Congestive Heart Failure Paper

Congestive Heart Failure

Acute Decompensated Heart Failure (ADHF) is a clinical syndrome of worsening signs or symptoms of heart failure requiring hospitalization or other unscheduled medical care (Felker 2014). ADHF formerly known as congestive heart failure is one of the leading cause for hospitalizations in the United States. ADHF accounts for approximately 1 million hospitalizations per year in the United States (Arnold & Porepa 2012). According to the Acute Decompensated Heart Failure National Registry, patients hospitalized with ADHF have a substantial risk of in-hospital mortality and rehospitalization.

Pathophysiology

Patients with existing heart disease are at higher risk of ADHF, causing dyspnea, edema, and fatigue, which can lead

The United States is composed of many cultures, traditions and religious beliefs, sometimes making it difficult to find the right treatment for each individual patient. Some may believe their religion will cure them from any disease and therefore reject any medical care, which can lead to unplanned visits to the emergency department, and to add to the situation there is also language barriers. “Members of certain religious communities are convinced that their religious beliefs and practices reduce their risk for chronic diseases (Christiansen et al). Religious beliefs can influence members to maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle, which will decrease their risk for heart failure. The Seventh-Day Adventists (SDA) communities advocate against alcohol consumption, tobacco smoking and recommend a lacto-ovo-vegetarian diet, members are expected to be physically active and have stable social relationships (Christiansen et al). If more people were devoted to their religion as the SDA, we might see a decrease not only in heart failure but also in a lot of other diseases. Socioeconomic status is a factor that influences the lifestyle and it shows that African Americans and Hispanics suffer from poor quality of life, which causes more frequent hospitalizations. In some cultures for example the Pacific Islanders, is not about culture or religion is mostly about not being educated of the seriousness of the disease or poor communication between patient and doctor, or even family can influence the patient in not taking their medication as directed by the physician, it can also be a lack of trust. The participants strongly expressed that a lack of knowledge about heart failure and its management was a significant barrier to managing their heart failure or that of a loved one, they believed that their healthcare provider did not spend adequate time getting to know them as a person, and often did not adequately