Cardiomyopathy is a condition in which the heart is enlarged and the muscle is thick and rigid (Mayo Clinic, 2015). These characteristics impair the hearts ability to fill or contract, which subsequently impairs circulation and deprives the body of oxygen necessary for healthy cellular function. Cardiomyopathy may be acquired or hereditary, but regardless of cause, it may lead to congestive heart failure if not properly managed (Mayo Clinic, 2015). Common symptoms of congestive heart failure include breathlessness, fatigue, edema of legs and feet, and ascites. While these symptoms can be managed through the use of pharmaceuticals and behavior modifications, high rates of hospital readmissions are trending for patients with congestive heart …show more content…
P. and his wife should be educated regarding the causes and effects of congestive heart failure, strategies for medication management, dietary limitations, physical activity, and coping mechanisms. This case study revealed that both he and his wife are succumbing to depressive tendencies due to Mr. P.’s disease. Therefore, it is important to provide them with strategies for developing effective coping mechanisms. Furthermore, a multi-modal approach to education should be used to improve their understanding and retention of information. Providing them with printed materials will allow them to reflect on the information that was imparted on them once they return home, because increased levels of stress may impair their ability to process and recall information that is only presented verbally. Video presentations may also serve to increase understanding and retention. The education provided to both Mr. P. and his wife should not be limited solely to congestive heart failure, but should encompass such topics as depression, anxiety, and coping strategies as …show more content…
The treatment plan should include the following (Jaarsma, 2005):
A. Comprehensive overview of congestive heart failure
a. Explanation of disease process – The heart’s job is to circulate blood throughout the body, but the pump is defective in one or more ways. This causes blood to back up into the lungs and blood vessels resulting in shortness of breath and fullness of the legs and abdomen. This may also make you feel tired easily.
b. Daily monitoring – It is important to weigh yourself daily, because a sudden increase in weight may be a sign that fluid is collecting in the body. It is also important to monitor your blood pressure each day to make sure that your medications are working like they should.
c. Warning signs and seeking medical care – You should go to your doctor, or emergency room, if you experience a sudden increase in weight (2-3 pounds in a day, or 5 pounds in a week), difficulty breathing, or increased swelling in your legs, feet, or abdomen (Group Health, 2014).
B. Medication
Our heart is like a double pump mechanism where the right side pumps deoxygenated blood to our lungs and the left side pumps oxygen rich blood to circulate back through our bodies. This process provides a continuous supply of oxygen and eliminates carbon dioxide waste from our body. When there is a disturbance to this process, it causes our heart the inability to pump sufficiently to meet our body’s demands. This causes the body to accumulate blood and fluid in the organs and tissues and will lead
Heart failure, also known as CHF or congestive heart failure affects nearly 5 million people in the U.S. yearly with 1.4 million of those being under the age of 60. Half of these will die within five years of being diagnosed. (Heart Failure Statistics) CHF usually occurs over a period of time as the heart’s pumping ability grows weaker and can either consist of right-side heart failure, left-side heart failure, or both. “Right-side heart failure occurs if the heart can't pump enough blood to the
For those with advanced heart failure, up to 90% will pass away within one year. About 5.8 million people in the US are living with progressive congestive heart failure. In the elderly population, those over the age of 65, there are about 900,000 yearly admissions to the hospital for heart failure in the United States.” Congestive heart failure is the most common cause of cardiogenic pulmonary edema. During a physical assessment these patients
(CAD)/Coronary Heart Disease (CHD): In the United States, CAD accounts for one death every minute making it a leading cause of death (Kones, 2011). Individuals at risk for CAD include those with modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors. Non-modifiable risk factors for CAD include: age, race, family history. Modifiable risk factors include: hypertension, obesity, smoking, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, and minimal to no physical exercise. If untreated, CAD can lead to heart failure (Kones, 2011).
