What Is Heart Failure - 1258 Words

What is heart failure? Heart failure occurs when the heart loses its ability to pump enough blood through the body. Usually, the loss in pumping action is a symptom of an underlying heart problem, such as coronary artery disease. The term heart failure suggests a sudden and complete stop of heart activity. But, actually, the heart does not suddenly stop. Rather, heart failure usually develops slowly, often over years, as the heart gradually loses its pumping ability and works less efficiently. Some people may not become aware of their condition until symptoms appear years after their heart began its decline. How serious the condition is depends on how much pumping capacity the heart has lost. Nearly everyone loses some pumping capacity as he or she ages. But the loss is significantly more in heart failure and often results from a heart attack or other disease that damages the heart. The severity of the condition determines the impact it has on a person s life. At one end of the spectrum, the mild form of heart failure may have little effect on a person s life; at the other end, severe heart failure can interfere with even simple activities and prove fatal. Between those extremes, treatment often helps people lead full lives. But all forms of heart failure, even the mildest, are a serious health problem, which must be treated. To improve their chance of living longer, patients must take care of themselves, see their physician regularly, and closely follow treatments.Show MoreRelatedWhat Is Heart Failure?781 Words   |  4 PagesWhat is Heart failure? The heart’s function is to move oxygenated blood from the lungs to the left atrium, then on to the left ventricle, pumps it to the rest of the body. The left ventricle supplies most of the heart s pumping power; therefore, the left ventricle is larger than the other chambers and essential for normal function. In left-sided or left ventricular (LV) heart failure, the left side of the heart must work harder to pump the same amount of blood (American Heart Association -AHA,Read MoreCongestive Heart Failure (Chf) Is Defined As A Serious1483 Words   |  6 PagesCongestive Heart Failure (CHF) is defined as a serious heart condition that prevents the heart from providing adequate blood flow to other parts of the body, causing a buildup of fluids in organs such as the lungs and kidneys (Heart Disease and Congestive Heart Failure). This heart condition affects approximately 670,000 people a year and is one of the leading causes of death for older people (Heart Disease and Congestive Heart Failure). Congestive heart failure, a chronic heart condition, manifestsRead MoreOverview of Congestive Heart Failure Essay1377 Words   |  6 PagesCongestive Heart Failure is when the hearts pumping power is weaker than normal. It does not mean the heart has stopped working. The blood moves through the heart and body at a slower rate, and pressure in the heart increases. This means; the heart cannot pump enough oxygen and nutrients to meet the bodys needs. The chambers of the heart respond by stretching to hold more blood to pump through the body or by becoming more stiff and thickened. This only keeps the blood moving for a short whileRead MoreUse the following Case Scenario896 Words   |  3 Pagesï » ¿What nursing interventions are appropriate for Mrs. J. at the time of her admission? Drug therapy is started for Mrs. J. to control her symptoms. What is the rationale for the administration of each of the following medications? At the start of her admission, Mrs. J is going through many complications throughout most of her systems. I would follow the rules of ABC and control her respiratory problem first. Mrs. J has an oxygen saturation of 82% and is probably going to continue dropping. She willRead MoreThe Heart Of Heart Failure1503 Words   |  7 PagesHeart failure is a chronic, progressive condition in which the heart muscle is unable to pump enough blood through to meet the body s needs for blood and oxygen. Basically, the heart can t keep up with its workload. American Heart Association Statistics (2016) reveals that heart failure accounts for 36% of cardiovascular disease deaths. Projections report a 46% increase in the prevalence of Heart Failure (HF) by 2030 by affecting over 8 million people above 18 years with the disease. Healthy PeopleRead MoreThe Failure Of Heart Failure999 Words   |  4 Pagesprocess is the heart, which by using the cardiovascular system supplies every other system throug hout the body with the oxygen and nutrients by pumping them throughout the blood. When the demand is not met or the supply is too great it can be considered heart failure. Understandably heart failure is a worrisome term. To think one of your most vital organs is failing and unable to provide what is needed for basic survival is terrifying. However; there are many stages of heart failure that can rangeRead MoreLiving with Congestive Heart Disease804 Words   |  3 Pagesone in nine people die from Congestive Heart Disease. Patients who have been diagnosed with Congestive Heart Disease are more likely to have one of these other disorders; Diabetes, Hypertension, or Coronary Artery Disease. Patient who have hypertension are at an increased risk for developing congestive heart failure during their lifetime. This is because it puts more workload on the heart than is needed. My patient has been diagnosed with Congestive Heart Disease with a secondary diagnosis of hypertensionRead MoreLiving Life with Heart Failure Essay869 Words   |  4 PagesLife with Heart Failure What is the first disease that you think of when asked? Of all the diseases that could be mentioned Heart Failure, HF, is one that many have heard of or that has affected a loved one. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention â€Å"heart failure affects nearly 5.1 million Americans of all ages and is responsible for more hospitalizations than all forms of cancer combined. It is the number 1 cause of hospitalization for Medicare patients and this process can beginRead MorePathophysiology of Chf1432 Words   |  6 PagesPathophysiology of Congestive Heart Failure I. Description: Congestive Heart Failure is more of a syndrome than a disease. Heart failure may be classified according to the side of the heart affected, (left- or right-sided failure), or by the cardiac cycle involved, (systolic or diastolic dysfunction). (Schilling-McCann p. 176). The word failure refers to the hearts inability to pump enough blood to meet the bodys metabolic needs. (Schilling-McCann p. 176). When the heart fails to deliver adequateRead MoreChf Essay1735 Words   |  7 PagesCongestive Heart Failure Introduction Everyone loses pumping ability in their heart as they age. The serious case of heart failure develops when other health conditions cause the heart to work harder or become damaged due to increased stress. Heart failure is usually a chronic disease. It gradually tends to become worse. By the time someone is diagnosed with it, the heart has most likely begun to lose pumping capacity for quits some time. Nearly five million Americans are living with heart failure