Patient/caregiver was educated upon findings to watch for and report in individuals with hypotension as follows:
- Observe compliance with log maintenance of everyday blood pressure readings. Report to your physician regarding any consistent systolic readings below 90 and diastolic readings below 60.
- Poor blood and oxygen supply to the heart muscle in individuals with history of heart failure and cardiomyopathy result in damage to the heart muscle and ineffective cardiac contractions. This can lead to poor pumping activity, reduced volume of blood in circulation, and hypotension. Chronically hypotensive individuals with history of coexisting heart failure must keep a close watch on symptoms of worsening heart failure, which can aggravate the hypotensive findings. Report to your physician regarding any signs and symptoms of worsening heart failure, such as, exacerbation of SOB, worsening pedal edema, increasing dizziness, acute weight gain, fatigue, poorly felt pulse, and chest pain or discomfort.
- Individuals taking diuretic medications can present with increased frequency of urination, resulting in excessive fluid loss and hypotension. Hypotensive individuals with coexisting history of taking diuretic medications, must keep a close watch for increasing frequency of urination, which can aggravate the hypotensive findings. Report to your physician regarding any increase in diuretic dose, which simultaneously can increase risk for hypotension.
