Heart
failure
Heart
failure occurs when the heart loses its ability to pump enough blood through the
body. It usually develops slowly often over years, as the heart gradually loses
its pumping ability and works less efficiently. How serious is the problem
depends on how much pumping capacity the heart has lost. There is a wide range
of hart failure, but only an early diagnosis and a close treatment can improve
the chance of living longer and better. There are two main categories of heart
failure although within each category, symptoms and effects may differ from
patient to patient:
q
Systolic heart
failure.
It occurs when the heart’s ability to contract decreases. The heart
cannot pump with enough force to push a sufficient amount of blood into the
circulation. Blood coming into the heart from the lungs may back up and cause
fluid to leak into the lungs, a condition known as pulmonary congestion
q
Diastolic heart
failure. It occurs when
the heart has relaxing problems. The heart cannot properly fill with blood
because the muscle has become stiff, losing its ability to relax. This form may
lead to fluid accumulation, especially in the feet, ankles, and legs. Some
patients may have lung congestion.
Heart
Failure Recognition
o
The medical record,
plan of care, transfer summary, and other referral data should be used to help
identify patients with heart failure
Step
2
o
Evaluate the patient
for signs and symptoms of heart failure
o Signs of heart failure include: