ELECTROCARDIOGRAM

AND THE DIAGNOSIS OFCONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE

By Angela Thomas

CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE CHF is an acute or chronic inability of the

heart to pump enough blood throughout the body to meet the demands of homeostasis.

CHF leads to a buildup of fluid in the lungs and surrounding body tissues.

CHF may be due to failure of the right or left ventricle, or both.

PATIENT HISTORY/RISK FACTORS Family history of heart disease High blood pressure Diabetes Tobacco use Coronary artery disease Overweight High cholesterol Weakened heart muscle Pacemaker Poor diet Lack of exercise Chemotherapy

PATIENT’S SYMPTOMS Shortness of breath Edema Fatigue Lack of appetite Nausea Rapid heartbeat Persistent cough Wheezing Increased urination

DIAGNOSIS OF HIS DISORDER History and physical examination. Electrocardiogram (EKG, ECG) Chest X-ray Blood tests Echocardiography The Ejection Fraction (EF) Cardiac catheterization Stress Test Nuclear stress test

AN EKG CAN HELP DIAGNOSIS

Coronary heart disease

Arrhythmia Heart failure Cardiomyopathy Heart valve disease Pericarditis

FOR MY GRANDFATHER, AN ECG HELPED THE DOCTOR TO DETERMINE THAT HE HAS CHF.

My grandfather’s heart does not pump forcefully enough.

His heart lacks blood flow to the heart muscle.

Heart was beating normally, but not enough beats per minute.

His pacemaker was functioning normally.

MEDICATION TREATMENTS Diuretic medications

ACE inhibitors (angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors)

Beta blockers

Digoxin

Aldosterone blockers

TREATMENTS FOR CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE Exercise regularly Control diabetes Control high blood pressure Control cholesterol Monitor weight Diet Medication therapy Quit using tobacco Follow-up appointment Surgery if needed

HOW TO PREVENT CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE FROM WORSENING

Keep blood pressure low Monitor symptoms Maintain fluid balance Limit sodium intake Monitor weight and lose

weight if needed Take medications as

prescribed Schedule regular doctor

appointments

HOW CAN HE IMPROVE HIS QUALITY OF LIFE WITH CHF?

Eating a healthy diet Exercising regularly Not overdoing it Preventing respiratory infections Control his diabetes, high blood pressure,

and cholesterol Monitor his weight Take his medication Quit using tobacco

GRANDPA’S MEDICATIONS Amiodarone 200 mg Carvedilol 6.25 mg Simvastatin 20 mg Xarelto 20 mg ProAir® HFA 90 mg Aspirin 81 mg Oxygen

PATIENT OUTCOME/PROGNOSIS Congestive Heart failure is a major health problem

that comes with the aging of the American citizen.

More effective medications have been developed that improve the outlook of heart failure. Medications are the cornerstone of therapy for patients with congestive heart failure.

Pacemakers and implantable defibrillators have improved and now offer the ability to control rare, but life-threatening, disturbances of heart rhythm in some people.

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/

PROGNOSIS AND LIFE EXPECTANCY FOR THE ELDERLY PATIENT The prognosis of congestive heart failure

patients has improved over the past few decades, but the improvement has been less pronounced in the elderly population.

The prognosis of elderly patients with heart failure is grave.

The average life expectancy following diagnosis of CHF is under six years. However, the course of CHF is variable, and some patients live 10 or more years with good medication response and dietary and lifestyle management.

http://www.uptodate.com/

REFERENCES http://www.emedicinehealth.com/congestive-

heart-failure

http://www.medtronic.com/patients/heart-failure/

http://www.uptodate.com/

http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/guide-heart-failure