Question

Choose three topics from the cardio lecture and explain why their pathophysiology is important for a nurse to understand

heart disorder was a topic in the powerpoint, Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) or Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD) or Acute Coronary Syndrome, and Cardiac Dysrhythmias

Answer 1

Pathophysiology is defined as,the disordered physiological processes associated with disease or injury.It is very important for a medical professionals,especially nurses to understand,because,inorder to provide optimal ,holistic care and treatment ,indeed, nurses need to be able to identify the disease progression of these patients.Moreover,it would be very helpful for the preparation of recognition of disease states and progression by means of education of pathophysiology.So it leads to evidence based practice and enhanced interventions in patient centered care.Here,we will discuss the pathophysiology of three main heart diseases ,which includes,CAD,IHD and coronary artery syndrome. These three diseases are interconnected by each other.Coronary artery disease is the same thing as ischemic heart disease.

First of all, regarding the pathophysiology of CAD (Coronary artery disease) .The synonym is" atherosclerosis".and ischemic heart diseases.The disease developed as a result of accumulation of cholesterol rich deposits ,calcium and other substances (which is named as atherosclerotic plaques )on the lining inside the artery,may blocks the coronary arteries and make them stiff and irregular this is called" atherosclorosis."Symptoms includes,chest pain which is relieved by nytroglycerine and rest.,dizziness ,fatigue,numbness.

Secondly, ischemic heart disease is developed as ,atherosclerosis leads coronary artery cannot supply enough blood to the heart in response to the demand.This will cause ,ischemia of myocardial cells and leads to necrosis(ischemic cells cannot get enough oxygen or glucose).so the myocardial cells have decreased electrical and muscular function.Thus leads to anaerobic metabolism of cells and cause lactic acid as a by product of metabolism.Pain develops from accumulation of lactic acid.patient feels anginal symptoms until recieving increased oxygen demand of myocardial cells.This is called ischemic heart disease.(IHD).the symptoms include chest pain ,which is not relieved by nytroglycerine and rest,extreme fatigue, dizziness, chest pain which is radiating to the neck,shoulder and back.

Finally the pathophysiology of ACUTE CORONARY SYNDROME.This disease is a most fatal disease,which includes three types of coronary artery diseases,that are associated with sudden rupture of plaque inside the coronary artery.

1)unstable angina

2) NSTEMI (NON ST SEGMENT ELEVATED MI)

3)STEMI (ST SEGMENT ELEVATED MI).

As,a blood clot blocks one or more arteries of the heart,the heart becomes in danger of suffocation or any condition attributed to obstruction of the coronary arteries which reduces blood flow to the heart and which includes MI.The location of blockage,the length of time that blood flow is blocked and the amount of damage that occurs determines the type of acute coronary syndrome.these life threatening conditions require emergency medical care.

IN CONTRAST,A knowledge of pathophysiology helps nurses understand ,apply,and develop appropriate treatment plans in their practice.Patient with CAD ,IHD AND ACUTE CORONARY SYNDROME experience clinical symptoms and how its developed we have seen in pathophysiology which have given above.The primary goal to understand pathophysiology isincreases the patient's quality of life and optimize the treatment plan.These three medical conditions have interconnection,because one leads to another .Most treatment plans use targeted thrombolytic agents.

As a conclusion,A nurse with a pathophysiology background can also work more effectively with patients and physicians.The care team needs to counsel patients about the possibility of these diseases ,its phases,and importance of prompt management.Nurses can also anticipate when a physician might benefit from an informed report from the patient's bedside.The knowledge of pathophysiology prepares nurses to recognize disease states and progression.besides that it prepares them an active member of the teams.