Hca 240 Final Project
Final Project
Public Awareness
Melissa Silvia
HCA 240
Instructor: Marnie Bingham
8/29/2010
Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) is the condition in which the heart can 't pump enough blood throughout the body. Heart failure does not mean that your heart has stopped working or is about to stop working, it is just an indicator that your body is no longer functioning at its full potential. CHF is most common among people 65 years old and over. The causes however, depend very much on the individual 's lifestyle, preexisting medical conditions, and heredity. Some conditions that have been proven factors in leading to heart failure include past heart attacks, high blood pressure, abnormal heart valves, heart muscle disease, heart defects present at birth, severe lung disease, and sleep apnea.
The awareness program that I intend to create will target the 55 plus age group, but also be available to younger groups so that they are more aware of conditions that could effect their parents or grandparents. Awareness is key in taking preventative measures for your own health as well as the health of family members and/or patients in your care.
Congestive heart failure does not only affect the heart muscle. There are several body systems that are effected by CHF, including the circulatory system, the respiratory system, the neuroendocrine system, and the vascular system. Aside from the conditions that lead to congestive heart failure, there are some warning signs that should be considered. Shortness of Breath (dyspnea) that presents itself as breathlessness during activity or while sleeping (more difficult when lying flat) and is caused by blood backing up in the pulmonary veins because the heart can 't keep up with the supply which causes fluid to leak into the lungs. Persistent coughing and/or wheezing that produces a pink blood tinged mucus which is caused by fluid in the lungs. Build up of excess fluid in body tissues (edema) that presents
Public Awareness
Melissa Silvia
HCA 240
Instructor: Marnie Bingham
8/29/2010
Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) is the condition in which the heart can 't pump enough blood throughout the body. Heart failure does not mean that your heart has stopped working or is about to stop working, it is just an indicator that your body is no longer functioning at its full potential. CHF is most common among people 65 years old and over. The causes however, depend very much on the individual 's lifestyle, preexisting medical conditions, and heredity. Some conditions that have been proven factors in leading to heart failure include past heart attacks, high blood pressure, abnormal heart valves, heart muscle disease, heart defects present at birth, severe lung disease, and sleep apnea.
The awareness program that I intend to create will target the 55 plus age group, but also be available to younger groups so that they are more aware of conditions that could effect their parents or grandparents. Awareness is key in taking preventative measures for your own health as well as the health of family members and/or patients in your care.
Congestive heart failure does not only affect the heart muscle. There are several body systems that are effected by CHF, including the circulatory system, the respiratory system, the neuroendocrine system, and the vascular system. Aside from the conditions that lead to congestive heart failure, there are some warning signs that should be considered. Shortness of Breath (dyspnea) that presents itself as breathlessness during activity or while sleeping (more difficult when lying flat) and is caused by blood backing up in the pulmonary veins because the heart can 't keep up with the supply which causes fluid to leak into the lungs. Persistent coughing and/or wheezing that produces a pink blood tinged mucus which is caused by fluid in the lungs. Build up of excess fluid in body tissues (edema) that presents
References: Amsterdam EA. Revised American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guidelines for the management of heart failure. Prev Cardiol. 2005 Fall;8(4):254, 256.Heart Failure Society Of America. Evaluation and management of patients with acute decompensated heart failure. J Card Fail. 2006 Feb;12(1):e86-e103. Review. Aortic valve replacement (2010, August 10). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia Retrieved August 28, 2010, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Aortic valve replacement&ikdud=378198707