Heart Failure: A Family Nurse Practitioner

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Heart failure is a common disease that plagues almost 5 million people in the United States alone. Although it effects persons of all ages, it is most prevalent in the elderly population, with almost 80% of cases occurring in patients over 65 years old (Figueroa & Peters, 2006). Research by Figueroa and Peters (2006) supports that Congestive heart failure specifically is associate with a two-year mortality rate of about 50%. These statistics show how detrimental CHF is to our population and further affirms why it should be a focus in my career as a Family Nurse Practitioner. I will be managing the care of patients with this disease process, and it is important for me to know what is most effective in treating it and creating optimal outcomes. I want to be able to provide the best care, and use evidence based practice. Studying CHF will help me better understand and lessen the mortality rate of this disease. …show more content…
It can also be a result of having abnormal heart valves, a heart muscle disease like cardiomyopathy, presence of a congenital heart disease, severe lung disease, diabetes, and obesity (CITE). It is characterized by the stimulation of multiple compensatory mechanisms that’s main purpose is to increase cardiac output. The heart is unable to maintain sufficient oxygenation and has to compensate in order to rectify this inadequacy. The body can’t function in this compensatory state for long, and eventually they fail causing long term negative effects. The two mechanisms that are activated include the sympathetic nervous system and the renin angiotensin aldosterone system. Our current medical regime for treatment is intended to reduce the activity of both of these