You will very likely get this one. Congestive heart failure, or CHF, is the number one cause of hospital admission in the United States. Whenever an individual comes in with volume overload from CHF, you must always as the question: “Why did this patient’s heart failure get worse?” The reasons are listed below, from most to least common:
- Medication non-compliance (not taking diuretics or other medications)
- Fluid/sodium restriction non-compliance
- Acute worsening of cardiac output: Arrhythmia; ischemia or acute coronary syndrome; worsening or progression of cardiomyopathy or valve disease.
