Risk Of Death From Congestive Heart Failure Reduced By Diuretics

This comes from another board and Medical News Today. It answered some questions that I had about why I needed Lasix for CHF. Diuretics are used to relieve CHF symptoms such as cough, shortness of breath and swelling in the feet, legs and ankles. Up until now, it was not know if diuretics had a great effect on CHF of not. A review of the studies suggests that diuretics do have a significant and postive impact on CHF. The review states that "Diuretics reduce the risk of death, delay heart deterioration and improve exercise capacity in patients with congestive heart failure." This is a long article and my short synopsis is just that...very short. There is much more to read about this review of the studies. You can find it at:

Thanks for posting this Kathlyn,

My mom takes Lasix for CHF and it has done wonders for her.  You can tell a difference on the days she doesn't take it she has shortness of breath and starts to get puffy in the legs and face.  Good info......

I'm glad that you wrote, els. I really wanted to share that information. It was informative to me so thought someone else might get somethng out of it too. I'm scared not to take my lasix, but on days when I take it later in the day (it makes me go and go and go and go......etc.) because I'm workng a long and early day, I can really tell in my hands and abdomen!

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Yeah, my mom is a Nurse on a cardiac floor at one of our two hospitals and on her days that she works she sometimes doesn't take her lasix for that reason alone.  But on her days off she is in the bathroom pretty well all the time!!

Gooodness, I sure can commiserate (or however you spell that, ha) with her! Taht would be difficult to be working like those cardiac nurses work and have to stop to run like crazy to the bathroom!

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Thank you Kathylyn for giving us this kind of information. I'm computer ignorant and can't find my way around on the net yet. It also takes all my energy to be on line on the HW at times and this makes it much easier for me. CHF is among 1 of many of my dx's so i will go to that site now and again, i thank you. DELTA

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{ Listen to your body talk. } Deltacece

You are most welcome!

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Hi Kathlyn,thanks for the info. I've been having a cough and shortness of breath for a while now. I just called and made an appointment with my cardio Doc. today, to find out if I may need a diuretic. I don't have any swelling in my legs, but have severe swelling of the stomach. I have read that some people get swelling in the stomach instead of the legs. I was wondering if anyone else has this problem? I also would like to know what kind of test do they give to find out if you need a diuretic ? I haven't read the whole article so my answer might be there. Thanks again!

~Wanda~

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Hi Wanda, I tend to get more swelling in my abdomen, too. Prior to the CHF I had more swelling in my feet and hands, though. That article has a link to another page that discusses the diagnosis and treatment, etc. of heart failure. It depends upon what side you have the heart failure of where your swelling occurs IF I understand the article correctly. Here is an excerpt:

"The signs and symptoms of heart failure depend on which side of the heart is affected, but can include:

• Shortness of breath, either on exertion, or when lying down.
• Tiredness and fatigue.
• Asthma due to the heart problem.
• Swelling due to excess water in the body (particularly swollen ankles).
• Blueness (or duskiness) of the skin.
• Enlargement of the heart."

http://www.patienthealthinternational.com/article/501299.aspx  is the direct link.

I'm not sure there is a test, but would like to hear from others, as well.

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Scientists in Germany have found for the first time ever, "that heart failure is triggered by apoptosis." This means a type of cell death process, that "the heart muscle cells commit suicide". http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=39638&nfid=rssfeeds
It sounds like the good news is that a survival factor, abbreviated ARC, is able to protect the heart. The reserachers speculate that this probably makes ARC an interesting target for future therapy, and could potentially lead to new and effective therapies for these diseases. Technology seems to be advancing so quickly. I hope that those of us with heart problems can continue to remain around to benefit from these new therapies. I see people in my heart support group who had heart attacks, as well as other heart problems, over twnety years ago. Last night there were 3 at the meeting who had lived with heart disease for many years and were well into old age. I hope we can all do that.

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Great article Kathlyn.  I too hope your right, doctors are coming up with new treatments and advances everyday......

Yes, they certainly are. My 10 y o niece, Baylee, was born with heart defects, having 3 surgeries I think by the time she was about one year old. The doctors said they would need to do surgery on her about every 2-3 years. Two years ago she had her next surgery (none needed in between age one and age 8!) and they said it would probably be the last surgery she needed because technology has advanced so much. I'm glad I'm living in this decade if I have to have heart disease. :D I'm really glad little Baylee is, too. I can't imagine what her life would have been like had she not.

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Kathlyn,thank you for the link that you sent. I talked to my cardiologist the other day and told him about my abdomen swelling, he didnt seem to think it was heart related. He now wants me to have an ultra-sound done to find out what is causing this. I cant wait to get that third opinion about my condition. I hope that there is something else they can do for me other than a heart transplant, that would be great news! Im sorry to hear about your neice, but Im glad she is doing so well now. Its great to hear that she wont have any more surgerys.


~Wanda~

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Wanda, please keep us updated on what the doctor says. We are all pulling for you!