Congestive Heart Failure
... She had some of the symptoms of CHF. The smallest activities made me extremely tired. I couldn’t lie down in bed without feeling intense pressure on my chest (Helen Wynn). Little did she know fluid was building up in her lungs causing pressure on her heart. Because her heart was not pumping correctly, her kidneys were receiving less blood. This caused them to hold the water that was in the blood instead of converting it to urine. The led to her gaining a large amount of weight (Patient Education Institute). After her condition got so bad, she had to be hospitalized. The doctors were astonished because they had no idea how a woman so young could develop CHF. The most common cases of CHF appear in older people (Patient Education Institute). There are four different levels of CHF, Mild, Average, Severe, and Very Severe (Patient Education Institute). My mother was diagnosed as very severe due to the fact that her heat was practically dead. She was told that she needed a heart transplant. While she waited for the transplant she would be introduced to the medications that would help improve her condition until her new heart became available. The treatment of CHF depends on the cause of it, severity, and the health of the patient. In most cases GHF cannot be cured, but it can be treated (Patient Education Institute). Medications include vitamins, fluid pills and of course heart medications. The most important medication in my mother’s treatment is Vasotec. Vasotec is a high blood pressure medication known as an ACE Inhibitor. This medication works by preventing a chemical in your blood called angtiotensin I from converting a more potent form that increases salt and water retention in your body. Some of the side effects may include abdominal pain, abnormal dreams, chest pain, swelling, dry eyes, and difficulty breathing (PDR.net). Another important mediation in the treatment of heart failure is Lanoxin. The medication improves the strength and efficiency of the heart, which lead to better circulation of blood and reduction of the uncomfortable swelling that is co...