Question

Consider this patient below. Identify the patients’ characteristics that put the patient at risk for congestive heart failure.

Sarah Freidan: 48 year old office worker, 5 feet 4 inches tall, weighs 190 lbs. Waist circumference 36 inches. Nonsmoker. No ETOH. Fasting blood glucose 155 mgt/dL. Triglycerides 200mg/dL. HDL-C 46 mg/dL. Blood pressure 148/80. Currently takes no medications.

Answer 1

Congestive heart failure is often a consequence of atherosclerotic heart disease and therefore the risk factors are the same: poorly controlled high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, and family history. Heart valve disease becomes a risk factor as the patient ages.

Identify the patients’ characteristics that put the patient at risk for congestive heart failure.

a) SEX

• Men are at more risk than women

b) Cholestrol

• Triglycerides should be less than 150mg/dl

c) Blood pressure

• Systolic should be less than 140mmHg

d) Diabetes

• A fasting blood sugar level should be less than 100mg/dl.