condition where the heart is unable to pump enough blood to meet the body's needs.
What is congested heart failure?
This condition is often a cause of right-sided heart failure, where the blood backs up into the veins and causes systemic venous congestion.
What is cor pulmonale (right-sided heart failure due to lung disease)?
This common sign of left-sided heart failure is characterized by difficulty breathing when lying flat, and may prompt patients to sleep in a semi-reclined position.
What is orthopnea?
This dietary modification is commonly recommended for patients with heart failure to help manage fluid retention and decrease the strain on the heart.
What is a low-sodium diet?
For patients with advanced heart failure or those at risk for fluid overload, this type of fluid intake restriction may be recommended to prevent exacerbation of symptoms.
What is limiting fluid intake (usually to 1.5–2 liters per day, depending on the patient's condition)?
This type of heart failure occurs when the left ventricle of the heart is unable to effectively pump blood to the body, leading to symptoms like shortness of breath and pulmonary congestion.
What is left-sided heart failure?
This common medication, a type of ACE inhibitor, is used in the treatment of heart failure to relax blood vessels, reduce blood pressure, and decrease the heart's workload.
What is lisinopril?
After having an MI, the nurse notes the patient has jugular venous distention, gained weight, developed peripheral edema, and has a heart rate of 108/minute. What should the nurse suspect is happening?
What is right-sided heart failure?
Patients with heart failure are often advised to limit their intake of this substance because it can increase blood pressure and lead to fluid retention.
What is sodium?
This term refers to heart failure caused by chronic hypertension, which leads to left ventricular hypertrophy and eventually diastolic dysfunction.
What is hypertensive heart failure?
This symptom, commonly seen in left-sided heart failure, is characterized by the accumulation of fluid in the lungs.
What is pulmonary edema?
The term used for the presence of fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity, which is a common symptom of right-sided heart failure.
What is ascites?
This is a key nursing intervention for a patient with pulmonary edema related to heart failure, aimed at improving oxygenation and reducing fluid buildup.
What is administering oxygen?
This type of fat, found in foods like butter, lard, and fatty cuts of meat, should be limited in the diet of a heart failure patient because it can contribute to atherosclerosis and increase the workload on the heart.
What are saturated fats?
This term is used to describe heart failure when both the left and right sides of the heart are impaired, leading to fluid buildup in both the lungs and the systemic circulation.
What is biventricular heart failure?
This medication class, commonly used in CHF, helps to reduce the workload on the heart by promoting diuresis (removal of excess fluid) and reducing blood volume.
What are diuretics?
This procedure, often done for patients with severe heart failure, involves surgically placing a device to help the heart pump blood more effectively.
What is a ventricular assist device (VAD)?
This medication class is often prescribed to patients with heart failure to help the heart pump more effectively by increasing the force of contractions.
What are inotropes? (For example, digoxin)
This nutrient, found in foods like bananas, potatoes, and spinach, is often emphasized in heart failure diets to help counteract the effects of diuretics, which can cause a loss of potassium.
What is potassium?
This form of heart failure is also known as diastolic heart failure and occurs when the heart muscle becomes stiff and non-compliant, leading to impaired filling of the ventricles.
What is heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF)?
This physical exam finding is commonly associated with right-sided heart failure, and refers to swelling in the lower extremities, particularly the ankles.
What is peripheral edema?
This term refers to a condition where the heart's ability to pump blood is reduced, and is specifically seen in diastolic heart failure, where the heart muscle becomes stiff and non-compliant.
What is heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF)?
This physical exam sign, seen in patients with right-sided heart failure, involves distention of the jugular veins due to increased venous pressure.
What is jugular venous distention (JVD)
This class of nutrients, which includes foods like whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and legumes, is important for heart failure patients because it helps to lower cholesterol levels and supports overall cardiovascular health.
What are fiber-rich foods?
This type of heart failure is characterized by the heart's inability to adequately pump blood (reduced ejection fraction), often due to damage from myocardial infarction or coronary artery disease.
What is systolic heart failure?