Unit 4 Captone Project: Coronary Artery Disease
Number One Preventable Killer
Heather Doyle
HS200-38XOBL
Unit 4 Capstone Project: Coronary Artery Disease
Kaplan University
04/17/2014
Eric is a 47-year-old male who has just been diagnosed with Coronary Artery Disease. He is a construction worker and spends a great deal of time away from his wife and three children. Eric smokes approximately 1 1⁄2 packs of cigarettes a day and enjoys drinking a 6-pack after a long day at work.
Coronary artery disease is the condition of the narrowing of the arteries that supply oxygen and blood to the myocardium (heart muscle). The narrowing is caused by a substance called plaque, which contains deposits of fat that cause blockages within the arteries. The blocked arteries then become hardened (atherosclerosis) and narrow, not allowing adequate …show more content…
blood flow to the heart. Most of the time a patient will exhibit some symptoms which include:
Shortness of breath
Heart failure
Abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia)
Heart attack
Angina- a squeezing pressure caused by a decreased blood oxygen supply to the heart. These symptoms are felt across/within the thoracic cavity; which can also manifest as:
Heaviness
Tightening
Burning
Aching
(American Heart Association [AHA], 2006; Mayo Foundation, 2014; Nordqvist, 2013; Frazier, 2009).
.
Coronary artery disease, in most cases, is preventable. It is necessary to determine whether you are at risk of the disease. There are various factors that can indicate if you are at risk, including:
Smoking
Obesity
High cholesterol
Diabetes
Over age 40
Physical restrictions/inactivity
High blood pressure
Genetic predisposition to high stress
Other risk factors should be discussed with your doctor; such as sleep apnea, or if you are currently taking medications designed for clotting blood or have blood clotting effects. As you age, the risk becomes greater. Women are at greater risk once they have reached menopause. Men are generally at a higher risk, so precautions should be taken. For men who smoke, the risks of developing CAD increase by three times that of a non-smoker. Once you or your doctor has determined if you are at risk, tests may be needed to check for any complications or abnormalities. (American Heart Association [AHA], 2006; Mayo Foundation, 2014; Nordqvist, 2013; Frazier, & Drzymkowsi, 2009)
Coronary artery disease affects one’s body in many ways.
It deprives the heart, brain, and circulatory system. If the arteries to the heart are narrowed or blocked, it doesn’t allow adequate blood flow to the organ. The heart then is not able to pump enough blood to other vital organs. Coronary artery disease can cause other life-threatening conditions such as:
Aneurysm- caused by an occlusion, rupture or hemorrhage (Due to a buildup of pressure) in the aorta
Peripheral vascular disease – gangrene and amputation could result due to the diminished blood supply to the legs via the iliac arteries.
Ischemic heart disease (Angina Pectoris)– occlusion in the coronary arteries
Myocardial infarction (heart attack) – death of myocardial tissue caused by the inefficient blood supply.
Transient ischemic attack (affects the neurological function of the brain) – impaired neurologic function due to inadequate blood flow to parts of the brain.
Cerebrovascular accident (CVA) – also known as a stroke, occurs when the brain is damaged by the lack of blood flow, or can be caused by bleeding inside the head.
(Frazier, & Drzymkowsi,
2009)
References
American Heart Association, (2006). Coronary Artery Disease. Retrieved from http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/More/MyHeartandStrokeNews/Coronary-Artery-Disease---Coronary-Heart-Disease_UCM_436416_Article.jsp Frazier, M. S., & Drzymkowsi, J. W. (2009) Essentials of human disease and conditions (4th ed.). St. Louis, Mo.: Saunders/Elsevier
Mayo Clinic, (2014). Coronary Artery Disease. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronary-artery-disease/basics/definition/con-20032038
Nordqvist, C. (2013). What is coronary heart disease? Retrieved from
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/184130.php
Heather Doyle
HS200-38XOBL
Unit 4 Capstone Project: Coronary Artery Disease
Kaplan University
04/17/2014
Eric is a 47-year-old male who has just been diagnosed with Coronary Artery Disease. He is a construction worker and spends a great deal of time away from his wife and three children. Eric smokes approximately 1 1⁄2 packs of cigarettes a day and enjoys drinking a 6-pack after a long day at work.
Coronary artery disease is the condition of the narrowing of the arteries that supply oxygen and blood to the myocardium (heart muscle). The narrowing is caused by a substance called plaque, which contains deposits of fat that cause blockages within the arteries. The blocked arteries then become hardened (atherosclerosis) and narrow, not allowing adequate …show more content…
blood flow to the heart. Most of the time a patient will exhibit some symptoms which include:
Shortness of breath
Heart failure
Abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia)
Heart attack
Angina- a squeezing pressure caused by a decreased blood oxygen supply to the heart. These symptoms are felt across/within the thoracic cavity; which can also manifest as:
Heaviness
Tightening
Burning
Aching
(American Heart Association [AHA], 2006; Mayo Foundation, 2014; Nordqvist, 2013; Frazier, 2009).
.
Coronary artery disease, in most cases, is preventable. It is necessary to determine whether you are at risk of the disease. There are various factors that can indicate if you are at risk, including:
Smoking
Obesity
High cholesterol
Diabetes
Over age 40
Physical restrictions/inactivity
High blood pressure
Genetic predisposition to high stress
Other risk factors should be discussed with your doctor; such as sleep apnea, or if you are currently taking medications designed for clotting blood or have blood clotting effects. As you age, the risk becomes greater. Women are at greater risk once they have reached menopause. Men are generally at a higher risk, so precautions should be taken. For men who smoke, the risks of developing CAD increase by three times that of a non-smoker. Once you or your doctor has determined if you are at risk, tests may be needed to check for any complications or abnormalities. (American Heart Association [AHA], 2006; Mayo Foundation, 2014; Nordqvist, 2013; Frazier, & Drzymkowsi, 2009)
Coronary artery disease affects one’s body in many ways.
It deprives the heart, brain, and circulatory system. If the arteries to the heart are narrowed or blocked, it doesn’t allow adequate blood flow to the organ. The heart then is not able to pump enough blood to other vital organs. Coronary artery disease can cause other life-threatening conditions such as:
Aneurysm- caused by an occlusion, rupture or hemorrhage (Due to a buildup of pressure) in the aorta
Peripheral vascular disease – gangrene and amputation could result due to the diminished blood supply to the legs via the iliac arteries.
Ischemic heart disease (Angina Pectoris)– occlusion in the coronary arteries
Myocardial infarction (heart attack) – death of myocardial tissue caused by the inefficient blood supply.
Transient ischemic attack (affects the neurological function of the brain) – impaired neurologic function due to inadequate blood flow to parts of the brain.
Cerebrovascular accident (CVA) – also known as a stroke, occurs when the brain is damaged by the lack of blood flow, or can be caused by bleeding inside the head.
(Frazier, & Drzymkowsi,
2009)
References
American Heart Association, (2006). Coronary Artery Disease. Retrieved from http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/More/MyHeartandStrokeNews/Coronary-Artery-Disease---Coronary-Heart-Disease_UCM_436416_Article.jsp Frazier, M. S., & Drzymkowsi, J. W. (2009) Essentials of human disease and conditions (4th ed.). St. Louis, Mo.: Saunders/Elsevier
Mayo Clinic, (2014). Coronary Artery Disease. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronary-artery-disease/basics/definition/con-20032038
Nordqvist, C. (2013). What is coronary heart disease? Retrieved from
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/184130.php