Essays on Shortness

Pathophysiology of Rheumatic Fever

Introduction Rheumatic Fever (RF) is the type of inflammatory disease that can develop due to untreated or inadequately treated throat infection (scarlet fever or strep throat) caused by a type of bacteria known as streptococcus (Carapetis, McDonald & Wilson, 2005). This paper is going to cover pathophysiology of the Rheumatic Fever. It will begin with the symptoms associated with RF. A description of mechanisms or processes that take place in a person infected with RF will be described. This will be followed by a discussion of the causes of RF. There is a section dedicated to the pathophysiology of RF ...

Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation is the most encountered cardiac rhythm disorder in clinical practice. It affects <1% of persons aged <60 years. This prevalence increases to 10% in persons aged >80 years (Amerena, Walters, Mirzaee and Kalman, 2013). Atrial fibrillation is a key differential diagnosis in patients presenting with chest pain, palpitations, shortness of breath, light-headedness, and syncope (Cruickshank, 2008). This paper will examine the differential diagnosis, pathophysiology, and paramedic implications of atrial fibrillation in relation to the case of a 43-year old male who presents with features and ECG findings of atrial fibrillation. It will first examine ...

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Health History and Physical Examination

A 50 years old American Male comes to the hospital with angina-like symptoms. Subjective Data Demographic data: There exists a risk of cardiovascular ailments or malfunctioning. The patient is an IT professional with long sitting schedules.

Reason for care: The patient was admitted to the emergency ward due to the severity of the pain 6 days back.

Present illness: Currently facing chest congestion with breath shortness and exertion, with heavy perspiration, recommended cardiac catheterization. Perception of health: Patient is an educated, independent and sincere individual who thinks that he is healthy and with several precautions he will overcome the current situation. He is little worried about his excessive ...

Abstract

Heart failure (2.6% prevalent worldwide) is a complex clinical syndrome, resulting from a structural or functional cardiac disorder and impairing ventricular filling or ejection capability. The current case of a 59-year-old male patient admitted on August 18, 2016 due to worsening shortness of breath and bilateral left extremity edema (one week) involved an existing diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2). Physical and clinical profiles indicate a comorbidity between heart failure (HF) and DM2. Laboratory and imaging findings were not indicated, while diagnosis was based on the NYHA Classification guidelines. A review of literature revealed three crucial weaknesses in the diagnosis. ...

COPD is a medical condition that is characterized by alteration in lung parenchyma, bronchitis, emphysema and narrowing of the respiratory passages. It occurs as a consequence to chronic inflammation reaction involving the respiratory tract. The mucous secretion and fibrosis associated with chronic inflammation, can cause blockage and narrowing of the airway. Bronchitis refers to inflammation of the inner lining of the lung, while, emphysema is a clinical condition that occurs following the long term destruction of lung parenchyma. Bronchitis and emphysema are both characteristic features of COPD. Destruction of lung parenchyma causes loss of alveolar attachment and decreases the ...

[Author Name] [Author Affiliation] [Author’s notes with more information about affiliations, financial obligations, conflicts of interest and how to contact] It has been estimated that 26 million Americans suffer from asthma symptoms, attributing to the majority of work- and school-related absences across the country (ACAAI, 2014). The American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology defines asthma as, “a chronic lung disease that inflames and narrows the airways in the lungs” (ACAAI, 20014). This causes difficulty in breathing, termed asthma, and may lead to life-threatening consequences. The lungs allow air in and out by a network of airways, called ...

M.K is a female, 45 years old with 5.5” height and 225 lbs. weight and has a history of smoking for 22 years and poor diet. The history of Type II diabetes mellitus and primary hypertension is also observed with the recent diagnosis of chronic bronchitis. She has been observed with chronic cough with sputum, light headedness, excessive peripheral edema, distended neck veins and increased urination during the night. She has been using the medications comprising of Lotensin and Lasix to treat hypertension and Glucophage for diabetes mellitus.

Vitals and Lab Results

The patient is observed chronic cough with sputum and the cough ...

