Alteration in the Cardiovascular & Respiratory Systems

Alteration in the Cardiovascular & Respiratory Systems

The patient in the scenario presented with a number of complaints that point to congestive heart failure. Her medical history is remarkable for congestive heart failure, and she admittedly expresses that she does not take her diuretics. Inamdar (2016) asserts that in patients with heart failure, diuretics help the kidneys to release unneeded salt and water to ease the pumping of the heart. It can ease the water buildup and swelling and treat high blood pressure. Although the failure of the patient to take her medications explains why she is presenting with congestive symptoms of heart failure (HF), it is important to analyze the case study to explain the cardiovascular and cardiopulmonary pathophysiologic processes resulting in the symptoms.

Cardiovascular and Cardiopulmonary Pathophysiologic Processes Responsible for the Symptoms

The patient presents with typical congestive symptoms of HF, which is a condition where the heart develops, weakening heart muscles and becoming incapable of pumping enough blood. When the heart is not capable of effectively pumping blood around the body, blood collects in front of the heart, leading to increased pressure in the veins. With this condition, there would be increased pressure in the pulmonary veins, which is facilitated by the failure of the patient to take her diuretics. As a result, there would be the onset of fluid buildup in the lungs, gradually causing pulmonary edema and causing shortness of breath symptoms.

The patient also presents with abdominal swelling and peripheral edema. The bodies of patients with heart failure have poor venous drainage, which causes decreased cardiac output. Consequently, fluids begin building up in the body, causing abdominal swelling along with peripheral edema. According to Inamdar & Inamdar (2016), this fluid buildup particularly occurs in the peritoneal cavity and lower extremities. The symptom of weight increase is a result of extra fluid in the patient’s body. The symptoms, which the patient presents with, can be managed effectively using diuretics.

Ethnic/Racial Variables Impacting Physiological Functioning

Cognitive heart failure is the cardiovascular process influencing the symptoms of the patient in the scenario. Besides, an individual’s physiological functioning can be affected by ethnic or racial variables. For example, ethnic/racial inequalities put Black Americans at increased risk of cardiopulmonary and cardiovascular complications as a result of proper care. According to Muncan (2018), such psychosocial and structural obstacles as health illiteracy, discrimination-related stress discrimination, provider cultural incompetency, and limited access to care can contribute to increased risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

Interaction of the Processes to Affect the Patient

There can be interactions between cardiovascular and cardiopulmonary pathophysiological processes, which would remarkably affect the functionality of patients. With the increase in the fluids moving from the intravascular to the intestinal space, there would be an increase in the capillary permeability and capillary hydrostatic pressure. As a result of fluids shifting into the intestinal space, such as lymphatic vessel capillaries, the intravascular volume gets depleted, and the rennin-angiotensin-aldosterone-vasopressin gets activated, leading to the retention of renal sodium (McCance et al. 2019). Consequently, a fluid overload develops, leading to edema and may cause kidney disorders, heart failure, and liver failure, thus, limiting the patient’s mobility.

References

Inamdar, A. A., & Inamdar, A. C. (2016). Heart failure: diagnosis, management, and utilization. Journal of clinical medicine, 5(7), 62. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm5070062

McCance, K. L., Huether, S. E., Brashers, V. L., & Rote, N. S. (Eds.). (2019). Pathophysiology: The biological basis for disease in adults and children. Elsevier.

Muncan, B. (2018). Cardiovascular disease in racial/ethnic minority populations: illness burden and overview of community-based interventions. Public health reviews, 39(1), 1-11.

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Scenario: 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.

To prepare:

The Assignment

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. ( how it affects black American and white American races).

How these processes interact to affect the patient.

Introduction      and conclusion

Refer to the rubric for more information on how to respond to this prompt.