Case Study on Cardiovascular

Running head: Case Study 2– Cardiovascular
Case Study 2– Cardiovascular
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Case Study 2– Cardiovascular
1.In the acute phase of the chest pain list four (4) questions you could ask the person.
In the acute phase of the chest pain, questions that should be asked to the patient are:
 Is there abrupt onset of the chest pain?
 Does the pain show on the neck, back, flank, or abdomen?
 Was the pain sharp or tearing in nature?
 Do you faint (syncope)?
2. List four (4) symptoms commonly associated with cardiovascular disorders.
The four common symptoms experienced by people with cardiovascular disorders are
 Chest pain, chest, tightness, chest pressure, chest discomfort (angina)
 Shortness of breath.
 Weakness or lack of sensation in the legs or arms if the blood vessels from that part of the
body are narrowed.
 Sweating, dizziness and nausea.
3. Explain four (4) observations that are relevant to a patient’s cardiac health.
The following sings are generally observed in the cardiac patients:
 An increased respiratory rate.
 Hypertension.
 An elevated heart rate.
 An increased body temperature.
4. Define myocardial infarction (MI).

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Case Study 2– Cardiovascular
Myocardial infarction (MI) is a concept used to explain a cardiac attack that is the result
of plaques in the inner walls of the arteries that contribute to a decreased blood flow to the heart
muscles and the heart being impaired because of the inadequate supply of oxygen. Symptoms of
MI include shortness of breath, chest pain that passes from left to left neck, fatigue, vomiting,
nausea, irregular heartbeats, anxiety (Lu et al., 2015). MI, commonly known in layman's terms as
a heart attack, is typically triggered by blood flow decline or a blockage into part of the heart
which leads to cardiac muscle necrosis. This is typically developed as a result of blood
coagulation in the epicardial artery, which provides the heart muscle territories (Moussa &
Ambrose, 2018). Some MIs are caused by disease of the coronary artery. Risk factors include
elevated blood pressure, smoke, asthma, activity deficiency, obesity, high blood cholesterol, low
nutrition and heavy drinking. Normally the root cause of the MI is the complete coronary artery
blockage arising from a break of the atherosclerotic plaque. Coronary artery spasms are less
severe, owing, among others, to alcohol consumption, mental stress and intense cold. Several
examinations, including electrocardiogram (ECG), checks for blood and angiography, are
effective in diagnosing these diseases.
5. Describe the pathophysiology of a myocardial infarction.
Acute occlusion of one or more major coronary arteries can contribute to an acute
myocardial infarction during more than 20 to 40 minutes. The occlusion is typically thrombotic
which happens after a clot in the coronary artery is ruptured. The occlusion results in an oxygen-
free circulation of the myocardium and induces sarcolemmal involvement and relaxation of
myofibril. These modifications are one of the first ultrastructural changes in the MI process,
followed by mitochondrial alterations. Lastly, persistent ischemia contributes to liquefactive
myocardial tissue necrosis. The necrosis extended to the subendocardium. The sub-epicardium is