My mother has been having shortness of breath and has been feeling light headed. She has high blood pressure that his controlled by medication. She went to the doctor today and was told that she has conjestive heart failure and she is going for an echo in a few days. She does not have much swelling but the doctor put her on another water pill. She is 77 years old. She is worried that she has damage to her heart. If this is the case, my mother will not have any type of surgery. How long can she live with this condition? I read that exercise is helpful, i.e. walking ten-15 minutes a day and she should be on a no salt diet. Is there anything else that will help?