1. Parma Community General Hospital
Congestive Heart Failure Re-Engineered Hospital Discharge Patient Education Teaching Module By: Cindy Grindstaff RN BSN, 4/2011 The University of Akron, College of Nursing

2. Congestive Heart Failure Patient Education Teaching Module
Instructions:
-The following tutorial is on heart failure.
-Press ENTER to continue to next slide, OR click left mouse button.
This key is located to the right of the computer
Or use left button of the mouse to proceed
Created by: Cindy Grindstaff RN BSN

3. Congestive Heart Failure Patient Education Teaching Module
Introduction
Congestive Heart Failure is the most common medical diagnosis which requires readmission to the hospital within 30 days.
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4. Congestive Heart Failure Patient Education Teaching Module
Introduction
Heart Failure is a common condition that affects nearly 5,000,000 people.
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5. Congestive Heart Failure Patient Education Teaching Module
Introduction
Older people are most affected by heart failure, but it can occur at any age.
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6. Heart Failure
Heart Failure is a condition where the heart cannot pump blood effectively.
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7. Heart Failure
When the heart cannot pump blood effectively, the blood in the heart may back up into the lungs or other parts of the body.
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8. Heart Failure
When this happens the lungs become filled with fluid and become congested. This is why it’s called Congestive Heart Failure.
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9. Causes of Heart Failure
As we get older, our hearts can become weaker. Heart failure can occur at any age.
Heart Attacks can cause damage to the heart that results in heart failure.
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10. Causes of Heart Failure
Heart Valve diseases can also cause heart failure.
High Blood Pressure or Hypertension can also cause heart failure, by increasing the workload of the heart.
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11. Causes of Heart Failure
Coronary Artery Disease can also cause heart failure by fatty plaques that sticks to the walls of the arteries in the heart. This can also increase the workload of the heart, resulting in heart failure.
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12. Causes of Heart Failure
Coronary Artery Disease can progress until the arteries of the heart become completely clogged, which results in heart attack. This can later can progress into heart failure.
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13. Causes of Heart Failure
The first symptom of Coronary Artery Disease is chest pain or also called Angina.
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14. Causes of Heart Failure
When heart attacks occur they cause damage to the heart muscle, which decreases it’s ability to pump effectively.
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15. Causes of Heart Failure
Over time, the heart will weaken and become enlarged which is also known as cardiomyopathy.
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16. Causes of Heart Failure
Other causes of cardiomyopathy that eventually result in heart failure are:
-Cancer, certain chemotherapy drugs, & radiation
-Cocaine and Illegal drug use
-Alcohol abuse
-Diabetes
-HIV or AIDS
-Thyroid Disease
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17. Certain risk factors predispose to certain people to heart failure.
Being older than 65 yrs. old
Being of African American descent
Males are at greater risk than females
Congenital heart disease
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18. Symptoms
Weight gain is one of the first signs a person will have with heart failure. This can happen quickly or more slowly. Over a period of several days to several weeks.
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19. Symptoms
This happens because fluid begins to collect or build up in the legs, ankles, feet, hands, or stomach area.
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20. Symptoms
People with heart failure can become easily tired or remain tired all the time.
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21. Symptoms
People with heart failure can become short of breath while doing normal things, like walking distances or climbing stairs.
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22. Symptoms
As heart failure gets worse, it becomes harder to do walk or perform daily activities.
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23. Symptoms
When fluid in the heart backs up into the lungs, the person with heart failure may find it harder to breathe.
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24. Symptoms
The person with heart failure may wake up during the night choking or gasping for air.
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25. Symptoms
As heart failure becomes worse, the person with heart failure can even begin cough up pink frothy sputum.
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26. Symptoms
As the lungs become filled with fluid, you may have a persistent moist cough up mucus or blood.
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27. Symptoms
If this occurs the doctor should be contacted immediately, have somebody drive you to the emergency room, or call 911.
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28. Symptoms
Sometimes it may become difficult to lie flat in bed, and you may need several pillows to breathe easier while lying down.
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29. The doctor should be notified immediately if:
-You have difficulty taking medicine as prescribed.
-You have an increase in shortness of breath.
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30. The doctor should be notified immediately if:
-Your hands, feet or abdomen begin to swell more than usual.
-You have a cough that will not go away.
-You suddenly need more pillows to sleep at night.
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31. The doctor should be notified immediately if:
- You wake up at night gasping for air, or because you need to catch your breath.
-You suddenly become dizzy, or dizziness worsens.
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32. The doctor should be notified immediately if:
-You gain more than 2 pounds in a day, or 5 pounds within 5 days.
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33. The doctor should notified immediately if:
-You feel an irregularity in your heart, or it begins to beat faster than normal.
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34. Have Somebody drive you to the emergency room, or call 911 if:
-You have SEVERE shortness of breath.
-You cough up pink frothy sputum.
-You develop chest pain or tightness that is NOT resolved by rest or taking Nitroglycerin.
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35. A full assessment must be completed by your physician.
Diagnosis
A full assessment must be completed by your physician.
The physician may also ask about your family health history.
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36. What are your daily activities; are you active or sedentary?
