What Is Congestive Heart Failure And Can It Be Reversed
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome to Ask a Doctor service!
Regarding your concern, I would explain that heart failure is a clinical syndrome, characterized by symptoms like shortness of breath, fatigue, palpitations, but also signs like limb body swelling due to water and fluid retention.
In general it is a progressive disease, but in many cases it may be well controlled by the application of an appropriate therapy, a healthy lifestyle and regular medical follow ups. In such case the patient may live an almost normal life without major limitations in his daily activities.
In some cases, it may be also reversed if it is recognized early in its clinical course and its predisposing and aggravating factors are completely cured and eradicated (such as a well controlled hypertension, valvular heart disease, thyroid gland dysfunction, etc.).
In other cases, when the patient is suffering from other concomitant diseases (like chronic pulmonary disorder, renal dysfunction or certain cardiomyopathies, etc.)it is impossible to reverse the underlying cardiomyopathy, and thus reverse heart failure.
But even in these cases with an optimal therapy and a healthy lifestyle it may be well controlled and slow the progression.
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
Kind regards,
Dr. Ilir Sharka, Cardiologist