What serious consequence can occur if a client with CHF does not adhere to prescribed bed rest?

Adherence to prescribed bed rest is crucial for clients with congestive heart failure (CHF) because it helps to minimize the workload on the heart and reduces the risk of exacerbating heart failure symptoms. If a client with CHF does not follow bed rest recommendations, they may experience a worsening of heart failure symptoms, such as increased shortness of breath, fatigue, and edema. This is largely due to the heart being unable to effectively pump blood when it is overworked or stressed.

Inactivity and rest are essential for allowing the heart to maintain or improve its efficiency and manage fluid levels. When a client engages in regular activity against medical advice, it can lead to increased cardiac demand, fluid overload, and a subsequent decline in their overall cardiac function. This can result in worsening symptoms, hospitalizations, or even life-threatening complications in severe cases.

While weight gain may be a result of fluid retention resulting from worsening symptoms, it is a secondary outcome rather than a direct consequence of not adhering to bed rest. Similarly, the risk of hypertension could rise due to stress and activity, but is not the immediate concern in the context of CHF. Conversely, not adhering to bed rest would not improve exercise tolerance; rather, it would likely decrease the body’s capacity to