...Introduction Heart failure, also called congestive heart failure, occurs when your heart does not pump blood well enough to meet your body's needs for oxygen-rich blood. Heart failure is a long-term (chronic) condition. Living with heart failure can be challenging. However, following your health care provider's instructions about a healthy lifestyle and choosing the right foods may help improve your symptoms. A heart failure eating plan includes cutting down on unhealthy fats, adding more healthy fats, reducing certain nutrients, such as sodium, and making other small changes to your diet. It is recommended that you stay at a healthy body weight to help keep fat (lipid) levels within a normal range. Contact your health care provider before...
Words: 1214 - Pages: 5
...References Beckerman, J. (Ed.). (2014, September 20). Heart disease and congestive heart failure. Retrieved from WebMD website: http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/guide-heart-failure This website does a great job of identifying the signs and symptoms of CHF. I think it also does a great job of informing the reader what tests will and should be done if your doctor feels you are at risk or my have the disease. It clearly states the different types of the disease as well as treatments for CHF. I think WebMD is a great source for information because, it breaks down the specific disease and explains it in everyday terms. I think that is important for people to really understand what they are dealing with. I think this Webpage would be extremely helpful to anyone just diagnosed or who has been living with the disease of CHF. Huntington, M., Guzman, A., Roemen, A., Fieldsend, J., & Soloum, H. (2013). Hospital-to-Home: A hospital readmission reduction program for congestive heart failure.. South Dakota Medicine: The Journal of the South Dakota State Medical Association, 66(9), 370-373. This article shows how important, cost wise most importantly, it is to make sure patients with CHF are not readmitted so soon after they are released from their previous hospital stay for the disease. It shows how important it is to stay informed and not to go back to your old habits after your release from a hospital stay. I think the fact that they used follow up home visits after a patients release...
Words: 996 - Pages: 4
...Congestive Heart Failure Armi Gonzales Western Governors University Congestive Heart Failure A. Investigated Disease Process Congestive Heart Failure is a condition in which the heart is unable to pump a sufficient amount of blood for the body to function. If the heart’s ability to pump blood decreases, blood and fluids may start to pool into the lungs and accumulate in the legs, ankles, and feet causing an edema, shortness of breath, and fatigue. (Heart Failure, 2015, para. 2) The American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology defines heart failure as “a complex clinical syndrome that can result from any structural or functional cardiac disorder that impairs the ability of the ventricles to fill with or eject blood” (King, Kingery, & Casey, 2012, p. 1). Heart failure can be seen as a widespread disease, affecting around five million Americans. (Titler et al. n.d.) It is a chronic condition that is disabling and costly and common to our aging population. With the advancement in therapy and early diagnosis, survival increases from previously fatal acute cardiac events to patients feeling better and living longer. Millions of Americans living with heart failure are 65 years of age or older. (Roger et al, 2004) A1. Pathophysiology The Circulatory system focuses on the heart, a muscular organ that pumps blood through a complex network of blood vessels throughout the body. Blood that is pumped from the heart carries oxygen and nutrients that fuel...
Words: 6554 - Pages: 27
...Treatment of Congestive Heart Failure Nicole Martin North Island College Congestive Heart Failure Left heat failure, also known as congestive heart failure (CHF), is an imbalance in pump function in which the heart is failing and unable to do its work pumping enough blood to meet the needs of the body’s other organs. CHF is commonly thought of as a disease but in fact is a syndrome. A syndrome as defined by Mosby’s Dictionary, as “a complex of signs and symptoms resulting from a common cause or appearing in combination, to present a clinical picture of a disease or inherited abnormality” (Mosby, 2009). Heart failure usually develops slowly, often over years, as the heart gradually loses its pumping ability and works less efficiently. CHF affects individuals in different ways and to different degrees. It is usually a chronic disease and gradually becomes worse over time. Many people are not even aware of their condition until symptoms appear years after the heart began its decline. There are many causes, risk factors, and signs & symptoms that help determine if someone is at risk of developing CHF or already living with CHF. Nearly 500,000 Canadians are currently living with the condition, with 50,000 new cases diagnosed each year. With such high numbers of people diagnosed with CHF, I believe as a future nurse it will be beneficial to have a greater understanding as to how CHF develops, how it is treated, and how it is management. Etiology The etiology...
