HELP!!! How do you assess a person with Right sided and Left Sided CHF?

Question

Oh pls. help me!! Can you also explain to me their clinical manifestations and the reason behind it. I have a report about CHF and i did a research but its too complicated for me. Thank you guys! I appreciate your help! It would be nice if your in the medical profession but anyone can help. PLEASE

Answer 1

Easiest way is to know the heart.

The Left side pumps blood to the body, So left side CHF you would see swelling in the ankles or lowest point of the body first.

The right side of the heart pumps blood to the lungs, So, the fluids would back up there first causing a terrible time breathing before any visible swelling in the ankles.

How ever the whole thing is mute since it is a closed system and no matter which way it starts it will eventually become severe CHF involving the whole body.

:O)
Jerry

Answer 2

There are many ways to assess a patient. An aids assessment is not the same as a doctors which is not the same as a physical therapists. I will give you some general guidelines.

The best way to evaluate this is to consider the things that may be causing the trouble -

Hypertension
Arrhythmias
Valvuar dysfunction
Coronary artery disease

And the things that an inadequately functioning pump would cause.

Primarily fluid backup - lungs, abdomen, lower extremities, jugular veins.

And the problems that extra fluid would cause - shortness of breath, cardiac asthma, stasis ulcers, enlarged organs - like the liver and spleen, increased liver function tests (and decreased actual functions of the liver - like albumin production).

You might perhaps look for things that happen chronically - like increased hemoglobin after extended period of hypoxia.

I hope this helps. Good luck.