Congestive heart disease affects about five million Americans, and several medical professionals believe that within five years time about half of those people will unfortunately die from their state.  Congestive heart disease is marked by the heart’s inability to pump efficiently enough to supply the body with freshly oxygenated blood.  It is the leading cause of hospitalization among senior citizens and accounted for nearly 20% of the hospitalization of this age group in 2003.

Since congestive heart disease is a state that warrants consideration, a brief conversation of several of the risk factors might be in order.There are many of these factors that i am sure just was an accident and could not be helped, but there are so many things that i can think of that a person could change to lower the risk in your life.

Risk Factors That Cannot be Helped

There are a number of risk factors for congestive heart disease that simply can’t be helped.  One such factor is a prior heart attack, and progressed age, specifically over the age of 65, is another common factor for this state.Of course you have a history of diabetes as anther one.  Both these factors, although treatable cannot be reversed, and if you have had one of these medical conditions, there is a distinct possibility that congestive heart disease might be a state to watch out for.

Another risk factor that cannot be changed when dealing with congestive heart disease is having a genetic disposition to the disease.Knowledge of your total family history and doing a bank of Genetic testing can tell a doctor without a shadow of doubt whether you have congestive heart disease or not and he can also tell you whether or not you should be concerned.

Risk Factors the Can Be Changed

While some factors that signify the potential for congestive heart disease cannot be helped, there are a number that can.  These factors consist of such things as continuing high blood pressure, drug or alcohol abuse, thyroid disease, and even heart valve disease.  All these risk factors, especially drug and alcohol abuse can be managed with help from your medical professional or friendly neighborhood physician.The best direction i would say this time is to stop this disease from affecting your life and the lives that love you that are around you by working with your doctor to come up with a plan of attack on the congestive heart disease itself.

Unfortunately, congestive heart disease is hard to diagnose because it frequently occurs as a result of or in conjunction with other forms of heart disease.  Perhaps the best hope for patients with this disease is to catch it early and begin treatment as soon as possible.