Question

Describe the classifications of HF. How would you approach the patient who is at high risk but does not have HF in the PCP setting?

When working with a patient with Asthma, one of the mainstays of treatments is to be sure and control environmental and food allergies. Describe how you would incorporate this into primary care practice.

Describe what you find to be the most important component of pathophysiology to include in patient education to enhance compliance with medical treatment for HTN .

Answer 1

1. Heart failure can be left-sided or right-sided. With left-sided heart failure, the left atrium and ventricles are unable to pump so there is fluid retention in lungs leading to shortness of breath and other symptoms. With right-sided heart failure the right atrium and ventricles which collect and pump deoxygenated blood from the body are unable to pump leading to fluid retention and edema in the body and lower limbs.

The NYHA classifies heart failure according to the severity into Class I, II (Mild), III (Moderate) and IV (Severe).

In a PCP setting, it would be essential to ensure compliance to drugs and life style modification (weight management, fluid restriction, limiting physical activity) for clients at risk of heart failure.

2. Incorporating environmental control and food allergy prevention in asthma in PCP setting

In PCP setting, it is important to educate clients about prevention of wheezing episodes. This is best done by educating them about environmental control and food allergy. The client needs to avoid exposure to dust or pollen. They should be educated to keep their houses dust free, avoid pets and exposure to pollen. They should also look for foods that cause allergy such as wheat, milk etc.

Teaching them about the pathophysiology of asthma and its prevention will help reduce their visits to PCP.

3. Teaching the client about regulation of blood pressure by negative feedback and the damages cause by hypertension and the action of specific drugs in this cycle will help client understand the role of medications in regulating thier hypertension.

This will also help improve their compliance.