Essay on "Cardiac Function"

Essay 4 pages (1259 words) Sources: 4

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Exercises: (10 Points Each)

How do heart rate, preload, afterload, and contractility affect cardiac output and cardiac workload?

Heart rate is how fast the heart is working. Preload and afterload is how much blood ingests and ejects while pumping and contractility is the ability of the heart to act as a pump. If any of those is compromised or significantly altered, it can cause cardiac output to be compromised and cardiac workload to rise to abnormal heights. The heart working too hard and/or inefficiently can obviously lead to problems.

How do the clinical features of the coronary heart disease syndromes differ?

They can differ based on what precise symptoms are realized, what time frame in which symptoms become apparent. Symptoms can build up over time or they may present themselves in a very sudden fashion up to and including immediate death.

How do valvular disorders alter cardiac pressure dynamics and workload?

A valvular problem can lead to the heart working harder to accomplish the same workload and this can lead to the heart wearing down or becoming damaged. Valvular issues can also cause cardiac pressure to spike and this wreaks havoc as well.

4. How do the compensatory responses triggered in CHF work to restore cardiac output?

The sympathetic nervous system kicks in and this leads to improved contractility in the heart. The kidney retains sodium and water at the kidney and this increases blood volume and preload. Angiotensin II is also activated and this shunts blood to vital organs.

5. What is the clinical significance, characteristic electrocardiographic features, and usual treatment of each of the common cardiac dysrhythmias?

Atrial fibrillation is usually treated using either drugs, abalation or surgery. Atrial flutter is usually treated with only ablation. Supraventricular tachycardia are hard to control with medication so ablation is usually done. Ventricular fibrillation usually has to be treated with a defibrillator. Ventricular tachycardia is usually treated with a combination of medication, a defibrillator and/or ablation.

Professional Development (20 points each)

From the Brashers textbook, please complete the following case studies:

1. Chapter 1: Hypertension

Question 1

It should be asked if there is a family history of hypertension, heart disease or stroke. The patient should be asked for certain to confirm that no symptoms like dizziness, blurred vision, shortness of breath, swelling, pale skin, etc. are present. The patient should be asked to confirm any prior surgeries, disorders, or sicknesses.

Question 2

The patient should be asked if they smoke cigarettes at all, use any form of recreational drugs or drink, especially to excess on any of those three items. The patient should be asked if there have been any weight gains over the recent past. The patient should again confirm whether and what other symptoms may be present. The patient might be obscuring the truth and may be in denial that something is quite possibly wrong.

Question 3

If the total cholesterol figure is accurate, it is on the high side and it is extremely likely that bad cholesterol (LDL) is on the high side. Regardless, the total cholesterol and ratio of good to bad should be checked. The patient drinks a little more than he probably should be and needs to drop it down or cut it out entirely. The patient is obese and his weight is trending upward. Both of those facts are indicative of problems.

Question 4

Positive signs include a good pulse, the patient is not in obvious distress and breathing capacity seems to be solid. Bad signs include blood pressure being very high despite the patient being at rest and the patient is overweight.

Question 5

There are no obviously acute symptoms in play but the patient needs to make some major lifestyle changes immediately. This is especially true given the medical history… READ MORE

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