Congestive Heart Failure
According to the American Heart Association, Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) is the leading cause of hospitalization for the geriatric population. There are approximately 500,000 people being diagnosed each year and approximately 5million people living with this disease in the United States. CHF is caused by heart disease, the heart is no longer able to pump blood to the systems of the body or remove all the blood that enters the ventricles.
CHF is diagnosed by careful assessment by the doctor. Some of the signs and symptoms that the doctor’s check for are, irregular heart sounds, and abnormal breath sounds, enlarge and distended neck veins. One of the best tools for diagnosis is an echocardiogram (ECHO). ECHO uses ultra sound waves to take pictures of the heart while it is beating. The test can state if both sides of the heart is failing and determine if valves are working properly.
Although as nurses we do not diagnose patients, often we have patients who are at risk for CHF and we are able to assess the patient and gets medical intervention before the patient become too overload with fluid. These are the signs and symptoms that we should look for.
Signs and Symptoms of left side failure
Ø Fatigue.
Ø Shortness of breath.
Ø Drowning feeling
Ø Dry hacking cough/wheezing
Ø Sleep apnea.
Ø Skin in clammy and pale.
Signs and symptoms of right side failure
Ø Fatigue
Ø Swelling of feet, ankles, legs, stomach (edema).
Ø Depressed appetite/nausea.
Ø Loss of muscle mass.
http://www.medicinenet.com/congestive_heart_failure/article.htm
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000158.htm
According to the American Heart Association, Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) is the leading cause of hospitalization for the geriatric population. There are approximately 500,000 people being diagnosed each year and approximately 5million people living with this disease in the United States. CHF is caused by heart disease, the heart is no longer able to pump blood to the systems of the body or remove all the blood that enters the ventricles.
CHF is diagnosed by careful assessment by the doctor. Some of the signs and symptoms that the doctor’s check for are, irregular heart sounds, and abnormal breath sounds, enlarge and distended neck veins. One of the best tools for diagnosis is an echocardiogram (ECHO). ECHO uses ultra sound waves to take pictures of the heart while it is beating. The test can state if both sides of the heart is failing and determine if valves are working properly.
Although as nurses we do not diagnose patients, often we have patients who are at risk for CHF and we are able to assess the patient and gets medical intervention before the patient become too overload with fluid. These are the signs and symptoms that we should look for.
Signs and Symptoms of left side failure
Ø Fatigue.
Ø Shortness of breath.
Ø Drowning feeling
Ø Dry hacking cough/wheezing
Ø Sleep apnea.
Ø Skin in clammy and pale.
Signs and symptoms of right side failure
Ø Fatigue
Ø Swelling of feet, ankles, legs, stomach (edema).
Ø Depressed appetite/nausea.
Ø Loss of muscle mass.
http://www.medicinenet.com/congestive_heart_failure/article.htm
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000158.htm
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