Download What is Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)?

TEACHING PLAN
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The anatomy of the heart
◦ Fill in the Blank
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What is congestive heart failure (CHF)?
How does the heart work with CHF?
Signs and Symptoms
Causes of CHF
Management of CHF
Discussion about CHF
◦ Group skit
◦ Questions?
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Quiz
Click on photo to view video of the heart*
Word bank
Aorta
Superior vena cava
Inferior vena cava
Pulmonary artery
Pulmonary valve
Pulmonary veins
Right atrium
Left ventricle
Left atrium
Left ventricle
Mitrial valve
Tricuspid valve
Septum
What is Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)?
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Condition where the heart is unable to pump blood as well as it
should.
It does not mean your heart stops working.
It just means your heart is not as strong as it used to be.
The heart is unable to pump enough blood throughout the body.
Blood that is usually circulating from the heart to all parts of the
body backs up into the lungs, liver, stomach and legs.
Click on photo to view video of the heart*
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As the heat’s pumping action weakens, the body fights back to adapt
to the decreased blood flow.
The heart has four chambers.
The right atrium, left atrium, the right ventricle and left ventricle.
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When the right side of the heat does not pump blood as well as it
should, blood backs up into the veins. The veins expand to attempt
to hold more fluid. In time, the fluid is forced out of the veins and
goes to the legs, feet, ankles, liver and/or stomach. The back-up of
blood causes swelling in those areas.
When the left side of the heart’s pumping action weakens, blood
returns to the lungs. This can cause symptoms of difficulty
breathing and coughing. When the blood flow to the kidneys is
reduced, they react by holding salt and water that would normally
pass out of the body. This also causes swelling which is also causes
edema.
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Weight gain or 2 or more pounds in one day
Gain 3 or more pounds in 1 week
Swelling of the feet, legs, ankles, hands and/or stomach
Persistent cough or chest congestion
Increasing fatigue and weakness
Poor appetite
Nausea
Confusion
Restlessness
Intermittent shortness of breath
Dizziness and light headedness
There are many conditions that can cause heart
failure. Some include:
Heart attack
 High blood pressure
 Abnormal heart valves
 Irregular heart beat
 Lung disease
 Infection of the heart muscles by a virus or bacteria
 Alcohol consumption or abuse
 Exact cause of heart failure may be unknown or have no
known cause
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 Daily
weights. Weigh at the same time with
the same clothes every day.
Document weight every time
Weight before you eat or drink anything
Main reason to weigh- if you develop any fluid retention,
swelling and edema you can find this information out through the
daily weight.
Name____________________________
Date
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Time
Month___________________________
Weight
Any Changes
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Reduce salt intake mo more than 2 grams of sodium each day
Limit the amount of sodium in beverages
Low salt diet
Restrict fluid intake
Drinking too much fluid makes the heart work harder
Always take medication prescribed by physician.
Some examples of medication include:
• Lasik
• Lisinopril
• Isordil
• Digoxin
• Carvedilol
• Losartan
◦ If you feel any side effects of these drugs, contact your physician
immediately or go to the nearest hospital
 Some side effects include:
 Dizziness
 Cough
 Kidney problems
 Low blood pressure
 Weakness
 Skin rashes
 Altered sense of taste
 High potassium levels
Activity level
Discuss the amount of activity you can do with your physician.
What you are able to do depends on the severity of your condition
 No smoking!
 Rest is important
 Know your heart failure zones
 Keep your Doctor’s appointments
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What is CHF?
What other organs does CHF affect?
How can you get CHF?
How do you maintain CHF?
During this discussion please make a group of 5
people and discuss these questions with one
another. Create a quick skit describing a patient
with congestive heart failure.
Any Questions?
1. Congestive heart failure (or CHF) is the name for what kind of failure?
A.the heart to beat
B.the heart to pump sufficient blood to the body
C.the heart to pump 60 times a minute
D. the failure of the right ventricle to beat rhythmically
2. What is NOT characteristically one of the main symptoms of CHF?
A.Edema
B. shortness of breath
C. warm hands
D.problems with urinary output
3. Which of the following treatments is NOT a central recommendation for patients with CHF?
A.sodium reduction
B. diet modification
C.running
D.ACE inhibitors
4. What is not a primary cause of CHF?
A.cardiomyopathy
B.high blood pressure
C. coronary artery disease
D. poliomyelitis
5. One of the biggest problems people with congestive heart disease have is excess consumption of sodium (salt) because salt
can exacerbate fluid retention. Which food item has the highest sodium content?
A.one teaspoon
B.baking soda teaspoon of salt
C. a saltine cracker
D.3 oz Canadian bacon