Background of the Illness
Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) happens in circumstances in which the heart cannot pump enough blood to support the functioning of other body organs. CHF is a serious medical condition that can affect everyone, from children to late adulthood, but does not mean the heart has stopped beating. Statistically, about five million Americans have been diagnosed and currently living CHF, and about 550 000 patients are diagnosed every year in the USA. Ideally, more than 50% of patients diagnosed with the CHF die within five years after diagnosis (Chow & Senderovich, 2018). The illness trajectory of the CHF is always perceived as quite complex since it starts with acute crises or rather exacerbations, followed by a period of stability that tends to last for several months. In some cases, stability periods last for years. The terminal trajectory of cancer comes out as the final phase that is experienced through sudden death.
Common Symptoms Experienced by the Patient Population
The common symptoms of CHF include the experience of shortness of breath when an individual goes through his/her daily activities, developing a problem of trouble breathing when a person is lying down, and the general feeling of tiredness. An experience of weight gain that is characterized by swelling in the feet, ankles, and stomach is also a common symptom associated with the development of CHF (Kavalieratos et al., 2017).
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Approaches to Family-Centered Assessments and Treatment
Early diagnosis and treatment of the CHF enable individuals to live a quality and an extended lifestyle. Family-centered assessment entails the diagnosis of the patient's condition based on symptoms. The treatment entails taking medication and reducing sodium in the diet once a person is diagnosed with CHF. Drinking less liquid and the engagement in daily physical activities define the treatment specification of patients with CHF (Kavalieratos et al., 2017). The use of devices that helps in the removal of excess salt and water in the blood, heart transplant, and surgery outline the approach to treating CHF.
Three Agencies that Provide Support for CHF Cases
The American Heart Association, The New York Heart Association, and the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) emerge as some of the agencies that support patients and families diagnosed with CHF not only in the United States but also across the globe (Rogers et al., 2017).
References
Chow, J., & Senderovich, H. (2018). It's time to talk: challenges in providing integrated palliative care in advanced congestive heart failure. a narrative review. Current cardiology reviews , 14 (2), 128-137.
Kavalieratos, D., Gelfman, L. P., Tycon, L. E., Riegel, B., Bekelman, D. B., Ikejiani, D. Z., ... & Arnold, R. M. (2017). Palliative care in heart failure: rationale, evidence, and future priorities. Journal of the American College of Cardiology , 70 (15), 1919-1930.
Rogers, J. G., Patel, C. B., Mentz, R. J., Granger, B. B., Steinhauser, K. E., Fiuzat, M., ... & Yang, H. (2017). Palliative care in heart failure: the PAL-HF randomized, controlled clinical trial. Journal of the American College of Cardiology , 70 (3), 331-341.
