Activity is another important concern for many individuals that have congestive heart failure. Some of them will be resentful of the fact that they are no longer are able to perform many of the activities that they once performed, and others will be so afraid to perform any type of activity at all that they will become sedentary, which can also be dangerous. All individuals, regardless of their medical condition, should be encouraged to be as active as they can safely for as long as they can (Legge & Leeper, 2002).
When nurses work with individuals that have congestive heart failure, they should work towards reassuring them about the activity level that they can handle and what they should be doing to keep themselves as healthy as possible. As has been mentioned, most cases of congestive heart failure are mild to moderate and they can be treated with proper lifestyle changes and medications. Once this takes place, individuals should be able to perform normal daily activities for the most part and the only thing that they must be careful to do is not overexert themselves. In other words, an individual with congestive heart failure must not feel that he or she can only sit on the couch and watch television all day, but he or she also must be aware of the fact that going jogging or performing some other tasks that will raise the heart rate and the breathing to any great extent may be dangerous and uncomfortable.
Pain management is another significant issue. Not all individuals that have congestive heart failure have pain, but chest pains and other pains from the inactivity that often takes place in people with this condition can be problematic. Generally, pain management is more of an issue for congestive heart failure patients that have had some type of surgical correction or other invasive procedure. This can come from having a pacemaker implanted, having a valve repaired or replaced, having angioplasty to open the arteries, or any other invasive procedure that takes place. Generally, immediately after these procedures pain medication can usually be given as needed (Legge & Leeper, 2002). However, this does not give the patient or the nurse any type of license to overuse the medication prescribed.
Developing a strategy for pain management from a nursing standpoint is somewhat difficult because not all patients have the same amount of pain and not all of them experience it in the same ways. Some individuals have a much higher tolerance for pain than other individuals do and when these individuals that have a low tolerance for pain continue to ask for medication nurses may get uncomfortable about the amount of medication that these individuals are taking or asking to take. Nurses must develop strategies that will counsel these individuals as to how much medication they are capable of taking and ensure that these patients understand that there is not a deliberate withholding of medication to cause any type of additional pain to the patient. Too much medication can be just as dangerous as not enough and care must be taken with these patients, especially the elderly that often...
Congestive Heart Failure CHF Overview: As you know, Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) is one of the most common causes of death in the United States. The multifaceted causes and symptoms associated with CHF often leave the health care provider treating the symptoms rather than underlying causes, with near universal need to tailor care to each patient through a sometimes difficult process if elimination. The sometimes-idiosyncratic nature of epidemiology can also leave the
One's heart may appear enlarged in heart failure. The X-ray also may reveal whether ther e is any fluid buildup in the person's lungs. X-rays also sometimes show conditions other than heart failure that possibly cause the patient's signs and symptoms (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2009). Electrocardiogram (ECG): Through electrodes attached to the patient's skin, an ECG records the electrical activity of person's heart and records the impulses. These impulses, displayed
Pregnant or breastfeeding women, older patients and other patients with certain medical problems are advised to first consult their doctors before using the drugs. These medical problems are heart disease, heart rhythm problems, severe lung disease, kidney disease, liver disease, and thyroid disease (Flanigan). Although side effects of digitalis drugs are rare, patients are urged to consult reactions such as skin rash, hives or other troublesome symptoms (May 2006). Signs
Congestive Heart Failure It is a fact that Congestive Heart Failure is an extremely frightening word and an equally frightening concept to comprehend, and when a loved one, or oneself has been diagnosed with this condition, it is quite natural to relapse into a state of depression or panic. However, it is not an untreatable disease, and with the correct and appropriate treatment methods, and with the right physician attending, the
Questions regarding all three aspects should be asked during intake because this disease should be treated holistically meaning that everything should be factored in. IV. DISEASE Management MODEL A disease management plan is necessary for the congestive heart failure patient because so many other illnesses are associated with this disease. The plan is designed to improve the patient's health, while at the same time reducing medical costs. Disease Management Model Purpose To manage as
The heart is an important muscle in the body: the body depends on the heart muscle to pump oxygen and nutrient-rich blood throughout the circulatory system. There are four chambers in the heart, which collect the blood from the body and send it back out to the lungs and the other parts of the body. When a heart muscle valve fails, the circulation of the blood is reduced, and this
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