Heart failure diagnosis is not a death sentence

Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute nurse practitioner Kismet Rasmusson joins ABC 4's Surae Chinn to talk about heart failure diagnosis and treatment options.

[@cheftuan]

Back in May I was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. My ejection fraction was at 18%. After 3.5 months of meds, diet change and behavioral changes I am now at 48%. I was taken off the baby aspirin and both my diuretics. This is only the beginning of my recovery process. Life is worth fighting for.

[@mannyradzky493]

skymailer37 same here

[@cheftuan]

@@mannyradzky493 congratulations

[@elainebates4981]

What was wrong with your heart that caused the congestive heart failure?

[@cheftuan]

@@elainebates4981 hypertension, drinking, cocaine.

[@carlosramirez5858]

Are you still on a fluid restriction? I have chf as well

[@pata7957]

My Dr tells me my diet is not important at all I can eat anything I want and I feel he wants me dead I'm 71 years old and I feel he giving up on me .With heart failure and COPD and pulmonary Fibrosis and Charcot Marie Tooth dieses it's a lot for Drs to handle but I'm the one dealing with the problem every day of my life and I made it 71 years going on 72 this June God willing .I don't want pitty but I want honesty from my Drs .

[@eternallyhumbled3183]

It depends on the stage and if goes untreated and also diet and lifestyle change Stsy stress free after diagnodis is big and Alot of the 5 yr to 10 yrs life expectancy is old facts and not current with todays standards the internet has alot of b.s. out there just remember Life and death is in Gods hands but you have a big responsibility in the quality in which you live it! OAN MY BOTH MY GRANDMOTHERS HAD CHF AND LIVED WELL PASS THIER 80'S #GETGOING #AND START LIVING YOU CAN LIVE

[@dm-wg7qk]

Wow! This inspires me..How old did your grandmothers had when first diagnosed? Maybe at their older years.. Im only 35 .. :-(

[@andrathomas9728]

That so true doctor are not god he is god and god alone

[@marylouirick7316]

poor blood circulation causes heart disease, new meds out now. very good and costly. doing good.Praises The Lord!

[@mannyradzky493]

All about the pills, no mention of true healthy WHOLE foods.

[@willgaukler8979]

... they never tell ya beets are great to reduce blood pressure....as in Greek salad...

[@mamavoudou1402]

Just because people don't keel over immediately doesn't give you the right to have them think there is no death sentence involved here . CHF patients know better than anyone else how their bodies feel and even in doing all they are suppose to do it is the norm rather than the exception that CHF only allows the patient 5 years before death occurs, although the rare and extremely lucky live for 10 years with the last few years partially bedridden. The alternative is pumps and heart transplants with the transplants being hard to get and no guarantee of success. It is harsh but as a CHF patient I would rather face the harshness than be lied to.

[@markhofstad3926]

Get out of here with your comments...who would listen to someone named moma voudou

[@hotlatino7220]

Yeah. My mom got heart failure 19 years ago and is still doing fine. Eats well and stays active in her garden. 53 she got diagnose and is now 72.

[@ameegrant6055]

@@hotlatino7220 glad to hear these great stories.

[@hotlatino7220]

@@ameegrant6055 how are you doing Amee

[@gmc8810]

@@markhofstad3926 wow bit harsh . I believe in treating people how I would like to be treated. Such a ugly thing to say.

[@georgejgilles.3999]

Fluid retention, short of breath.

[@JayDogTitan-he6wo]

I'm gonna make it a death sentence though, No medication, no doctors, no blood work, no ekgs, I have congestive heart failure and could care less about it, My medication has stopped and everything involved in this is stopped, Its time to go. 🙏

[@everythingisvibration]

How bad is it ??

[@icaruuskoshiba529]

Hey man, how are you doing?

[@tonyrussell873]

Are y crazy cop on start living start helping others you selfish b.........d .

[@barriefeatherstone9397]

I have congestive heart failure, the bottom line is you have a 50/50 chance of making it 5 years, it is what it is.

[@hotlatino7220]

My moms had it for 16. And still look like nothing is wrong with her. Defibrillator and on meds. Going strong.

[@largefamilyadventures681]

@hotlatina thank you for sharing im so scared for my bf

[@elgusto8874]

@Berrie Featherstone have you heard of coq10/Ubiquinol? It’s supposed to have remarkable effects for heart failure patients.

[@angelamontenegro8114]

5 years!! Here after 5 years worsening daily so what happens after 5 years.... I'm gonna be dead any day Fuck all the cardiologist who didn't like my attitude for their lack of treatment and concern for my life Fuck the hospital that gave me opioids pain meds put me in comma for 5 days and had several myocardial infarction resulting in my heart muscle destroyed unable to pump blood properly to oxygenate my entire body, taking alot of blood test during this time by the time I left hospital I had anemia and no one told me. I was starved for oxygen and suffered complications. Oxygen therapy when finally provided 4 years later is just a reminder it's up to the doctor whether You live or die. The treatments the technology is available. And that's another reason heart failure is big killer, it's the fucking lack of treatment for the heart.....

[@tiahaddad3861]

@@hotlatino7220 i'm sorry when your mom diagnosed ,tell me what about ejection fraction?