The objective was to evaluate the practice of self-care of patients with mechanical heart valve prosthesis. A descriptive, cross-sectional study developed in two outpatient valvopathies of teaching hospitals of Fortaleza/CE, from October 2013 to January 2014. The sample consisted of 127 patients with mechanical heart valve prosthesis. It was held an interview using instrument based on the Theory of Orem's Self-Care and Brazilian Guidelines for Valvular Heart Diseases. The data were presented in tables and charts. Results: Universal self-care practices of larger adhesion: body hygiene (97.6% washed-haired, daily-bath 92.1%); oral hygiene (brushing teeth before sleeping, 87.4%); fluid intake (drinking-water 95.2%); food intake (salt intake ≤ 2 g/day, 92.1%, fruit and vegetable consumption 79.5%); intestinal eliminations (without blood or mucus-96%, non-parasitic 94.4%); urinary elimination (no blood nor pus-96.8%, urination 4 to 6 times a day, 96%). As self-care developmental requirements predominated: never used illegal drugs, tobacco, alcohol, or stopped at the discovery of the disease (70%). As self-care health deviation requirements we have: making use of certain medication at the right dose (95.2%); attending medical appointments (cardiologist-92.1%; nursing-84.2%); INR control (identifies signs of bleeding-85.8%). We conclude that patients did not perform all recommended self-care practices, being necessary to establish strategies to reduce the self-care deficit. L. S. T. de Meneses et al.1388

Objective: Verification of the presence of modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors to Arterial System Hypertension (ASH) in patients who had suffered Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA). Method: Descriptive study, quantitative performed in a SAH Unit of a hospital in Fortaleza, Brazil. 75 patients diagnosed with SAH and attacked by CVA, hospitalized in this same unit, composed the sample. The data was collected through interviews with the patients, then exposed in frequency datasheets. Study approved by the Ethics Committee. Results and discussion: Non-modifiable factors: male (61,4%), age above 60 years old (48%), family background of cardiovascular diseases (68%) and white-skinned (64%). Modifiable factors: unhealthy diet (64%), sedentary lifestyle (92%), smoking (20%), regular consumption of alcoholic beverages (21,3%), and inadequate use of medication (41,3%). Conclusion: CVA victims have modifiable factors related to ASH, forcing the nursing professionals to develop strategies to the population that carries ASH to the reduction of these factors and prevention of cardiovascular implications.

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