Alterations in Cardiovascular and Respiratory Systems

WEEK 4

An understanding of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems is a critically important component of disease diagnosis and treatment. This importance is magnified by the fact that these two systems work so closely together. A variety of factors and circumstances that impact the emergence and severity of issues in one system can have a role in the performance of the other. Alterations in Cardiovascular and Respiratory Systems

Effective disease analysis often requires an understanding that goes beyond these systems and their capacity to work together. The impact of patient characteristics, as well as racial and ethnic variables, can also have an important impact.

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An understanding of the symptoms of alterations in cardiovascular and respiratory systems is a critical step in diagnosis and treatment of many diseases. For APRNs this understanding can also help educate patients and guide them through their treatment plans.

In this Assignment, you examine a case study and analyze the symptoms presented. You identify the elements that may be factors in the diagnosis, and you explain the implications to patient health.

To prepare:

By Day 1 of this week, you will be assigned to a specific case study scenario for this Case Study Assignment. Please see the “Course Announcements” section of the classroom for your assignment from your Instructor.

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Assignment (1- to 2-page case study analysis)

In your Case Study Analysis related to the scenario provided, explain the following

  • The cardiovascular and cardiopulmonary pathophysiologic processes that result in the patient presenting these symptoms.
  • Any racial/ethnic variables that may impact physiological functioning. Alterations in Cardiovascular and Respiratory Systems
  • How these processes interact to affect the patient.

Scenario 1: 76-year-old female patient complains of weight gain, shortness of breath, peripheral edema, and abdominal swelling. She has a history of congestive heart failure and admits to not taking her diuretic, as it makes her “have to get up every couple hours to go to the bathroom.” She now has to sleep on two pillows in order to get enough air.

Cardiovascular and Cardiopulmonary Pathophysiology Processes

Cardiovascular disease is a heart condition that involves blocking and narrowing of the blood vessels. The cardiovascular disease is fatal since it can lead to stroke, angina as well as heart attack (Kaminsky et al, 2019). Cardiopulmonary disease on the other hand is a medical condition where both the lungs and the heart are affected. The pathophysiology of the cardiovascular disease happens when the heart fails to provide the tissues with enough blood metabolic needs as well as elevation cardiac related conditions.

The 76 years old female patient has congestive heart failure history. The doctor prescribed her diuretics that would help the body to get rid of water and sodium but she is not taking (Lavie et al, 2018). When the heart fails to effectively pump fluid builds up and is retained in the lungs due to the increase in pressure along the pulmonary veins. The retained fluid in the lungs causes pulmonary edema leading to shortness of breath.

The inability of the heart to pump blood effectively consequently leads to decreased cardiac output causing poor venous drainage in the body (Roush & Sica, 2016). More fluid continues to build up in some parts of the body like the peritoneal cavity and lower extremities due to the poor venous drainage. The fluid buildup in the peritoneal cavities and lower extremities is the cause of abdominal swelling and peripheral edema in the patient’s body. Therefore, the extra fluid in the body therefore increases the body weight of the patient.

Diuretics treat the symptoms presented by the 76 years old woman effectively by reducing the preload of the heart and also removing extra fluids in the body (Alexander & Dimke, 2017).  Therefore, the patient should take the diuretics as prescribed to reduce of cardiopulmonary disease or a heart attack. Alterations in Cardiovascular and Respiratory Systems

References

Alexander, R. T., & Dimke, H. (2017). Effect of diuretics on renal tubular transport of calcium    and magnesium. American Journal of Physiology-Renal Physiology, 312(6), F998-      F1015.

Kaminsky, L. A., Arena, R., Ellingsen, Ø., Harber, M. P., Myers, J., Ozemek, C., & Ross, R.        (2019). Cardiorespiratory fitness and cardiovascular disease-The past, present, and future.             Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases, 62(2), 86-93.

Lavie, C. J., Arena, R., Alpert, M. A., Milani, R. V., & Ventura, H. O. (2018). Management of             cardiovascular diseases in patients with obesity. Nature Reviews Cardiology, 15(1), 45-    56.

Roush, G. C., & Sica, D. A. (2016). Diuretics for hypertension: a review and update. American    journal of hypertension, 29(10), 1130-1137. Alterations in Cardiovascular and Respiratory Systems