Diagnosis
What are your daily activities; are you active or sedentary?
What are your daily health habits? For example drinking, smoking?
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37. Diagnosis
- A Chest X-Ray
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38. The doctor will perform a full physical, this may include:
Diagnosis
The doctor will perform a full physical, this may include:
-An EKG also known as an electrocardiogram to record an image of the heart’s electrical activity
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39. -An echocardiogram which is like an ultrasound of the heart.
Diagnosis
-An echocardiogram which is like an ultrasound of the heart.
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40. Diagnosis
-Blood work which includes a test called a BNP which rises during heart failure.
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41. Diagnosis
You may be asked to wear a Holter monitor which will record heart activity for a specified amount of time.
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42. Diagnosis
More invasive tests include cardiac catheterization. These tests allow the doctor to visualize any blockages in the artery of the heart.
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43. Treatments
Your doctor will determine the severity of your heart failure. Treatment and medications prescribed will be based on the severity of the disease.
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44. Some of the possible medications are as follows:
Treatments
Some of the possible medications are as follows:
-Diuretics, also known as water pills, will rid extra fluid in your system, reduce foot and ankle swelling, and help prevent fluid build-up in the lungs.
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45. Treatments
Beta blockers reduce heart rate, lower blood pressure and reduce workload on the heart.
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46. Treatments
ACE inhibitors also reduce blood pressure and workload of the heart. ACE inhibitors can reduce the chance of future heart attacks.
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47. Digoxin helps make the heart beat stronger and more effectively.
Treatments
Digoxin helps make the heart beat stronger and more effectively.
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48. Treatments
Drugs like nitrates and Hydralzine help relax blood vessels which helps relax blood vessels which may prevent chest pain/angina.
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49. Treatments
Angiotensin Receptor Blockers (Cozaar) relax vessels to lower blood pressure and reduce workload of the heart.
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50. Healthier Lifestyles
Eat a healthy, low fat diet no more than 30% of calories should come from fat.
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51. Healthier Lifestyles
Maintain a diet that is fiber rich and low in salt (less than 1500 mg per day).
If you need help choosing healthier selections see a nutritionist. Usually, your doctor can arrange to help you see one.
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52. Healthier Lifestyles
Avoid processed meats that can be high in salt and fat. Do not eat frozen or canned foods they contain high amounts of salt.
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53. Increase physical activity, but do balance rest with activity.
Healthier Lifestyles
Increase physical activity, but do balance rest with activity.
Do not try to overdo it, stay within the limits the physician prescribes.
If you are overweight. attempt to lose weight.
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54. Healthier Lifestyles
Weigh yourself every morning without clothing, after you urinate but before you eat breakfast.
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55. Healthier Lifestyles
Check your blood pressure, and blood sugar levels regularly. Be sure to attend cholesterol screenings, as recommended.
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56. Do not consume alcohol, smoke or take any illegal drugs.
Healthier Lifestyles
Do not consume alcohol, smoke or take any illegal drugs.
Try to avoid stress, and stressful situations.
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57. Be sure to get enough sleep at night.
Healthier Lifestyles
Be sure to get enough sleep at night.
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58. Created by: Cindy Grindstaff RN BSN
Questions and answers
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59. Created by: Cindy Grindstaff RN BSN
Question # 1
Fluid that builds up in the lungs, happens, because the heart cannot pump all the blood it receives?
True or False?
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Answer to question # 1
True.
Fluid builds up in the lungs, because
the heart cannot handle all the blood it receives with Congestive Heart Failure.
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Question # 2
Weigh yourself every morning after urinating before you eat breakfast. Should you call your doctor if you weigh more than 2 pounds than you did yesterday?
Yes or No?
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Answer to Question # 2
Yes.
This more than likely due water weight gain, and you should always call the doctor if you gain 2 pounds in one day or 5 pounds in 5 days.
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Question # 3
After a heart attack, a person is more likely to experience heart failure?
True or False?
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Answer to Question # 3
True.
Heart Attacks can cause damage to the heart muscle which can result in heart failure. This happens because the workload on the heart increases and weakens the heart over time resulting in heart failure.
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Question # 4
You must take the prescribed medicine daily to help control heart failure?
True or False?
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Answer to Question # 4
True.
The medicine your doctor orders must be taken daily as prescribed for it to work effectively.
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Question # 5
Patients with heart failure should not exercise?
True or False?
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Answer to Question # 5
False.
Exercise can help give the heart strength. Make sure any exercise is approved by your physician before exercising.
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Discharge
Before you leave the hospital, be sure that any questions about medicines are answered.
Be sure to call your doctor if you cannot take the medication as prescribed.
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Discharge
Be sure to call your doctor if you have adverse side effects.
If there is something you do not understand ask to speak to your nurse before leaving the hospital.
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Discharge
Be sure that you have a follow up appointment with a time and date, prior to leaving the hospital.
Be sure to keep all scheduled appointments.
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Discharge
If you have trouble breathing, onset of dizziness, or are coughing up pink or blood tinged mucus. Call 911, or have someone drive you to the nearest emergency room.
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73. References Retrieved on, 18, April 2010 from:
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