Concepts and Significance to Nursing and Midwifery - Essay Example

"Concepts and Significance to Nursing and Midwifery" is a great example of a paper on the cardiovascular system. Cardiovascular diseases are of concern to the World Health Organization. Hence there is a need for everyone including adults between ages 30 to 50, to know the importance of this system to health and wellbeing. The cardiovascular system has three main components which include blood, blood vessels, and most important the heart. The system has three key functions in the human body which are; transportation, protection, and homeostasis regulation.

The pamphlet has cited that during pregnancy, the cardiovascular system goes through a lot of changes. The leading ones include; change in the volume of blood, blood composition, and concentration change, change in the heart’s size, the cardiac output also changes, and lastly, there is a change in blood pressure. The two major lifestyle practices that have a direct impact on cardiovascular health are lack of physical activity; and heavy alcohol consumption for a long period (Brick, 2008).

People can seek information from the American Heart Association and the National Heart Foundation of Australia.Excessive alcohol consumption and its relevance to the cardiovascular system health Alcohol is thought to be harmful or beneficial to the system of cardiovascular, depending on the consumer’s characteristics as well as the amount consumed (Bergler-Klein, 2011). Moderate alcohol consumption has been known to decrease cardiovascular disease’s risk through its impact on clotting of blood.

In moderation, alcohol can reduce platelets’ clotting ability. Alcohol’s amount, which is linked to advantageous effects varies from 1 to 2 ½ drinks in a day in accordance with research (Brick, 2008). Like in other systems of the body, excessive alcohol may have detrimental effects on the cardiovascular system. Excessive use of alcohol can raise the heart’s workload which can result in a heartbeat that is irregular (arrhythmia), heart muscle’s inflammation (myocarditis), hypertension, heart muscle’s weakening (cardiomyopathy), and increased cholesterol (American Heart Association, 2009).

Cardiac arrhythmias, imply an adjustment in the heartbeat’s rhythm. Such modifications result in variations in blood supply to the brain and body, hence potentially impacting these organs’ function. Cardiac arrhythmias are observed following severe consumption of large quantities of alcohol.Binge drinkers also are at risk of cardiac issues. Holiday heart is a syndrome found in a number of binge drinkers. This is featured by an acute, irregular heartbeat, (atrial fibrillation). Hypertension or blood pressure that is high is an established risk factor for cardiovascular issues (Brick, 2008).

Hypertension is generally observed in individuals who abuse alcohol. Hypertension is thought to possibly relate to hormonal irregularities or magnesium deficiency. Additionally, hypertension is a CVA risk factor. CVA is termed as strokes. The occurrence of strokes is due to blood flow impairment or bleeding within the brain via blood vessel hemorrhage. Dysfunction of the endothelium predisposes one to early clinical occurrences like peripheral arterial condition, and stroke (Bergler-Klein, 2011).

In the United States of America, excessive intake of alcohol is the leading basis of toxic cardiomyopathy (American Heart Association, 2009). Currently, moderate alcohol consumption seems to protect the heart and vessels against disease. In an effort to comprehend the way alcohol may hinder or help the operation of the system of cardiovascular, it is vital to reflect on the system’s components and the way they operate. Basically, the heart, which is a large muscle, is linked to a sequence of tubes, simply the veins and the arteries, which transport blood to various body parts (Van, et al, 2010).

Arteries transport blood outside the heart, whereas veins bring back blood to the heart. The veins and the arteries are connected through capillaries. Chemical and electrical signals to the human heart make it propel blood into arteries. Additionally, a couple of factors can cause contraction or dilation. In so doing, they can decrease or increase the quantity of effort needed by the heart to deliver blood (Brick, 2008). With this respect, then it becomes apparent that substances like ethanol as well as other factors can reinforce or impede the function of the cardiovascular system.

Examples of factors that cause the heart to work harder include clogged or restricted veins, arteries, or capillaries, eventually causing heart damage. On the other hand, alcohol's influence on electrical and chemical signals with controlled heart function may adjust the efficiency and efficacy of the action of the heart (Brick, 2008). In whichever case, in case the flow of blood is constrained then there will be damage to other organs because of lack of oxygen or nutrients. In conclusion, it is evident that among the systems within the body, the cardiovascular system is where alcohol or ethanol might have both negative and positive effects.

Compared with several other actions of alcohol, the precise alcohol’s effects are reliant on the amount consumed, drinking history, physical status, the timing of consumption, and genetics of the individual drinking. Generally, for an individual who has good health status and does not have a cardiovascular disease or alcoholism history, consuming a moderate or small quantity of alcohol or ethanol may get beneficial effects.