irregular practices of monitoring blood component levels as well as medication administration are detrimental to the effectiveness of treatment. Mr Smith smokes 15 cigarettes daily, smokers have a much higher chance of developing atherosclerosis, heart conditions and stroke as cigarette smoke causes in systemic inflammation which has associated with acute coronary syndrome and plaque rupture (Adam 2013). It appears that Mr Smith is suffering from a cardiovascular disease as the majority of his presenting
enlarged heart. It is not a disease, but rather a symptom of another condition. The term "cardiomegaly" most commonly refers to an enlarged heart seen on chest X-ray before other tests are performed to diagnose the specific condition causing cardiomegaly. A person may develop an enlarged heart temporarily because of a stress on the body, such as pregnancy, or because of a medical condition, such as the weakening of the heart muscle, coronary artery disease, heart valve problems or abnormal heart rhythms
Reason #2 Osteoarthritis Osteoarthritis is a type of arthritis that happens as you age. It’s very common and is caused by cartilage breaking down. The most noticeable symptoms are swelling, pain and stiffness. Reason #3 Foot Bursitis Bursitis is an inflammation of the capsule that contains joint fluid. Bursitis can happen in any hinged joint, such as the shoulder, elbows, knees, heels
This is a common finding in older horses4, and the most common acquired valve lesion7, usually of little clinical significance. Another differential for the clinical signs shown is pulmonic regurgitation/pulmonic insufficiency. This is rare in horses, and these murmurs are usually very soft- often not detectable. The point of maximal intensity of pulmonic insufficiency murmurs is usually in the pulmonic valve area. Pulmonic insufficiency is usually secondary to cardiac heart failure, so carries
Heart disease, also known as cardiovascular disease, is a disorder that affects the heart. Heart disease is the leading cause of death of most ethnicities in the United States, including African Americans, Hispanics, and Whites. For American Indians or Alaska Natives and Asian or Pacific Islanders, heart disease is the second leading death. Although heart disease is often thought of as a problem for men, more women than men die of heart disease each year. The most common heart attack symptom in women
Myocardial Infarction The leading cause of death in males and females alike in America is coronary heart disease. Myocardial infarction, more commonly known as a heart attack, specifically effects a significant number of individuals. It claims a massive number of lives every day and year. “About 790,000 people in the US have heart attacks each year. Of those, about 114,000 will die” (American Heart Association, 2017). It is estimated that someone in America dies from a myocardial infarction approximately
Myocardial Infarction Introduction A myocardial infarction or heart attack, is the death or damage of part of the heart muscle because the supply of blood to the heart is severely reduce or stopped. Myocardial infarction (MI) is the leading cause of death in the United States. More than 1.5 million Americans suffer a myocardial infarction every year, and nearly half a million die, according to the American Heart Association. Most myocardial infarctions are the end result of years of silent, undetected
in periodontal infection are also the bacteria found in many of the cardiovascular diseases. This establishes a strong relationship between these two conditions. Heart disease describes a range of conditions that affect your heart. Diseases under the heart disease umbrella include blood vessel diseases, heart rhythm problems, and heart defects. The major cause of this is a build-up of fatty plaques in the arteries. Plaque build-up thickens and stiffens the vessel walls, which can inhibit blood flow
or equal to 140/90 is considered abnormally high. Elevated blood pressure means your heart is working harder than normal, putting both your heart and arteries under great strain. High blood pressure is serious business. On average, people with uncontrolled hypertension are:Seven times more likely to have a stroke. Six times more likely to develop congestive heart failure. Three times more likely to have a heart attack.Different types of hypertensionFrom my research, I didn't find any other types
Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction (LVSD, but commonly referred to as heart failure) is a chronic, progressive cardiac syndrome in which a damaged heart fails to beat efficiently and deliver enough blood to meet the body's needs. Although coronary heart disease (CHD) is the most common cause, for example, myocardial infarction, and many of the conditions are intertwined, there are several other causes of heart failure including cardiomyopathies, hypertension and valve disease. Cardiomyopathies
WHAT IS A CARDIOMYOPATHY? Cardiomyopathy is a disease of the heart muscle, causing the heart muscle to become enlarged, thick or rigid. In rare cases, the muscle tissue in the heart is replaced with scar tissue. As cardiomyopathy worsens, the heart becomes weaker. It 's less able to pump blood through the body and maintain a normal electrical rhythm. This can lead to heart failure and rhythm problems. In turn, heart failure can cause fluid to build up in the lungs, ankles, feet, legs or abdomen