Words: 1578 - Pages: 7
...Heart failure or Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) is a condition in which the heart can't pump enough blood to meet the body's needs. Heart failure does not mean that your heart has stopped or is about to stop working. It means that your heart is not able to pump blood the way it should. It can affect one or both sides of the heart ("Congestive Heart Failure | Heart Failure | CHF | MedlinePlus," 2017). Heart failure is a collection of signs and symptoms reflecting a physiologic change in the hearts ability to keep up with demand. Heart failure is considered a global pandemic and is a complex disease that oftentimes is progressive. Heart failure is often associated with underlying coronary atherosclerosis, and its associated risks, including...
Words: 675 - Pages: 3
...Robert great summarization post of congestive heart failure, my grandfather had congestive heart failure so I know first hand the effects it has on a person’s life. I thought it was very interesting that you pointed out one the first symptoms being not able to exercise without experiencing discomfort because not many individuals think of that as being a symptom they go to the go to symptoms like shortness of breath, coughing, and fatigue. In the beginning, before my grandfather was diagnosed with congestive heart failure he experienced difficulties lying down flat. Lying down flat causes parts of the lung to be in a more ¬¬¬dependent position. Another symptom to keep in mind for an individual with congestive heart failure is waking up with severe shortness of breath, and immediately needing to sit up to get their breath, and this is known as “paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea”. The reason why there is a fluid build is when the heart’s output decreases; the body tries to compensate for it by releasing hormones that make the heart beat faster and stronger. This reflex though is only a short-term gain, and in the long run it really damages the heart’s function. The kidneys also sense the heart’s decrease in blood output, and they release hormones into the body, which cause sodium and...
Words: 426 - Pages: 2
...Congestive Heart Failure Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) is a condition where the heart doesn’t pump blood as well as it should. Sometimes CHF can be referred to as Heart Failure. Heart Failure becomes CHF when it hits the stage where there is fluid built up around the heart causing ineffective pumping of the heart. CHF eventually causes a backup of fluid and blood into the liver, abdomen, lungs, and lower body. All different types of people can develop CHF and there are different ways to go about treating it. The nursing care provided to a patient with CHF and the way the disease progresses is patient specific. Description of the Condition There are two common classifications of CHF, left-sided and right-sided. Left-sided CHF is more...
Words: 1566 - Pages: 7
...Congestive heart failure is defined as; “the heart does not pump as well as it should to meet the body’s oxygen demands.” (Congestive Heart Failure, John Hopkins Medicine) The heart has four chambers; two atria in the upper part of the heart, and two ventricles in the lower part of the heart. Ventricles transport blood to the organs and tissues. The atria receive blood after it circulates from the body. When another condition has damaged or weakened the heart, and the heart can’t maintain the normal demands of pumping blood to the rest of the body, heart failure occurs. The ventricles can become stiff and not fill properly in between beats. The ventricles can also stretch causing the heart to not be able to properly pump blood to the whole body. Increased heart rate usually occurs which is caused by increased sympathetic activity trying to maintain cardiac output. When the sympathetic stimulation is increased, it releases vasopressin (antidiuretic hormone), which then causes fluid retention in the kidneys. When this happens, one can have hypertension There...
