Background
Chronic heart failure is a pathological condition in which the heart fails to supply the organs and tissues with the necessary amount of blood according to the metabolic needs of the tissues. This condition is critical and requires constant monitoring of patients by the hospital. With early diagnosis and treatment, this disease is corrected, and patients with chronic pathology can live long and high-quality life.
Source 1: MGH. (2019). Understanding the Four Stages of Congestive Heart Failure. Middle Georgia Heart. Web.
According to the source, in the fourth stage of chronic heart failure, irreversible changes develop in the organs that suffer from a lack of blood supply (cirrhosis of the liver, congestive kidney, etc.), and the patient’s condition deteriorates significantly. This information is necessary to understand the pathophysiological process in the cardiovascular system of patients, which will help select the essential therapy. When it is impossible to cure the patient thoroughly, etiologic therapy is necessary to improve their living conditions.
Source 2: WebMD. (2022). Heart Failure Treatment by Stage. WebMD. Web.
According to WebMD, stage 4 chronic heart failure treatment consists of several steps. It is necessary to eliminate or reduce the expression of subjective symptoms of the disease, such as shortness of breath, palpitations, and increased fatigue. The next step is to increase the left ventricular ejection fraction in patients with systolic dysfunction. In addition to improving hemodynamics, it is necessary to eliminate clinical signs of fluid retention in the body with the help of diuretics, such as furosemide or spironolactone. An important role is played in improving the quality of life by giving up bad habits such as alcohol, smoking, and large consumption of sweets. The last step is to increase the period between hospitalizations. This information is needed to understand how you can help a patient with chronic heart disease prolong his life.
Source 3: Medicare. (2022). What Medicare Covers | Medicare. Medicare.gov. Web.
According to Medicare’s official website, it provides inpatient hospital care, skilled nursing facility care, hospice care, and home health care. This information is needed to address patient concerns about medical bills. The company covers 100% of patients’ medical expenses. In the worst-case scenario, the patient may be sent to hospice care to relieve the family’s morale. The insurance company also pays for hospice care.
References
Medicare. (2022). What Medicare Covers | Medicare. Medicare.gov. Web.
MGH. (2019). Understanding the Four Stages of Congestive Heart Failure. Middle Georgia Heart. Web.
WebMD. (2022). Heart Failure Treatment by Stage. WebMD. Web.