In: Nursing
How can a heart failure affect heart sounds, pules, capillary refill, and skin color.
Heart Failure:
The inability of heart to maintain adequate output to meet the metabolic demands of the body is called heart failure
Changes in Heart Sounds:
A third heart sound occurs early in diastole. In young people and athletes it is a normal phenomenon. In older individuals it indicates the presence of congestive heart failure. The third heart sound is caused by a sudden deceleration of blood flow into the left ventricle from the left atrium. S3 indicates increased volume of blood within the ventricles
Changes in Pulse Rate:
Sinus tachycardia (pulse rate >100 beats/min) is a common feature in patients with acute heart failure and reflects activation of the sympathetic nervous system in response to reduced cardiac output.
Changes in Capillary Refill Time :
Normal Capillary refill time is 1 to 2 seconds with a normal blood volume and perfusion. A CRT longer than 2 seconds is a subjective sign of poor perfusion or peripheral vasoconstriction Venous distention can be a sign of volume overload or right-sided congestive heart failure.
Changes in Skin Colour:
Due to inefficient cardiac output, hypoperfusion occurs in the peripheries leading to hypoxia and cyanosis, causing bluish greyish discoloration and skin.