Nr507 Week 3 Discussion
Nr507 Week 3 Discussion. A 64-year-old woman presents to the primary care office with shortness of breath, leg swelling, and fatigue. She has a history of type 2 diabetes and hypertension. She reports that recently she had been able to go for daily walks with her friends, but in the past month, the walks have become more difficult due to shortness of breath and fatigue. She also sometimes awakens in the middle of the night due to shortness of breath and has to prop herself up on three pillows. On physical examination, she is tachycardic (110 beats per minute) and has a blood pressure of 106/74 mm Hg. Fine crackles are noted on inspiration in bilateral bases. The cardiac exam reveals the presence of a third and fourth heart sound and jugular venous distension. 2+ pitting edema is noted in the knees bilaterally. An ECG shows sinus rhythm at 110 bpm with Q waves in the anterior leads. An echocardiogram shows decreased wall motion of the anterior wall of the heart and an estimated ejection fraction of 25%. She is diagnosed with systolic heart failure, secondary to a silent MI.
- Discuss the pathophysiological mechanisms that can lead to heart failure.
- Differentiate between systolic and diastolic heart dysfunction
- Discuss the causes of the patient’s shortness of breath, awakening in the middle of the night and the need to prop herself up on three pillows. Include pathophysiological mechanisms that causes each of these signs and symptoms.
- Include two points of teaching for this patient
- Support your response with at least one current evidence based resource.
- Students must post a minimum of three times in each graded discussion (see participation guidelines on the discussion rubric)
Nr507 Week 3 Discussion Answer
Hypertension, often associated with related conditions like coronary arterial disease and cardiomyopathy, is frequently a precursor to heart failure. Coronary artery disease, in particular, stands out as a primary catalyst for heart failure, with its capacity to narrow heart arteries, thereby limiting both oxygen and blood supply to the heart (Tham, Bernardo, Ooi, Weeks, & McMullen, 2015). The resultant inadequate blood and oxygen flow significantly elevate the risk of developing hypertension, creating a cascade effect that can culminate in heart failure.Nr507 Week 3 Discussion
Heart failure manifests when the heart muscle becomes incapable of pumping blood at a rate sufficient to meet the body’s metabolic demands. The left ventricular chamber, responsible for pumping and circulating blood in the heart, plays a pivotal role in maintaining cardiac function.Nr507 Week 3 Discussion
To achieve this, the left ventricular chamber must exert more force in pumping blood compared to its right counterpart. This intricate balance is achieved through systolic and diastolic functionalities. However, these functionalities can falter, leading to systolic and diastolic heart dysfunction, contributing to the complex interplay between hypertension and heart failure.Nr507 Week 3 Discussion
Understanding the intricate relationship between hypertension and heart failure is crucial for healthcare professionals in devising comprehensive strategies for prevention, management, and treatment, ultimately enhancing patient outcomes.
