A new look at heart failure

Heart failure is the number one hospital admission for the elderly and a leading client population for home care with numbers expected to rise steadily during the next decade. This article discusses systolic and diastolic heart failure, compensatory mechanisms, pathophysiology, and the signs and symptoms of right and left-sided heart failure. The most current treatment regimen for managing the heart failure patient in the home including medication, diet, activity, and patient education is presented.