Patient/caregiver was instructed regarding measures to prevent exacerbation of congestive heart failure as follows:
- Observe compliance with log maintenance of everyday weight recording. Keep a close watch on the severity of pedal edema and other signs of fluid retention, such as, abdominal bloating, facial puffiness, and acute weight gain. Observe compliance with intake of diuretic medications prescribed, if any. Any acute increase of weight, more than 2 pounds in 2 consecutive days or more than 5 pounds in one-week duration, indicates significant fluid retention and deteriorating cardiac function, and must be reported to the physician.
- Observe compliance with recommendations for heart healthy diet and fluid volume intake limitations, if any. Keep a close watch and report to your physician regarding any chest pain and/or discomfort, how mild it may be.
- Observe compliance with log maintenance of everyday oxygen saturation readings. Report to your physician regarding any oxygen saturations that are progressively decreasing and/or consistently below 90. Observe compliance with oxygen supplementation recommendations, if any ordered. Observe compliance with planning of activities ahead of time, based on endurance levels.
- Observe compliance with intake of anti-arrhythmic medications. Keep a close watch and report to your physician regarding any worsening signs and symptoms of arrhythmia, such as, fluttering in the chest, racing or abnormally slow heartbeat, poorly felt pulse, dizziness, any episodes of loss of consciousness, chest pain and/or discomfort, and altered levels of consciousness.
- Keep a close watch and report any progressively reducing urine volume output. Also, report any worsening episodes of confusion and altered levels of consciousness. Observe compliance with recommendations made for renal diet and fluid volume intake limitations, if any.
