low blood pressure
Diseases Process
Patient was instructed to drink adequate amounts of fluids to prevent dehydration. Sports drinks and fruit juices are helpful too, but they don't provide the ideal balance of water, sugar, and salt. However, drinking more fluid than your body can process can reduce the amount of sodium (salt) in your blood. In the elderly, your body's fluid reserve becomes smaller, your ability to conserve water is reduced and your thirst sense becomes less acute. Symptoms are: extreme thirst, less frequent urination, dark-colored urine, fatigue, dizziness, confusion, patient verbalized understanding.
SN instructed patient / Caregiver that clients with kidney disease should engage in activities that will improve their overall health. For example, exercise has been known to improve overall health, mental outlook, and control blood sugar. SN suggested that a good option would be to start a simple exercise program.
SN to instruct patient Call your doctor or nurse call line now or seek immediate medical care if: you have new or worse symptoms of a kidney infection. These may include: pain or burning when you urinate, a frequent need to urinate without being able to pass much urine, pain in the flank, which is just below the rib cage and above the waist on either side of the back, blood in the urine.
SN taught patient that diabetes is a life-long disease. You will always have it, so education about your diabetes is very important. The more you learn about diabetes, the better you can control your blood glucose level and avoid complications. To learn how to manage your diabetes, work closely with your health care team.
SN instructed patient that heart failure, also called Congestive Heart Failure (CHF), means your heart does not pump blood as well as it should. This does not mean your heart has stopped working, but that it is not as strong as it used to be and fluid builds up in the lungs and other parts of your body. This can cause shortness of breath, swelling in the legs, feet, and stomach. Heart failure starts slowly and can get worse over time.
Patient was instructed on HTN and how it affects the heart and it's function. Over time HTN if uncontrolled can damage the vessels of the heart, leaving it unable to pump blood efficiently. This causes what is known as heart failure. Symptoms you may experience and should report to your MD are swelling in your feet or hands, crackles in your chest when breathing, increased shortness of breath.
SN instructed patient/ caregiver that Bradycardia can be a serious problem if the heart doesn't pump enough oxygen-rich blood to the body. For some people, however, bradycardia doesn't cause symptoms or complications.SN explained that If you have bradycardia, your brain and other organs might not get enough oxygen, possibly causing these symptoms: Near-fainting or fainting (syncope) Dizziness or lightheadedness, Fatigue, Shortness of breath, Chest pains, Confusion or memory problems, Easily tiring during physical activity.If you faint, have difficulty breathing or have chest pain lasting more than a few minutes, get emergency care or call 911 or your local emergency number.
SN explained that long standing hypertension leads to heart damage that is called heart failure. This means your heart "fails" to pump your blood to your body effectively. You may notice swelling in your extremities, that you are easily fatigued with normal activity, and weight gain. Any of these symptoms or worsening of them should be reported to SN or MD.
Instructed patient how do you bring down blood sugar quickly exercise regularly, control your carb intake, increase your fiber intake, drink water and stay hydrated.
Instructed patient about cardiomyopathy can lead to other heart conditions, including:Heart failure, blood clots,see your doctor if you have one or more signs or symptoms associated with cardiomyopathy. Call 911 or your local emergency number if you have severe difficulty breathing, fainting or chest pain that lasts for more than a few minutes.