Congestive Heart Failure
If you have Congestive Heart Failure, your heart cannot pump as powerfully as it used to, and is not working efficiently enough to meet your body's requirement for oxygen-rich blood. During heart failure less blood is being pumped out of the heart with each beat. The heart muscle cannot contract as powerfully as before, and consequently, the chambers of the heart do not empty fully, overfilling with blood. When this happens, circulation slows down, blood backs up in the veins and fluid seeps into the tissues causing swelling in legs and ankles, and also into the blood vessels in the lungs, causing shortness of breath and coughing.
If you or a loved one have a chronic heart condition, PHDtoGo's PHDChart System can help you! The PHDChart System gives you an opportunity to participate in your health progress. Each day you log onto www.PHDtoGo.com and record your blood pressure, heart rate, weight, and the answers to several questions relating to your health. Our site also allows you to record your temperature upon waking as well as your peak flow readings. The site is totally confidential (click here to see our Confidentiality Statement). The proprietary PHDChart System generates an easy-to-read graph that visually illustrates your vital signs, along with the questions you answered. Your chart will show you whether or not your vital signs are within normal limits. (Colored bands on the chart based on national norms, make it easy for you to tell.) Trends become apparent. Your progress will be clearly defined. If you need equipment to monitor your vital signs, visit corpuscare.com to purchase the right monitoring tools for your condition.
You can reduce your risk of heart failure by controlling cholesterol levels, refraining from smoking, losing weight (if needed), and increasing your activity levels. Try to initiate these changes gradually and keep track of your response on the PHDChart as you record your vital signs. For example, a regular exercise program will help lower your blood pressure and improve your cardiovascular health. If you are graphing your blood pressure and waking peak flow, the PHDChart will show your progress visually.
If you desire, you can show your PHDChart to your physician. Email your PHDChart or print a full color copy and take it with you to your next appointment. Or, if you share your PHDChart ID number with your doctor, he or she can access your chart over the Internet anytime there is need for concern.