HEART FAILURE: AN OVERVIEW

Course overview

Heart failure (HF) is a progressive clinical syndrome in which the heart fails to pump a sufficient supply of blood to the body due to a functional or structural cardiac disorder. HF can be classified as left-sided or right-sided, acute or chronic, systolic or diastolic. Potential causes of HF may be related to family history, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, vascular disease, and valvular disease. Treatment of HF depends on the type and stage of disease. This continuing education module is designed to give the reader/learner an increased understanding of HF, and to aid in caring for the patient with this diagnosis. Readers may explore any or all of the topics. One contact hour of continuing education credit is available for those who successfully complete the post-test and evaluation form.