Cardiovascular Disease - Case Study Example

Cardiovascular Disease: Case Study Introduction A 54-years of age man under nursing care follow-up has been diagnosed with a condition regarding cardiovascular disease (CVD). Reports illustrate how he portrayed an abnormal behavior as examined by the treadmill test. In addition, he is a victim of smoking and experiences difficulties due to diet with high-fat content. The conditions affecting normal body operation for the old man requires intervention to avert spiraling consequences and ensure a prolonged life. To begin with, the nurse ought to start by helping the patient feel at ease with the facility. Moreover, relevant tests to ascertain, the extent of the situation accompanying the CVD epidemic are imperative to take. Rationale CVD has been a major killer in the US within the last decade. The lifestyle of people living in the US was surveyed to be the leading causative agent of CVD. Conditions noted to affects CVD include age, smoking habit, income, race, serum cholesterol level and family background. Moreover, factors controllable include levels of cholesterol, the level of exercising, smoking frequency, weight gained by an individual, blood pressure levels and diabetic conditions (Kruk ME & 85(3):263–276., 2008). Uncontrollable issues include family history, a person’s gender, and the age. Clinical signs of CVD To back the problem affecting the 54-year old man, CVD is characterized by pain in the chest momentarily. The feeling spreads through the body causing nausea, cold sweats and snippets of lightheadedness. Accompanying the CVD at an early stage is indigestion, irregular heartbeats, anxiety and general weakness. Palpitation and heart flutters may lead to coughs and shortness of breath in a CVD patient. Considering that the old man had cases resulting from the treadmill test, the smoking habit and age bracket, confirms that the case is a CVD (IOM, 2010). Pathology of CVD The heart pumps blood in systolic and diastolic rhythm. A condition that will affect the rhythmic process of the heart will highly result in heart problems and failure at worst. Formation of lesion results when molecules adhesion in charge of making the blood leukocytes sticky on the inner arterial surface. Emerging and existing factors of atherosclerosis has a regulation on chemoattractants cytokines as regulated consistently by atherosclerosis symptoms. Blood leukocytes continuously communicate with smooth muscle cells and the endothelial. It results in an inflammatory ferment, elaborate and proliferation of the rich extracellular matrix (Hanni KD, 2009). Secretion of the matrix metalloproteinase (MMPs) finds a balance with inhibitors of endogenous tissue. The processes of activation, proliferation and migration occur between the MMP and inner tissue. Binding of lipoproteins amidst prolonging conditions of intima stagnation, makes the condition at a susceptible level resulting in oxidation and glycation which propagates inflammatory responsiveness. As the lesion grows, cell death occurs eventually causing an atherosclerotic plaque. Moreover, increased numbers of components regarded as adipokines which encompass tumor necrosis have a strong link to the inflammatory responsively. Cytokines are highly associated with increasing fat content within tissue. Diastolic time in the left ventricular illustrated with dysfunction shows an early sign of failure in fill up during diastolic (SJP., 2009). The problem is clearly a feature resulting from a longer isovolumetric relaxation. Microvascular damage leads to a pre-identified injury, hypertrophy, and fibrosis for the cardiomyopathy. Interventions Smoking The patient with regard to the condition they face needs to reduce consumption of cigarettes. Addiction is a powerful affair not easy to abandon and hence. The old man should undergo a rehabilitation process and medicinal supplements that help in reducing the urge for smoking. Smoking clots the tracheal system and blood system. It leads to deposit and scorching by carbon in the capillary system hence affecting etiological blood flow (Langrish JP, 2008). Hypertension CVD is characterized by high blood pressure which needs to be checked to help avert severe conditions of heart failure without notice. Cutting down on cholesterol intake, fatty component reduction and exercising will help to reduce the risk of sudden heart failure. The levels of pressure in the 54-year old man should be taken. This will necessitate the nursing fraternity to strategize on the best care, exercise sessions and medication needed to align blood vessels and reduce fat accumulations. Obesity Gaining weight is a key contributor to the CVD. The heart beats continuously and as such needs conducive conditions provided by blood vessels orientation, beat rate, and metabolic rate. To check on obesity, nurses should serve the patient with food devoid of fatty content, contain energy giving food and proteins for replacement of worn out cells. Nutrition Eating habits contribute a great deal to the general health progress and prevailing state of any human being. The nurses need to invoke the advice of a nutritionist pertaining situation the 54-year old man in under. Top on the agenda of the nurse should be nutrition counseling to the old man concerning the right and wrong food for the CVD patient. He will be informed about needs to avoid fatty foods, increase, and frequently intake, carbohydrates and protein rich food supplements. In addition, fruits and vegetable provision for the old, patient enhance the immunity levels helping to avert minor setbacks in the health of the patient (SJP., 2009). Family caregiver counseling At the age reported, the patient might not be in a position to carry out all the daily routines normally. At all cost, he should be in the company of a helper to monitor and advice on food and administer medication. Conclusion The nursing professional should acknowledge that age is a contributing factor to a CVD patient. To help the patient cope and overt CVD problem they face effectively, they need to shape their minds to the healing process which is best achieved through counseling program for the patient. On the other hand, medication ought to be administered to check for existing health conditions. Furthermore, the family needs to be involved in the process of intervening to avert the problem of skipping medication and help patients take the conditions. Smoking contributes immensely to heart problems and as such ought to be another itemized activity. Hypertension and obesity/ weight are situations a person carries along yet controllable using medication and exercising. References Hanni KD, G. E. (2009). Steps to a Healthier Salinas: Targeting the taqueria: Implementing healthy food options at Mexican-American restaurants. Health Promotion Practice, 91S–99S. IOM. (2010). Secondhand smoke exposure and cardiovascular effects: Making sense of the evidence. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. Kruk ME, F. L., & 85(3):263–276. (2008). Assessing health system performance in developing countries: A review of the literature. Health Policy, 263–276. Langrish JP, M. N. (2008). Air pollution: The new cardiovascular risk factor. Internal Medicine Journal, 875–878. SJP., H. (2009). Meta-analysis: Audit and feedback feature impact effectiveness on care quality. Medical Care, 356–363. Read More