Words: 1402 - Pages: 6
...head: EDUCATION AND CONGESTIV HEART FAILURE How does patient education affect compliance with Congestive Heart Failure? How does patient education affect compliance with Congestive Heart Failure? How does education affect compliance with congestive heart failure? I have chosen this topic because congestive heart failure is a disease process that continues to grow throughout our communities. These patients tend to be readmitted into the hospital frequently due to noncompliance. Problem Identification Education of congestive heart failure is one of society’s largest challenges. The need to focus on compliance of treatment plan, self management, and patient education of this disease process is essential for favorable outcomes. The articles chosen for the information retrieval paper were located on line at the University of Texas at Arlington library in the CINHL database. These articles were written between the years of 2006 and 2009. All three articles were peer reviewed. While searching the data base for articles, information regarding education, compliance, and outcomes was a key focus. The articles were chosen for their content related to the education process of the patient with congestive heart failure and how compliance would affect outcomes. The knowledge of congestive heart failure of the medical professional was also explored. Summary of Articles First article Congestive heart failure is a debilitating and chronic...
Words: 2065 - Pages: 9
...Ellen Diane Windham 11/8/15 Case Study: CHF Helen Montgomery * An 83-year-old female presents to ambulance crew after an episode of sudden weakness. A GP is on scene and has assessed the patient, deciding on hospital admission by ambulance as a matter of urgency. History Patient became very weak and was put to bed by NOK. Her breathing became very laboured and the NOK called for the local GP out-of-hours service to attend. The doctor was on scene within 15 minutes, and upon assessing the patient requested an ambulance transfer to the ED. Initial Clinical Findings * Airway – clear & patent * C Spine – not indicated (MOI/NOI: episode of weakness) * Breathing – tachypnoeic * Circulation – Pulse present, irregular, tachycardic; skin colour normal, cap refill normal * Disability – No LOC before ambulance arrival, patient responding to verbal stimuli Clinical Impression * ? Exacerbation of CHF * ? CVA * ? Post-seizure AMPLE History * A – Allergic to penicillin * M – Currently taking Warfarin, Furosemide * P – History of CVA x 1 year, CHF * L – Last oral intake 7pm the evening previous * E – Son stated patient became very weak before going to bed Observations * Pulse rate 110bpm * Pulse rhythm Irregular * ECG rate 116 * ECG rhythm A Fib * Resp rate 24 per...
Words: 378 - Pages: 2
...Prevention of Hospital Readmissions Related to Symptoms of Congestive Heart Failure NRS 441V Professional Capstone March 1, 2014 Abstract Providing patients diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure effective teaching can eliminate reoccurring hospitalizations. Patients are discharged with CHF and readmitted within 30 days. The information provided will examine the process of enhancing patient knowledge and provide additional resources essential for effective health care management. Research evidence provides data that proves patients who are diagnosed with CHF needs a variety of health care needs during admission and after discharge. The proposal will display an evaluation plan, implementation plan and a dissemination of the evidence. Provide at least 1 evidence based literature; for at least 1 evidence based solution. Keywords: congestive heart failure, therapy, education, patient outcomes Description of the Problem Prevention of Hospital Readmissions Related to Symptoms of Congestive Heart Failure Health care providers must ensure skills, knowledge and teaching is effective when providing care to their patients and families about symptoms of CHF. The length of stay for an average hospital visit can be two days however, for more chronic issues warrant an even longer stay. To avoid readmission of the disease processes of CHF warrants additional care and resources during and after discharge. . Some patients cannot follow up with their primary care physician because...
Words: 4836 - Pages: 20
...As we all know the heart is the most important organ of the body. The heart does many amazing things through its four chambers and two ventricles. The most important functions the heart does is pumping blood and oxygen through our body. Those two functions are what keeps us alive and breathing. A person's most important goal should be to remain healthy in order to avoid any type of health issues. However, most people don't really realize the health issues that can occur in your heart when your health is not up to par. One of the most common health issues regarding the heart is congestive heart failure. This health issue occurs when the right ventricle has difficulty pumping blood to your lungs. When a ventricle has difficulty pumping, the blood backs up in your blood vessels causing fluid retention in lower extremities, abdomen, lungs, and kidneys. It is possible to have left-sided and right-sided congestive heart failure at the same time. CHF can be deadly if the main cause of the disease is not treated. Symptoms of congestive heart failure can be excess urination at night, chest pains, shortness of breath, swollen feet or legs, bloating, palpitations, Persistent coughing, or fatigue....
