pressure ulcer prevention
SN instructed patient What can you do to control blood pressure? To minimize the risk of hypertension, control sodium, potassium, and other essential electrolytes the body uses to maintain fluid balance. The recommendation for patients with kidney disease: limit sodium intake to no more than 1,500 mg per day. Most sodium in today’s diet comes from processed foods and restaurants foods. Unhealthy lifestyles choices, such as smoking tobacco, obesity, and excessive alcohol consumption, may also contribute to hypertension.
SN instructed patient High blood pressure often has no warning signs or symptoms, so many people don’t realize they have it. Some symptoms may include headache, blurred vision, nervousness, sweating, difficulty sleeping or facial flushing. Even with no symptoms, hypertension needs ongoing treatment to protect the heart, kidneys and other organs from further damage.
Instructed patient that PCP only receives one snapshot of vitals signs including BP, and stressed importance of maintaining BP log so that PCP may adjust as needed.
SN instructed about arteriosclerotic heart disease (ASHD), also called coronary artery disease (CAD) or coronary heart disease (CHD), refers to arteriosclerosis of heart or coronary arteries. Arteriosclerotic heart disease can also be caused by calcium deposits (calcification) on the walls of arteries that harden them, or thickening of the artery walls due to chronic high blood pressure.
SN taught patient on diabetes. To control your blood glucose level, you must have healthy eating habits. A healthy diet has other benefits too. Healthy eating can lead to weight loss. Losing small amounts of weight can often make a big difference in your health. Healthy eating can improve your blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels.
Patient instructed on Symbicort as following: is used long-term to improve symptoms of COPD, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema, for better breathing and fewer flare-ups. Do not use Symbicort for sudden severe symptoms of COPD or asthma. Use only as directed. SE include chest pain, fast and irregular heartbeat, tremor, increased blood pressure, headache or nervousness, Fungal infection in your mouth or throat (thrush). Rinse your mouth with water without swallowing after using Symbicort to help reduce your chance of getting thrush. Call your healthcare provider if you notice any of the following symptoms: increase in mucus production or change in color, fever, increased cough, chills, or increased breathing problems.
Diabetic Chronic Kidney disease Treatment for diabetic kidney disease includes controlling blood pressure and blood sugar levels, reducing dietary protein intake, avoiding medications that may damage the kidneys, treating urinary tract infections and exercise and weight loss (under the supervision of a physician).
SN instructed on arteriosclerosis is hardening and thickening of the walls of the arteries. This condition can occur because of fatty deposits on the inner lining of arteries (atherosclerosis), calcification of the wall of the arteries, or thickening of the muscular wall of the arteries from chronically elevated blood pressure. When arteriosclerosis affects the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle, a shortage of oxygen delivered to the heart itself may lead to a heart attack.
Instructed patient on Prednisone which is used for allergy reactions, rheumatoid arthritis among other diseases. Side effects include: swelling in hands, face and feet, increased hunger, muscle weakness and abdominal distention. One interaction of Prednisone is it may cause hypernatremia, hypokalemia, fluid retention, and elevation in blood pressure.
SN completed all education for this SNV, and reminded patient on the importance of going to all medical appointments, bringing blood pressure log and all of his/her medications. Patient/Caregiver verbalized understanding.