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Heart is one of the most important part of the body. It performs many vital functions that are essential for life. Without the functioning of heart there is no life. Heart is also considered as the pumping organ of the body. The main function of heart is to pump the blood throughout the body ("The Heart (Human Anatomy): Picture, Definition, Location In The Body, And Heart Problems"). Inside the body blood is considered as the most important mean of transport of oxygen ...

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Asthma is a disease affecting the lungs. Because of asthma the lung tissues become inflamed and narrowed, and this influences the breathing process of the patient. They feel chest tightness, shortness of breath, wheezing and coughing at night or at early morning. Usually the symptoms of chronic asthma are being observed from childhood, but the disease can affect all age groups and reveal itself in adulthood as well. Asthma is a long-term disease. In most of the cases the inflamed airways react to a specific allergen coming from the environment such as pollen, dust or smoke. In order to ...

After analysing the details of Robert Reid from the case study, it is evident that some of the his risk factors for Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) and Hypertension include the fact that he is male, old age, has a family history of CHD and he is African-American. The other factors that predispose him to CHD and hypertension that he can control include obesity, long periods of physical inactivity, unhealthy eating habits and the low levels of High Density Lipoproteins (HDL) and high levels of Low density Lipoproteins (LDL) (Pedersen et al. p.1383). Complications that could result from the latter ...

Introduction

Doctors, nurses, and other medical personnel have a series of duties that they must attend to, and one of them is dealing with patients’ medical grievances. Many of these complaints are quite common, ranging from the mundane to life-threatening. However, it is the job of these medical personnel to pay attention to these complaints, as these are the symptoms and underlying causes of the true medical condition of the patient. Knowing what these complaints mean will prove to be useful in a patient’s diagnosis. In some cases, this can mean the difference between life and death because some ...

Understanding the concept of Heart Failure

Heart failure (HF) can be defined as a condition wherein the heart fails to pump sufficient blood to the body at the appropriate pressure. In other heart failure cases, the heart is unable to fill enough blood or the heart is unable to pump sufficient blood to other parts of the body with the desired force. Most heart failure patients suffer from both problems. Heart failure is misunderstood as the heart stops working or is about to stop working. However, it is not true but a serious condition that require immediate care (Grossman, S.C & Porth, CM 2014).

Overview

The process ...

The case study enclosed the treatment of a 34-year-old Hispanic woman of average weight and height. She was admitted with an apparent case of influenza and had trouble breathing. Her history of disease included asthma, high blood cholesterol, diabetes mellitus type 2, hypertension associated with diabetes and morbid obesity which ran in the family. However, she had not smoked or taken drugs ever and also did not consume alcohol. Being single, without children, she was sexually active yet did not take any kind of birth control or protection. She presented with a case of a dry cough since 2 ...

Cardiovascular diseases are the illnesses of heart and blood vessels (arteries and veins) (World Health Organization). In fact, there are many different diseases of the cardiovascular system, but I would like to highlight the most common.

Arrhythmia

Arrhythmia is a condition in which the frequency, rhythm and sequence of heart contractions are violated. The symptoms occur because of various congenital anomalies, acquired diseases of the cardiovascular system, as well as under the influence of vegetative, hormonal or electrolyte disturbances and as a result of the adverse drug action. Violated heartbeat, weakness and fainting are frequent companions of arrhythmia. The diagnosis ...

What nursing interventions are appropriate for Mrs. J. at the time of her admission? Drug therapy is started for Mrs. J. to control her symptoms. What is the rationale for the administration of each of the following medications? 1.IV furosemide (Lasix) 2.Enalapril (Vasotec) 3.Metoprolol (Lopressor) 4.IV morphine sulphate (Morphine) Lasix is used to reduce fluid retention that occurs as a side effect of heart failure. It is additionally used to treat hypertension and lessen effect such as the shortness of breath, swelling of limbs and the abdomen. It is used as an IV to treat the immediate consequences of ...