Words: 410 - Pages: 2
...1. Clinical Question: Select a health-related topic applicable to your practice setting and formulate a clinical question, using the PICO (T) format. Please type the question here: Are patients with Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) less likely to be readmitted if involved in an in home monitoring program? 2. Identify the PICO (T) Terms: P - Patients with CHF I - In Home Monitoring C - No in Home Monitoring O - Decreased Readmission T - 5 Years from 2009-2013 3. Search: PubMed/MEDLINE Go to MEDLINE at http://www.pubmed.gov and conduct a search on your clinical question. Please type your search history in the table below: Search Number | P | I | C | O | T | # of Results | Notes | 1 | Congestive Heart Failure | | | | | 33058 | I typed “congestive heart failure” in the search field and clicked ‘Search’. | 2 | | Home Monitoring | | | | 1077 | I cleared the search field and typed in “home monitoring” and clicked ‘Search’. | 3 | | | | Decreased Readmission | | 11954 | I cleared the search and typed in readmission instead of decreased readmission to widen my search results and clicked ‘Search’. | 4 | #1 | #2 | | #3 | | 40 | I then clicked ‘Advanced Search’ and combined Searches #1, #2, and #3 using the Boolean operator “AND”. I then clicked ‘Search’. | 5 | #1 | #2 | | #3 | 5 years | 22 | I chose to further the search by retrieving only current articles, so I used the same ‘Advanced Search’ from 4 but then clicked on ‘Limits’ and...
Words: 580 - Pages: 3
...NRS-427V March 20, 2015 Jen Costello Community Teaching Plan: Teaching Experience Paper Community health nurses have the distinctive ability and knowledge to provide teaching on various health topics within the community. For this teaching experience, this writer chose a home health center which allowed this writer to gather a group of patients 65 years and older, who have been diagnosed with CHF and teach them about heart failure management and how to prevent hospital readmissions. Congestive heart failure is an illness that effects millions each year and with proper management, individuals can still lead a productive life. Prior to the teaching presentation, a community teaching work plan proposal was developed which helped create an outline for the teaching lesson. This paper will review the teaching plan, the epidemiological rational related to CHF, evaluate the teaching experience, how the community responded, and what the strengths of the teaching plan were and areas that need improvement. Summary of teaching plan Teaching about congestive heart failure management and how to prevent returning to the hospital for complications related to CHF, is an important topic to discuss and educate the community about, especially the elderly. The teaching plan developed by this writer estimated the teaching time to last 30 minutes and would take place at Victory Home Care. Between the cost of paper and ink to make the pamphlet for educational handout and cookies, juice, and coffee...
Words: 1790 - Pages: 8
...Educating Congestive Heart Failure Patients Cynthia Jones The University of Texas at Arlington School of Nursing In partial fulfillment of the requirements of N3645 Cynthia Jones, RN October 1, 2012 Online RN-BSN Educating Congestive Heart Patients In comparison to the general population, the quality of life for patients with congestive heart failure is greatly impaired until patients are educated on the signs, symptoms and treatment of congestive heart failure. How can nurses use non-physical aspects of nursing to assist congestive heart failure patients improve their quality of life and decrease hospital visits? Patients with congestive heart failure receive physical aspects for treating the disease with the use of medications and surgery, but if patients were educated on the signs and symptoms at the onset of heart failure, outcomes should improve. When researching articles for information regarding congestive heart patients, I searched for articles in The Journal of American College of Cardiology, The Journal of Family Social Work, and the International Journal of Nursing Technologies and Classifications. I decided on these articles because they were published in reputable journals and provide correlations to the research question. In the first article seventy-six caregivers of patients with congestive heart failure used The McMaster Model of Family functioning (problem solving, communication, roles, affective responsiveness and affective...
Words: 1367 - Pages: 6
