I have permanent atrial fibrillation, heart failure and impaired renal function
I’ve just received a letter that my BNP is 1685. I know I shouldn’t look up the dreaded Dr Google but I did and it says that BNP should be no more than 100 and gives examples of how long one has to live. My figures say about 3 months!!!!! Help….!?!?
I can’t even figure out what BNP is
Brain Natriuretic Peptide. It is measure of a particular protein in your blood,. The higher the number the more likely is heart failure but you already know you have that as you told us.
You are right. don't use google unless you WANT to die!
Thank you Bob. I just got panicky when I saw should be less than 100 snd mine was 1685 and over 70 (and I’m 80) that chances are 3 months to live
You could use Duckduckgo which is far friendlier.
yes, and it doesn't track your searches like Google does!
Exactly! But it seems to know my mobile number and email address which is scary! I received an email from them recently asking me to confirm the number! I’ve ignored it.
Tapanac, what matters in your situation is what treatments you are getting and what effect these have on your general health and BNP level.
I asked ChatGPT (which is definitely improving) and I found it more helpful than random Google results. Explains what causes elevated BNP and what meds are used to bring it down. My surmise is that your heart failure is the main reason.
The BHF have a good booklet on heart failure "Understanding Heart Faiure"
Google can be very frightening but it doesn’t give individual diagnosis and therefore doesn’t take into account the treatment you may be having or your individual case. Neither does it take into account newer treatments that may be available. If you are under the care of specialists then you will be getting the care you need to sustain you in your individual circumstances. I wouldn’t worry too much at what you have read on “Google”. It may not relate to you at all in your circumstances. “Google” can make your life a misery and spoil your day. Don’t even go there.
Thank you. It’s so nice to be able to "talk" and get comfort on here x
"Survival rates are estimates and do not take into account other factors that may affect your personal outlook. Treatment and how well people respond to treatment vary"Found that the other day.
I always quote the bell curve, a very few people in your situation might die tomorrow a very few may live for 10 years. The largest number MIGHT die in 3 months but hundreds of thousands live much longer. Heart failure is a very common ailment and the BNP blood test is also affected by AF so please don't think you can work out from that, how long you will live. You can't
Aaah thank you. It just gave me a shock. It followed on from when the cardiologist said my ejection fraction was good to the nit so good BNP snd as no one had even mention that BNP before I was a bit panicked.
well,I am well out of time then!My BNP has been at 2000 for at least 2 years and I am 86.
Aaah glad you’re ok. I was just a bit panicked. Not going on Google any more
Stay well
Pat x
I know I shouldn’t look up the dreaded Dr Google
Don't beat yourself up. Google is the modern equivalent of going to the library to get information. Anyone who doesn't use it, is relying on data which may be outdated , or opinion which can often be wrong, even if it's coming from your doctor -- and even more so coming from forums like this where there are no doctors.
That said, medical issues can be complex and heart failure is one of the more complex medical issues.
I would therefore use your google research as a starting point for a discussion with your Doctor who knows your complete case. I think you're gonna find that it's impossible to predict how long someone is gonna live based on a single metric such as BNP. At least that's what Dr. Google told me 
Jim
Sorry Jim but I really object to the way in which "to Google" has become to mean searching the internet. There are many search engines which are just as good with lots less adverts and MUCH less tracking. The fact that Google is under investigation by the Dept of Justice in the USA for creating and maintaining an illegal monopoly must tell us something about that company. They pay Apple BILLIONS of dollars to keep themselves as the default on Apple devices!
Maybe Google is a virtual monopoly because they are the best search engine!
JimF
I was using "google" more as a generic verb than a noun. I think the search engine you use is less important than which sources you end up relying upon.
If you don't like Google for reasons given, there are many alternative search engines out there as I'm sure you know.
But that doesn't change the fact that search engines have become the modern research tool and to dismiss them is living in the past, often with outdated information.
Jim
Jim, I agree absolutely on the need to check the source(s) of any information and they are much more important than the search engine that finds them
However I still that think the common use of “to Google” as a generic verb simply embeds this advertising and tracking company as being the only way to access the content we all rely on nowadays
Thanks for the info - I was blissfully unaware that Safari was powered by Google 😳 I shall be off to set DuckDuckGo as my default search engine the moment I have finished this post. Google used to be good but now puts ads as the first result in searches, often confusing folk who think they are being directed to the official website - not necessarily so.
Oh dear, we've all done it so don't feel bad. As others have said, your condition is being monitored, medicated and controlled so stop panicking and enjoy your life as best you can. Let's face it, we all know the outcome that each and every one of humankind will face eventually, even quicker when they are so busy destroying one another........just don't let this frighten and panic you into wasting the rest of yours...........ps I'm in H/F too with various problems to go with it so do know what you are going through hugggggs
Thank you. I’ve just been in hospital for over a week with appendicitis and they wouldn’t operate because of my heart so when I heard about the BNP panic mode set in
Quite understand your fears but what has happened about the Appendix????
Well bit of a story.
I’ve had these pains on and off in my groin and right side of tummy for nearly 2 years. Kept going to GP as I wondered if I had a hernia or something
Then I had a kidney problem (only one kidney) so finally sent me for CT scans. Saw I had a tumour in my right pelvic area. Blood tests showed cancer but oncology said not!! Couldn’t find my ovaries (nurse joked said at my age probably shrivelled up snd died) or my left kidney despite me saying when I had surgery it was put back lower!
Last week I had the dreadful pains in usual place but this time wouldn’t ease snd phoned GP but diverted to 111 who sent for an ambulance
In hospital tests snd another CT scan snd appendicitis, but surprise found cyst on ovary (though last one they couldn’t find ovaries but now found cyst on ovary!!!!???