First Shift (4/7) - 8am to 4pm

I started at C-MED and then I moved to dispatcher and call taker. Basically, C-MED controls the ambulances and ER, and connects them in one line. During my shift, I observed that sixteen ambulances were directed to the Bay State Hospital, four ambulances to the Mercy Hospital, and just one call was directed to the Holyoke Hospital. Two hours later, I moved to dispatcher and using a headphone listened to how the dispatcher contacts the EMS crew. I observed how the dispatcher balanced ALS and BLS in the city, and sent ambulances to the scene. Also, I observed whether ...

Mary is a 51-years old female who has been a bookkeeper for the large part of her lifetime. In her childhood days, Mary had a weak chest in her childhood, but these problems have significantly reduced in her adulthood save for occasional colds during the cold season. Mary admits that she thinks that she would experience some wheeziness in case she participated in exercise, but she has had a sedentary lifestyle and thus there was no cause for worry with her asthma (British Thoracic Society, 2015). Mary’s symptoms over the last five years have increased gradually even amidst ...

Obesity is an accumulation of fat in the body which leads to the appearance of overweight. This fat is stored in the fat depots of the body – in subcutaneous adipose tissue in and around the internal organs of human body. Modern science explains the emergence of obesity as follows: if the energy coming into the body with food is more than is consumed by the body, such energy which is in excess is converted into fat. In developed societies, the main causes of obesity are overeating and a sedentary lifestyle. To put on extra weight is rather easy, but ...

What are three major causes of chronic bronchitis?

The three major causes of chronic bronchitis are cigarette smoking, long time exposure to air pollutants (such as industrial or chemical fumes), and inhalation of toxic gasses (Madell, 2016).

What are the major pathologic airway changes are associated with chronic bronchitis?

Chronic bronchitis is the condition affecting human beings that cause a continuous irritation and inflammation of the lining of the bronchial tube. Bronchial tubes are airways that carry air to and from the lungs. Exposure to cigarette smoke, air pollutants, or toxic chemicals causes a persistent cough that leads to the formation of excessive amounts of sticky mucus in the airways that result in inflammation and fibrosis. The mucus blocks ...

Coronary heart disease is a heart condition that results from the blockage of the coronary artery that supplies the heart with oxygen and other nutrients for nourishment. The blockage of the coronary artery is caused by a plaque that forms along the artery. Coronary heart disease starts to develop when cholesterol is deposited on the walls of the coronary artery and forms a plaque. With time, more cholesterol is deposited and the plaque grows bigger. Consequently, the artery gets inflamed and the risk of the formation of blood clot increases. The plaque may also release chemicals that promote the ...

In the event that a child is constantly having recurrent coughs, shortness of breath, wheezing sound during breathing and chest tightness, chances are that they have been affected by childhood asthma. Such children usually have less enthusiasm compared to other children and may avoid involving themselves in physical activities. The air passages and lungs when exposed to particular triggers like animal fur, pollen, dust and cold usually get inflamed thereby making it a challenge for air to pass through. The commonest symptoms of childhood asthma include shortness of breath, intermittent coughing, chest pains, and chest congestions. (Mayo Clinic, 2016) ...

PHYSICAL EXAM:

You will be expected to write up your response as follows: List of Differential Diagnoses [rank ordered] A. Congestive Heart Failure B. Angina C. Hypercholesterolemia D. Myocardial Infarction

E. Diabetes Mellitus

F. with Grade II diastolic heart failure.

G. Hypertriglyceridemia

H. GERD I.

J. Hypertension

Leading hypothesis : Congestive Heart Failure Active Alternative hypotheses Must not miss diagnoses [critical rule outs] Congestive Heart Failure Angina Hypertriglyceridemia Hypercholesterolemia Most common diagnoses [reasonable alternatives] GERD Hypertension Diabetes Mellitus Presumptive Diagnosis [assumption] Congestive Heart Failure

Treatment Plan

Non-pharmacologic / lifestyle interventions (provide rationale) • Modify Diet. - Advance to a low-sodium, low-cholesterol, low-fat, solid diet as tolerated R: to minimize metabolic demands ...