Cardiomyopathy And Congestive Heart Failure Case Study
Cardiomyopathy And Congestive Heart Failure Case Study
Mr. P is a 76-year-old male with cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure who has been hospitalized frequently to treat CHF symptoms. He has difficulty maintaining diet restrictions and managing his polypharmacy. He has 4+ pitting edema, moist crackles throughout lung fields, and labored breathing. He has no family other than his wife, who verbalizes sadness over his declining health and over her inability to get out of the house. She is overwhelmed with the stack of medical bills, as Mr. P always took care of the financial issues. Mr. P is despondent and asks why God has not taken him.
Question: Cardiomyopathy And Congestive Heart Failure Case Study
Considering Mr. Ps condition and circumstance, write an essay of 500-750 words that includes the following:
· Describe your approach to care.
· Recommend a treatment plan.
· Describe a method for providing both the patient and family with education and explain your rationale.
· Provide a teaching plan (avoid using terminology that the patient and family may not understand).
Congestive Heart Failure/Cardiomyopathy
Congestive heart failure (or simply, “heart failure”) is a medical condition in which the heart fails to sufficiently pump oxygenated blood needed by the body’s other organs. The heart continues to pump, but not as efficiently as a healthy heart. This condition, which affects nearly six million Americans, may lead to symptoms such as shortness of breath, swelling of the legs and ankles, fatigue and weakness, loss of appetite and a persistent cough. Common causes of heart failure include high blood pressure, adult congenital heart disease, coronary artery disease and valvular heart disease.
Cardiomyopathy, which describes any disorder that affects the heart muscle, also can be a contributing cause of heart failure. Three forms of cardiomyopathy are:
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is an uncommon, often familial, condition that involves abnormal thickening of the left ventricle and stiffening of the heart, due to a genetic mutation in key proteins involved in heart muscle contraction.
- Dilated cardiomyopathy, the most common type of cardiomyopathy, refers to a markedly enlarged heart with an impaired ability to pump blood. This also can be caused by genetic mutations or other secondary factors, such as viruses or toxins.
- Restrictive cardiomyopathy occurs when the heart muscle becomes stiff due to progressive fibrosis or accumulation of abnormal substances and is unable to properly fill with blood.
