CHRONIC HEART FAILURE

Chronic Heart Failure



Chronic heart failure

Introduction

This paper focuses on the chronic heart failure using a recognised reflective method of Gibbs. (Gibbs, 2002, page 13-23). Gibbs reflective model is a six- step model that includes stages of Description, Feelings, Evaluation, Analysis, Conclusion and Action plan. Gibbs makes the readers realise about the importance of heart failure which is growing concern. The selective outcome from reflective accounts includes that heart failure is a major public health problem in the United Kingdom. Chronic heart failure is a progressive disorder. Chronic heart failure results in physical and mental deterioration of the patient health, which leads to reduced quality of life. Chronic heart failure (CHF) is a situation in which the heart is unable to maintain sufficient blood flow to different organs of the body .Acute heart failure is complicated by pulmonary edema or cardiac asthma. It has been observed that majority of patients globally are found suffering from chronic heart failure. (Ammon bark, 2001, page 5)

Cardiac asthma in turn, causes bouts of dyspnea and hemoptysis arises by acute heart failure. There are five million patients in United Kingdom who are suffering from heart failure, and about 500, 000 patients diagnosed with heart failure for the first time each year. Patients with chronic heart failure are at risk of thromboembolic events, such as stroke, pulmonary embolism and peripheral arterial embolism; contributing to the progression of heart failure. The long-term oral anticoagulation is established in certain groups, such as patients with heart failure and atrial fibrillation, but there are variations in indications and the use of oral anticoagulation in heart failure population are generally more . Heart failure is a chronic condition in which periods of hospitalization represent only a small fraction in the patient's life. It is important because it corresponds to the stages that are more serious and life threatening. (Carelock, 2001, page 21)

Discussion

The first step with respect to Gibbs model is the description. Description involves defining what the issue is about. Providing clear evidence to demonstrate one's ability to critique relevant theory and practice. Chronic heart failure is a condition occurring as a result of any malfunction or organic that affects the function of the heart as a recipient of the blood pump. Chronic heart failure is a situation of the heart that basically states that a heart that was doing his job normally, suddenly stops leading to a decline in the circulatory system and death (Lincoln kint, 2009, page 23-35).

This means that the blood flow is necessary for proper functioning of tissues. If the path, to the right heart of the left heart or both is blocked then heart failure issue arises. It is important to emphasise that in a chronic heart failure case, the phenomenon of heart failure develops  gradually, not abruptly appearing and because patients are often taken for the natural age-related changes. In such cases, patients are often in their normal state until the last minute pulls a stroke that needs to be addressed to a cardiologist. Of course, this complicates and lengthens the healing process, for the restoration of normal functioning of the heart. Circulatory disease in the initial period is achieved more easily and with less medication than in the period of sharply pronounced symptoms (acute cardiovascular failure). (Selman, 2007, page 6-12)

Two prime causes of a chronic heart failure are:

The myocardium may have lost some of its contractility, for example, lack ...