Anyway apparently keyhole surgery is very easy and quick, but as I have had a lot of operations on my stomach leaving loads of scarring and have a hoop (looks bit like a flour sieve) holding bits together they couldn’t do that operation snd said they would have to go into the old invasive way BUT they couldn’t find an anaesthetist to do the operation because of my heart
So after all that long screed they put me on IV feed with tremendously strong antibiotics for a week and now 7 days of oral snd a follow up of the appendix and a colonoscopy as an outpatient
Sorry so long ….
Omg what a nightmare, I hope it all gets sorted out for you and soon xxx
My bnp was well over 2000, don’t panic and forget google. Diagnosed over 3 months ago in annual cardiologist appointment with consultant at Nuffield. Added dapagliflozin to the existing range of pills for cancer and hi bp/afib etc. Follow up appointment “see you in a year”!!Age 80
I have permanent AF too and was shocked over a year ago when my BNP level was 2225. My doctor said that this was often v high and was not indicative of heart failure unless there were other symptoms such as swollen legs and ankles due to fluid retention etc. He certainly did not send me to my cardiologist for any further checks.
In June this year when I had my annual blood tests the BNP level had reduced to around 1108, less than half, possibly because I had taken a lot of moderate exercise in my recovery from a stroke four years before.
Although this is still very much higher than the 200 or so even for elderly people, chronic AF also causes elevated BNP levels (according to both my doctor and Dr Google).
Of course AF and heart failure tend to be closely linked and AF can lead to the latter so it is important to be thoroughly checked out by a cardiologist.
Gosh I’m sorry you had a stroke snd hope you are fully recovered now. I hadn’t realised that exercise could lower BNP but I had never heard of BNP before I’m glad yours has lowered
I have to admit in the last couple of years through the tightness heavy ache and breathlessness I haven’t walked so much as before the pacemaker i kept fainting and falling so I am overweight as well although no GP or cardiologist or even my EP has mentioned that. I do try to diet, but…..also my husband has mild dementia so I’m always on the go looking after him and the house snd garden etc
Anyway thank you for replying
Exercise seems to have helped in my case but I cannot say it would be the best thing for all people. I do three basic walks a day with the dog, twice for around ten minutes up and down a steeply sloping grassed area near our house, which I find quite taxing and makes me breathless, and once a day on a forest track for 45 minutes, which just makes me tired and feeling tightness around my diaphragm and so on. It seems to have done me some good as I feel better at times of rest. There is no magic solution to either AF and even less for heart failure so we have to rely on doctor's advice.
I can understand the fainting and falling stuff but I am lucky not to be overweight, and the only episodes I have had have been the sensation I am about to pass out, but never actually have, particularly on the longer walk.
I feel for you with your additional onerous responsibilities in caring for your husband. That must make your whole medical situation so difficult. I am truly lucky to have a wonderful healthy wife who is a wonderful support especially after the stroke, from which I am now largely recovered. (Caused by AF of course at a time before anybody thought to prescribe me apixaban)
Thank you for replying. So kind
I’m glad your wife is able to help you. I know when trevor was diagnosed with mild dementia I felt as if my rock was disappearing.
hi just to say, I’m under the care of Glenfield Heart hospital and can’t fault them. I trust their judgement completely. I’m 78 and have been with them for 25 years now.
My BNP was 1616 in 2021 and my cardiologist told me not to worry, it’s a test they do to check your hearts health. If it goes to 2000 it’s then classed as Heart Failure.
Relax and enjoy being 80 and being checked.
Xx
I don't know what BNP is either. I also have a few health issues including Afib but I remember my renal/vasculitis consultant advising me not to use Google, if I had any questions refer them to him and that's what I do although I must admit Health Unlocked can be very helpful too.
2.5 years ago I was told I had heart failure. I had very few symptoms. BNP was over 6000. 2 years ago, the last time measured, in the 2000’s. Doctors tried various approaches. I was told to do practically nothing then to do as much as you can and as hard as you can. The hard as you can worked best. Every person involved had a different recommendation. Had urinary tract infections which finally ended when I Googled drugs and found the culprit and stopped taking it. Now have kidney side effects from all the antibiotics. The whole experience has been a shit show. Doing fine right now and made it to 77 today. Health care is basically pretty much the same as playing roulette. Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. Try not to break the bank.
I have not heard of BNP and I am 79 and have a good cardiologist available at all times. I will ask him. I have very mild AFib and I do have CVD.
I take Bisoprolol, Eliquis, and Apixaban.
I am hindered by nerve damage from my waist down that really reduces my physical activity.
My cardiologist has just introduced me to Jardiance and indicated it is std for 80yo.
As well he will cut my Apixaban in half when I turn 80 in Feb.
Has anyone heard of these standard approaches for 80yo?
I too have permanent AF for 4 years now. My heart does all kinds of different things, like palpations, tightness in chest etc , somehow you learn to live with it and enjoy everyday that God gives you! I have slight heart failure, but keep quite active that seems to help. If a site will tell you how to lower your numbers, I would look at that and see what could help. I am 90 and in Canada, and do look up on line, things I don’t understand, then speak to my GP next time I have an appointment. Don’t know if this helps, just knowing you are not alone seems to help me!
my consultant said that he would worry only if it hit over 13000 so mine has been around 2500 for years.It is greatly effected by Atrial Fib and so don't worry.
My Gp rang me as Nice day they must check if goes above 200 but that is for people who do not have Atrial fib.
So don't worry its just a number
Thank you very reassuring x
I too had permanent AFib, but an ablation has helped me. I was in cardiac failure twice before my ablation. My BNP WAS elevated, but came down with treatment! I no longer look everything up!!!
BNP levels raised
bnp level high, breathlessness and fluid in lungs. What does this mean?
How bad is it?
Pro BNP
