Managing Heart Failure

Managing Heart Failure Carla Vossen, SPN Kristin Madigan RN, BSN NURS 1300 Research Project South commutation College November 23, 2009 Heart adversity is a chronic and progressive syndrome, resulting from the inability of the core muscle to pump with enough force to meet the metabolic gather ups of the body. (Buckler,13) consort to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) there atomic number 18 approximately quintet million people in the United States that take a shit stub affliction. slightly 550 thousand people are diagnosed with emotional state failure each year. Afri preserve Ameri locoweeds have a higher death rate than Caucasian Ameri tooshies the estimated medical examination costs in 2006 were 29. 6 billion dollars. Heart failure has a very broad range of ca employments, more or less of the more common cardiovascular causes are congenital heart conditions, valvular indisposition, coronary artery disease, myocarditis, cardiomyopathies, myocardial infarction, and hyp ertension.Noncardiovascular causes of heart disease allow in pulmonic embolism, thyrotoxicosis, and chronic obstructive pneumonic disease. (Williams,407 ) Lifestyle choice such as smoking, excessive alcohol phthisis and environment are contributing risk factors. (Buckler,13-15 Williams,408) The symptoms will vary depending on which side of the heart is failing, patients age, and the severity of the disease. However fatigue and weakness are the hallmark signs of heart failure. Williams,483) When pump failure occurs in a modify left ventricle, referred to as left-sided heart failure (most commonly occurs here) signs and symptoms can include Dyspnea on exertion, Cheyne-Stokes respirations, crackles, wheezing nocturia, relieflessness, cough, pink frothy sputum, weakness, and paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, and cyanosis. Right ventricle failure or right-sided heart failure can either be primary failure or inessential to left-sided heart failure. Signs and symptoms can include Periphe ral edema, ascites, abdominal pain nd fullness, anorexia or sudden weight accession, tachycardia, jugular vein distention, nocturia, and nausea. (Williams,484) Controlling modifiable factors can prevent heart failure, such as smoking and feed. However these factors do not directly cause heart failure but is secondary to an fundamental disease such as coronary artery disease that can lead to heart failure. In general heart failure patients have a poor prognosis unless the cause is correctable. If the heart failure is primarily due to a valvular disorder, repair or commutation could reverse the disorder.Heart transplant may be an option for some patients. Several diagnostic procedures may be done to aid in the diagnosis of heart failure. First a complete history and material examination will be performed, followed by one or more of the following chest x-ray to detect enlarged heart and pulmonary congestion electrocardiogram (ECG) is used to assess hypertrophy, ischemia, and arrhy thmias echocardiograms assess blood run away and left ventricular function cardiac catheterization may show ventricular dilation, coronary artery occlusion, and valvular disorders.Serum blood testes include witticism natriuretic peptide (BNP) is very unique(predicate) for detecting heart failure. Electrolytes, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine (to get hold out kidney disease) complete blood count (CBC) is used to rule out anemia and infection Arterial blood gasses (ABGs). (Myers, 484) These are dependable a few of the main diagnostic tools used to detect or eliminate heart failure and determine the cause. (Buckler,15-17) Treatment is patient specific and will focus on the underlying cause and severity of the heart failure.Pharmacologic interventions may include ACE inhibitors to subside cardiac hypertrophy and afterload, these are the first line of pharmacologic interventions. Diuretics are used to decrease fluent overload, beta blockers are used to improve cardiac output, and an anticoagulant medication may be take. These medications along with cessation of smoking, close and accurate mundane weight monitoring, low sodium diet to sponsor eliminate fluid retention, a high potassium diet may be needed if a thiazide diuretic is prescribed, regular light activity with appropriate rest periods, within the parameters set by the doctor, and oxygen therapy. Myers,487-89) Before discharge it is compulsive that the patient and family understand the purpose, dosage, schedule, and route of administration of all the medications they are taking, as well as the side effects that need to be inform to their doctor. Avoid any over-the-counter medications that may contain sodium, and if they are incertain of a medication, consult the physician or pharmacist.They need to understand the aim and importance of daily activity and when to cube exercising and when to report to their physician what procedure should be done when assessing their daily weight and the impor tance of notifying the physician of daily weight gain of two to three pounds of weekly gain of five pounds. They should also chouse the importance of the low sodium diet or high potassium diet if their on a thiazide diuretic, and fight down their fluid restriction. (Buckler,19-20) Supportive resources should be provided to the patient and family. Any knowledge dearth in these areas can have dangerous consequences. Beers, 657-68 ) Patients will often watch shortness of breath, which will increase anxiety. They need to know that the anxiety can exacerbate the shortness of breath. Teaching the patient to sit in the Fowlers position, how to use oxygen as prescribed will help decrease the demand of oxygen. (Beers, 657) Patients should be aware of the different relaxation therapies that they can practice to help alleviate stress and help slow their breathing they need to know how and when to use any inhalers they may have prescribed, and the signs and symptoms of any side effects.I ch oose to research heart failure because of the amount of people that have the disease, its devastating effects on a person lifestyle, and the many underlying diseases that can lead to the disease. Heart failure may not be curable in most cases, however with a strict union to the medication, exercise, diet, fluid restriction a patient has a chance to stop the progression of the underlying cause, therefore avoiding heart failure. References Beers, Mark. ed. , et al. Merck manual of Diagnosis and Therapy. rude(a) Jersey Merck Research Laboratories, 16th ed. 2006. Buckler, L. (2009). Managing Heart Failure. Nursing Made implausibly Easy. May/ June, 12-20. Center for Disease Control. (2009, Nov 20). Heart Failure Fact Sheet. Retrieved from http//cdc. gov/dhdsp/ subroutine library/fs_heart_failure. htm Myers, Tamara, ed. Heart Failure. Mosbys Medical Dictionary. 8th ed. 2009. Mosby Elsevier. Williams, Linda, Paula Hopper. ed. Understanding Medical working(a) Nursing. Pennsylvania F. A. Davis Company, 3rd ed. 2007, 480-496.