Hello, can you tell me the prognosis (short- and long-term) for a 70 year old female diagnosed with COPD and CHF with 20% EF? Heavy smoker for more than 50 years. Hospitalized a few months ago with low potassium levels, instructed to increase dietary sodium. Now hospitalized, on salt-free diet due to CHF. Thank you in advance. MJF
Thanks for your question on Chat Doctor. I can understand your condition and problem. COPD with heart failure can worsen each other and if strict diet and treatment not administered than can be life-threatening. Five year survival with diet modification and proper treatment is 50%. So strict follow up and treatment adherence is needed for better outcome. Try to follow these things.1. Avoid salt and oil in diet.2. Eat fruits and green leafy vegetables. 3. Fluid intake should not be more than 1.5 liters in a day.4. Enroll in pulmonary rehabilitation center where chest physiotherapy and deep breathing exercise are done.5. Get done vaccination with pneumococcal and influenza vaccines for prevention of future lung infections. 6. Inhaled bronchodilators like combination of long acting beta 2 agonists (LAB) and inhaled corticosteroids (ICS).7. Diuretics and other cardiac supportive Chat Doctor. Usual life expectancy with vigorous treatment as explained above is at least 2 years.