University Case Study: PHC 271 Introduction to Disease Analysis

This case study analyzes a 55-year-old man presenting with chest pain, diagnosed with angina, a symptom of coronary artery disease (CAD). The assignment delves into the patient's symptoms, medical history including hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and family history of myocardial infarction. It explores the likely diagnosis, clinical classification, and the causes of angina, primarily reduced blood flow to the heart muscle due to CAD. The study identifies risk factors such as unhealthy cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, age, sedentary lifestyle, family history, and obesity. The assignment recommends lifestyle changes like a heart-healthy diet, quitting smoking, physical activity, and stress management. Finally, it discusses public health approaches to reduce angina, such as reducing salt in processed foods and food labeling.

Running head: INTRODUCTION TO DISEASE
Introduction to Disease
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author note:

1INTRODUCTION TO DISEASE
1) What is the likely diagnosis of this case? Explain, how would
you classify the disease clinically?
It is to mention that chest pain is a very commonly encountered
symptom in both the outpatient clinic and emergency department that
results from spectrum of etiologies from the minor illness to some life-
threatening disease. While evaluating a patient with chest pain, one can
first determine about whether the pain is acute in the onset with the
different features concerning for the ACS (acute coronary syndrome),
aortic pneumothorax, pulmonary embolism or any other emergency (Kline
et al., 2014). However, there are many patients suffering with chest pain
who do not always need emergent evaluation. The chest pain of the
patient has the characteristics of angina including exertional onset, sub
sternal location and radiation to his arm. Initial evaluation is very
important to assess and determine the acuity and severity of clinical
presentation and to guide proper selection of the therapeutic modalities
and additional diagnostic.
2) Define the disease and what are the most common causes of
this disease likely in the patient?
Angina cannot be regarded as a disease but is a symptom of
coronary artery disease among human beings. Patients suffering from
typical angina suffer from sub sternal chest discomfort along with some
characteristic of oppressive quality like pressure or heaviness (Radico et
al., 2014). It results in tightness, discomfort or pain in the patient’s chest
that takes place when an areas of the heart muscle gains less blood

2INTRODUCTION TO DISEASE
oxygen than usual. The common causes of angina include reduction in
blood flow to the hurt muscle. Blood carries oxygen that the heart muscle
requires to survive. When the heart muscle stops getting enough oxygen,
it causes the condition called ischemia. This results in reduction in the
blood flow to the heart muscle and this result in coronary artery disease
(CAD).
3) Are there any risk factors for the disease? If yes, then write
down the common risk factors of the disease?
It is to mention that the patients with an increased risk of Coronary
Artery Disease (CAD) have many risk factors. The potential risk factors for
this disease are weighted along with the history, examination and the ECG
(Electrocardiogram). The major Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) risk
factors can be comprised of unhealthy levels of cholesterol, high blood
pressure, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, smoking tobacco, being over
years old, sedentary lifestyle of the patient, having a family history in
heart related diseases, being obese or over weight.
4) What lifestyle changes could make a difference for this
patient?
Regardless of the angina treatment he chooses to go for, the doctor
would always recommend him to make changes in his present lifestyle
with a heart-healthy lifestyle. It is to note that Angina could be easily
prevented by means of changing the lifestyle factors and by means of
treating related conditions that can aid and exacerbate to the angina
symptoms (Gravel et al., 2015). For preventing and delaying the condition

3INTRODUCTION TO DISEASE
of angina, the patient must always eat healthy food, quit smoking, be
physically active and must learn how to handle their stress levels.
Furthermore, they should also ensure that they are also receiving proper
treatment for their increased blood cholesterol levels, obesity issue and
that of diabetes. The patients must have healthy diet that consists of very
limited amount of saturated fat, salt, sugar and Trans fat content (Weber
et al., 2015). Furthermore, the patient must start having safe exercise
plan. He must also avoid having stress. However, avoiding stress is easier
said than done. Therefore, he at this age must find out for ways to be
relaxed. He must talk with his doctor regarding some stress-reduction
techniques.
5) Discuss the public health approaches in reducing and in the
prevention of the health problem.
The public health approaches can help in reducing of the development of angina
among the people. Some of the effective public health approaches can be the reduction in salt
in the processed foods and bread that majority of people consume on a daily basis and
labeling the content of the processed food (Rabar et al., 2014). Reducing salt content in
processed foods is likely to prevent the consumption of salt among the human beings as they
would themselves be conscious about not adding salt on the same. With the same, labeling
will help them to determine the suitability of food for their health condition. If a person wants
to prevent the occurrence of angina, he or she will be conscious enough to read the
ingredients added in the processed food and will read it in the label and buy. These two
public health approaches should be taken into consideration by the food industry widely.

4INTRODUCTION TO DISEASE
References:
Gravel, A., Dubuc, I., Morissette, G., Sedlak, R. H., Jerome, K. R., & Flamand, L. (2015).
Inherited chromosomally integrated human herpesvirus 6 as a predisposing risk factor
for the development of angina pectoris. Proceedings of the National Academy of
Sciences, 112(26), 8058-8063.
Kline, J. A., Shapiro, N. I., Jones, A. E., Hernandez, J., Hogg, M. M., Troyer, J., & Nelson,
R. D. (2014). Outcomes and radiation exposure of emergency department patients
with chest pain and shortness of breath and ultralow pretest probability: a multicenter
study. Annals of emergency medicine, 63(3), 281-288.
Rabar, S., Harker, M., O’Flynn, N., & Wierzbicki, A. S. (2014). Lipid modification and
cardiovascular risk assessment for the primary and secondary prevention of
cardiovascular disease: summary of updated NICE guidance. Bmj, 349, g4356.
Radico, F., Cicchitti, V., Zimarino, M., & De Caterina, R. (2014). Angina pectoris and
myocardial ischemia in the absence of obstructive coronary artery disease: practical

5INTRODUCTION TO DISEASE
considerations for diagnostic tests. JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions, 7(5), 453-
463.
Weber, B., Bersch-Ferreira, Â. C., Torreglosa, C. R., Ross-Fernandes, M. B., da Silva, J. T.,
Galante, A. P., ... & Moriguchi, E. H. (2016). The Brazilian Cardioprotective
Nutritional Program to reduce events and risk factors in secondary prevention for
cardiovascular disease: study protocol (The BALANCE Program Trial). American
heart journal, 171(1), 73-81.