General Pathophysiology Assignment

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General Pathophysiology Assignment

Assignment

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.

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

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

  • The cardiovascular and cardiopulmonary pathophysiologic processes that result in the patient presenting these symptoms.
  • Any racial/ethnic variables that may impact physiological functioning.
  • 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 of hours to go to the bathroom.” She now must sleep on two pillows in order to get enough air.

Reminder: The College of Nursing requires that all papers submitted include a title page, introduction, summary, and references.

References to be used

Minimum 4 – with use of the following 3

McCance, K. L. & Huether, S. E. (2019). Pathophysiology: The biologic basis for disease in adults and children (8th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Mosby/Elsevier.

  • Chapter 32: Structure and Function of the Cardiovascular and Lymphatic Systems; Summary Review
  • Chapter 33: Alterations of Cardiovascular Function (stop at Dysrhythmias); Summary Review
  • Chapter 35: Structure and Function of the Pulmonary System; Summary Review
  • Chapter 36: Alterations of Pulmonary Function (stop at Disorders of the chest wall and pleura); (obstructive pulmonary diseases) (stop at Pulmonary artery hypertension); Summary Review
  • Inamdar, A. A. & Inamdar, A. C. (2016). Heart failure: Diagnosis, management, and utilization, 5(7). doi:10.3390/jcm5070062

MedCram. (2015, September 14). Pneumonia explained clearly by MedCram [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqyPECmkSeo General Pathophysiology Assignment

Pathophysiology

Introduction

The case study involves a 76-year-old female who presented with complaints about weight gain, abdominal swelling, peripheral edema, and abdominal swelling. The patient has a history of congestive heart failure and has not been adhering to the prescribed diuretic. She must sleep on two pillows to breathe well. This paper will discuss the cardiopulmonary and cardiovascular pathophysiological processes leading to these symptoms, as well as any racial variables likely to impact physiological functioning.

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The Cardiovascular and Cardiopulmonary Pathophysiologic Processes

The heart acts as a pump that supplies body organs and tissues with oxygenated blood, via coordinated muscle activities. For the heart to function effectively, it undergoes proper relaxation to help proper filling of blood during diastole and coordinated contraction during systole (McCance & Huether, 2019). In heart failure, the heart is not able to pump adequate blood to meet the needs of the body. As a result, the patient in this case study is manifesting breath shortness because the heart has a reduced ability to effectively pump blood, and this produces increased blood pressures within the lungs’ blood vessels (MedCram, 2015). Additionally, during heart failure, the heart is unable to pump out adequate blood it receives from the lungs; this may lead to accumulation of pressure within the heart, pushing fluid into air sacs of the lungs, which leads to more breathing problems (Inamdar & Inamdar, 2016).

On the other hand, the abdominal swelling, peripheral edema, and abdominal swelling the patient present occur when the lower chambers of the heart are unable to effectively pump blood and as a result, the blood can accumulate in the legs, ankles, feet, and even abdomen, causing edema. Tissue edema takes place when transudation from blood capillaries into the interstitium surpasses the lymphatic system’s maximal drainage. During heart failure, there is also reduced, transcapillary oncotic pressure gradient, elevated transcapillary hydrostatic pressure gradient, as well as elevated interstitial compliance that leads to edema (McCance & Huether, 2019).

Impact of Racial/Ethnic on Physiological Functioning and how Factors Interact to affect the Patient

Various racial and ethnic disparities affect the development of heart failure. Minority groups such as Africa Americans have the highest prevalence of heart disease. This is attributable to higher prevalence risk factors for cardiovascular disease, among the minorities (Mochari-Greenberger & Mosca, 2015). These risk factors include health disparities, individual factors such as exercise and diet, genetic factors, access to care, as well as socioeconomic variables (Graham, 2015). For example, lack of access to proper nutrition and adequate physical exercises is attributable to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.General Pathophysiology Assignment

Conclusion

The patient presented with symptoms of deteriorating heart disease, indicating heart failure. In heart failure, the heart is unable to pump adequate blood and thus the body needs such as breathing are affected. Moreover, the inability of the heart to pump blood out leads to the accumulation of blood in the lungs causing breathing problems and other body organs such as lower extremities causing edema.

References

Graham G. (2015). Disparities in cardiovascular disease risk in the United States. Current cardiology reviews, 11(3), 238–245. https://doi.org/10.2174/1573403×11666141122220003

Inamdar, A. A. & Inamdar, A. C. (2016). Heart failure: Diagnosis, management, and utilization, 5(7). doi:10.3390/jcm5070062

McCance, K. L. & Huether, S. E. (2019). Pathophysiology: The biologic basis for disease in adults and children (8th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Mosby/Elsevier.

MedCram. (2015, September 14). Pneumonia explained clearly by MedCram [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqyPECmkSeo

Mochari-Greenberger, H., & Mosca, L. (2015). Differential Outcomes by Race and Ethnicity in Patients with Coronary Heart Disease: A Contemporary Review. Current cardiovascular risk reports, 9(5), 20. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12170-015-0447-4

General Pathophysiology Assignment