation of a heart beat. Stopping of breathing and brain function are other factors that need to be considered.
Why do cells die when the heart stops?
As a result, when the heart stops then there is insufficient oxygen for the cells to continue with normal metabolic functions. Cells die and within minutes this leads to death.
How to do CPR with no CPR?
In the event of no CPR training, focus only on chest compressions. Ideally the unconscious person whose heart has stopped should be placed on a flat hard surface like the floor. Place the heel of one hand on the center of the person’s chest. Use the other hand to cover the hand on the chest.
What is the cause of sudden cardiac arrest?
An irregular heartbeat is known as an arrhythmia. It is the main cause of sudden cardiac arrest (stopped heart). Since the heart can generate its own nerve impulses and spread it across the heart muscle, an arrhythmia is usually due to damage or disturbance of the sinoatrial (SA) node or conduction system.
How long does it take for a brain to die?
Brain cells will die in approximately 4 to 6 minutes without any circulating blood carrying oxygen to it. If there is no restoration of heart function and reoxygenation of blood within 10 minutes, death will very likely occur thereafter.
Can an irregular heartbeat cause sudden cardiac arrest?
When this irregularity is severe, the heart can stop altogether. Therefore it is important to look at the causes of arrhythmias and specifically the more serious causes of arrhythmias that can lead to sudden cardiac arrest. This includes: Cardiomyopathy (enlarged heart)
Can you survive without ventilators?
It is also important to understand that even if the heart starts pumping and oxygen is being distributed again within minutes, there is still a possibility of some degree of brain damage. A person may therefore not survive without the assistance of ventilators, depending on which part of the brain is affected.
Signs
Congestive heart failure is usually thought to be a condition of the heart, but it can affect other organs as it progresses. It continues to get worse with each flare-up, or exacerbation, and 90% of people with the condition eventually die of pump failure.
Coping
As your end-stage heart failure progresses, it will become more difficult to perform routine daily activities like bathing or walking through your house. You may require home care, a move to a skilled nursing facility, or frequent or continued hospitalization.
Prognosis
Only about half of the people who have heart failure that’s in stage C or beyond live for five years after their diagnosis. 3 More than a third of people with advanced heart failure die within a year of being hospitalized.
Caregiver Support
Supporting and caring for family and friends with end-stage heart failure can be difficult. At advanced heart failure stages, a person with this condition will need help with their daily activities.
Frequently Asked Questions
End-stage heart failure is the most advanced stage of heart failure. At this stage, medications and treatments can no longer improve the symptoms or prognosis. The focus of treatment at this stage will be to manage your symptoms as best as you can and prioritize comfort.
Summary
End-stage heart failure is the most advanced form of heart failure, where your heart cannot pump blood effectively to meet your body’s needs. Treatments that have helped you manage earlier stages of the disease may not work anymore, and your healthcare provider will prioritize alleviating the discomfort of your symptoms.
A Word From Verywell
End-stage heart failure is a very advanced level of a chronic disease. Early action is key to managing heart failure, but if it advances, you should make a plan with your doctor on how to cope with your condition and improve your comfort.
Diagnosis
Treatment
Clinical Trials
Lifestyle and Home Remedies
Coping and Support
Preparing For Your Appointment
- Heart failure is a chronic disease needing lifelong management. However, with treatment, signs and symptoms of heart failure can improve, and the heart sometimes becomes stronger. Doctors sometimes can correct heart failure by treating the underlying cause. For example, repairing a heart valve or controlling a fast heart rhythm may reverse heart fa...