A patient who has developed acute pulmonary edema is hospitalized and diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy. Which information will the nurse plan to include when teaching the patient about management of this disorder?

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The patient should be instructed to notify the health care provider about any worsening of heart failure symptoms. Because dilated cardiomyopathy does not respond well to therapy, even patients with good compliance with therapy may have recurrent episodes of heart failure. The patient is instructed to avoid alcoholic beverages. Elevation of the legs above the heart will worsen symptoms (although this approach is appropriate for a patient with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy).

A Patient Who Has Developed Acute Pulmonary Edema Is Hospitalized