Skilled nurse educated patient and caregiver on HTN disease process. HTN also known as high blood pressure is a chronic condition where the blood pressure in the arteries is elevated. It is important to seek medical attention for uncontrolled HTN and develop a plan of care with your PCP. It is recommended to check your blood pressure and pulse daily before taking blood pressure medications and logging in a journal. If your blood pressure is elevated wait 1-2 hours and recheck. Contact your doctor or home health agency if problems with blood pressure continue . Patient and caregiver verbalized understanding.
Instructed patient about the damage that high blood pressure can cause to the vessels walls. Fat and cholesterol collect in the damage spots forming a plaque. Blood cells stick to the plaque, forming a mass called a clot. A clot can block blood flow in the vessel.
Instructed patient on how sometimes blood flows with enough force to weaken a vessel wall. If the vessel is small or damaged, the wall can break. When this happens blood leaks into nearby tissue and kills cells. Other cells may die because blood cannot reach them.
Instructed patient about how a stroke can result from the damage that ongoing high blood pressure causes in the body vessels. If the affected vessel stops supplying blood to the brain, as a result a stroke occurs.
Instructed patient on how when blood presses against a vessel wall with too much force, muscles in the wall lose their stretch. This causes the wall to thicken, which narrows the vessel passage and reduces blood flow.
Instructed patient on how during a stroke blood supply to the brain is cut off. Prompt medical help ensures a likely recovery with better chances of survival. Think of a stroke as a brain attack. Don't wait. Get help right away.
Instructed patient about the causes of a stroke: a lack of blood flow to the brain leading to loss of brain function.
Instructed patient that every day his/her blood pressure is too high, the chances of having a stroke increases.
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.