Cardiac Management

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Cardiac Management
Name
Institution

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Cardiac Management
Cardiac conditions describe a range of diseases that can affect the heart’s effective
function. Some of these conditions include angina pectoris, cardiac sarcoma, arrhythmias, heart
attack, heart failure, stroke, atrial fibrillation, peripherial artery diasease and congenital heart
condition. These conditions may sometimes involve the narrowing or blocking of the blood
vessels hence affecting the muscles of the heart or even the valves, arteries or the rhythms of the
heart (Agca et al., 2017). These components are very important for an individual’s overall
health; therefore, it is essential to make changes in lifestyle if diagnosed with any of the cardiac
conditions. The lifestyle changes are also important because they slow down the progression of
the condition. If cardiac conditions are not treated, they may lead to several fatal complications
that may injure an individual’s overall health. Many cardiac conditions require the care of
clinicians as they advise on the correct diagnosis as well as treatment and management plan. This
paper is discussing the management of cardiac conditions and the importance of such knowledge
to me as a nurse.
Cardiac Conditions
The ability of the heart to fail to efficiently work can be caused by different factors
depending on the condition. Some conditions may be caused by abnormally thick heart muscles,
reduced blood flow into the heart, rigid and less elastic heart muscles or even some cancer
treatments. Some conditions may be caused by heart infections due to viruses, bacteria and fungi.
According to Mayo Clinic (2018), congenital heart defects which may be as a result of genes,
medications, and age can also lead to cardiac conditions. It is also important to note if the
exchange of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood does not keep the heart beating in a

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coordinated and normal rhythm so as to keep the blood circulating, heart conditions can be
triggered. Cardiac conditions can also be as a result of valvular heart diseases which can lead to
strenosis, regurgitation or prolapsed. Also, the buildup of cholesterol plaque inside the walls of
the artery can lead to cardiac conditions. This is because the plaque can block the arteries
partially thus decreasing the flow of blood which keeps the heart beating (American Diabetes
Association, 2016). Cardiac conditions can also be caused by unhealthy lifestyle choices like
smoking, excessive drinking of alcohol, lack of exercises, stress, eating unhealthy diet as well as
failing to manage diabetes.
The heart requires adequate supply of blood so as to normally function like other muscles
in the body. Even though the signs and symptoms varies across the different conditions,
individuals should visit a doctor if they experience chest pains, shortness of breath, pain in jaws
and neck, numbness in the legs and arms, irregular heartbeat as well as fainting. Mayo Clinic
(2018) argues that cyanosis, swelling of the legs and arms, fatigue, lightheadedness, dizziness,
fever, unusual rashes and spots, dry or persistent cough are signs of cardiac conditions.
According to Center for Disease Control and Prevention (n.d), the risk factors for
developing heart conditions include age, sex, smoking and family history. As people keep aging,
the risk of their arteries being damaged or narrowed and their muscles being weakened or
thickened increases. It also important to note that men generally are at greater risk of developing
cardiac conditions while women’s chances increase after reaching menopause (Amsterdam et al.,
2014). Also, smoking may damage the inner linings as well as constrict the blood vessels hence
susceptibility to cardiac conditions. However, poor hygiene and diet, high blood pressure, high
cholesterol levels, stress and obesity are also risk factors of cardiac conditions.

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Pathophysiology
Atherosclerosis is the major reason for cardiac conditions. Hypercholesterolaemia,
hypertension and cigarette smoking are the common risk factors for atherosclerosis. These
factors join behind a combination of mechanisms, which includes oxidation and inflammation in
the walls of the artery and with time gives rise to characteristics fatty-fibrous lesions. Physical
trauma and inflammation may cause a lesion rupture, which can prompt clinical occasions, for
example, heart attack and stroke, or resolve with plaque development. The progression of cardiac
conditions is normally set apart by the incendiary pointer CRP (C-responsive protein). Early
pointers of cardiac conditions are the inflammatory marker CD40, and the cardiovascular
myofilament protein troponin. Coronary atherosclerosis is the regular reason for heart failure.
Disordered calcium motioning to the myofilaments happens in heart failure and in
cardiomyopathy. Improved calcium flagging stifles heart failure. Neuro-humoral and
biomechanical forms, as found in hypertension, produce cardiovascular hypertrophy, which
inclines to heart failure through apoptosis. Despite the fact that cardiac conditions risks produces
lasting loss of cells on the grounds that the heart cannot recover, advancements in foundational
microorganism innovation propose that cardiac conditions can be treated or managed.
Concepts Involved
Inflammation
Inflammation is an ordinary reaction to the damage of tissues or pathogen introduction
and is a critical feature in the body's capacity to mend itself or to ward off contamination. The
provocative reaction includes the actuation of leukocytes and is to some extent intervened by a
group of cytokines and chemokines (Dokken, 2008). Despite the fact that inflammation is