Congestive Heart Failure | Solved

Running head: CONGESTIVE HEAR FAILURE
CONGESTIVE HEAR FAILURE
Name of the Student
Name of the university
Author’s note

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CONGESTIVE HEAR FAILURE
Answers
1. Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a chronic disease that is mainly caused due to the
inability of the heart to pump adequate amount of blood for meeting the oxygen demand
of various organs (Kemp & Conte, 2012). The case study reveals the fact that Mrs.
McKenzie has been suffering from diastolic cardiac failure as she has hypertension and
her respiratory rate is 30 bpm.
Congestive heart failure can be brought about by several causes. It can be caused
by cardiomyopathy (weakening of the heart muscles), damaged valves of the heart,
Ischemic cardiomyopathy, where the blood vessels supplying the coronary arteries gets
blocked (Kemp & Conte, 2012). Toxic exposure to alcohol and drugs can also cause this
disease. Left ventricular hypertrophy (thickening of the heart muscles) that is caused due
to hypertension may also act as the contributing factor. The risk factors contributing to
CHF are equal to the risk of stroke, coronary heart disease. According to Kemp & Conte,
(2012) hypertension is the most important risk factor accounting for about CHF in 59 %
of women and 39% of men (Dib, Matin, & Luckert, 2012). Elevated cholesterol, diabetes
and obesity are the other factors. It is evident that Mrs. Sharon McKenzie already had a
past history of Myocardial infarction at the age of 65. CHF occurs in about half of the
patients with MI. With CHF the stroke volume decreases but the cardiac index is
maintained by an increased heart rate. The minute work and the stroke work of the left
ventricles are decreased significantly further decreasing the end-diastolic pressure of the
left ventricle. This complicates the myocardial infarction causing CHF.

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CONGESTIVE HEAR FAILURE
The prevention and the treatment of CHF have risen to a burgeoning public health
problem. There are almost 20 million people worldwide who are affected by CHF.
According to the Australian commission for health and safety, about 5.2 millions of
Australians suffer from CHF, much of which is due the obesity and diabetes (Australian
heart Foundation, 2018). The estimated mortality due to CHF is about 286000. It follows
an exponential pattern affecting 6-10 % of the population over the age of 65. The
expected cost to the disease in Australia has been recorded to be $34.8 billion (Australian
heart Foundation, 2018).
CHF have not only affected the physical health of Mrs. Mackenzie, but also
contribute to her emotional burden. Sense of inferiority complex or discontent may come
due to the inability to do daily chores. Furthermore it will also contribute to the emotional
burden. CHF failure requires regular monitoring and costly medications and even hospital
stay. Hence this would also affect the economic condition of the family. The patient’s
husband may suffer from anxiety and may be perturbed about her wellbeing. Some
people even face from high levels of depressive symptoms.
2.
Symptoms Underlying pathophysiology
Shortness of breath Shortness of breath, which is associated to the
early stage of exertion. Difficulty in breathing
is related to the recumbent position due to the
augmentation of the venous return to the heart
(Kemp & Conte, 2012). Paroxysmal nocturnal
dyspnea can be caused by the pulmonary