QUESTION 1

Rashidah is a 55-year-old female who is experiencing acute chest pain and shortness of breath. She describes the pain as “pressure and squeezing.” When she becomes nauseous and light-headed, her son insists that he take her to the emergency room.

Health History: She started smoking when she was 18, attempted to quit several times in her 40s, and had her last cigarette on her 50th birthday. She has been overweight for most of her adult life, but has gained 20 pounds in the last few years, which increased her BMI to 34. The last time she had a physical exam was when she turned 50. Her vital signs and blood test results from that exam are listed below.

BP: 178/90

HDL: 62 mg/dl

LDL: 190 mg/dl

Triglycerides: 174 mg/dl

Total cholesterol: 252 mg/dl

Fasting blood glucose: 128 mg/dl

Which of these statements is most likely correct?

Rashidah is experiencing a stroke.

If Rashidah’s symptoms persist even when she rests, she is experiencing angina.

Rashidah is likely experiencing a myocardial infarction.

Since Rashidah’s symptoms are acute, she is likely suffering from a respiratory disorder.

QUESTION 2

In the emergency room, multiple tests are performed. Which of these results would confirm myocardial damage?

Decrease myoglobin

Elevated troponin and creatine kinase

Elevated blood glucose levels

Increase in WBC count

BSC2347 Module 2 Case Study Assignment QUESTION 3

Which of Rashidah’s physical exam lab test results was within normal limits for her age and sex?

HDL

LDL

Total cholesterol

Fasting blood glucose

QUESTION 4

Given her last physical exam results, Rashidah’s physician believes she has likely had undiagnosed atherosclerosis for years. Briefly describe the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis.

QUESTION 5

Rashidah’s most recent Body Mass Index indicates that she is:

Underweight

Healthy

Overweight

Obese

QUESTION 6

Which of the following statements is true?

Rashidah’s lab results and history tell us that she has Metabolic Syndrome.

Rashidah’s heart attack was likely caused by a pulmonary embolism.

Rashidah’s heart attack was likely unrelated to her history of smoking.

Rashidah’s risk of a repeat heart attack is very low.

QUESTION 7

A coronary angiography is performed and shows a complete blockage of the LAD. Briefly describe what this means.

QUESTION 8

Which of the following treatments would help correct Rashidah’s condition?

Surgical placement of a stent in the left descending artery

Surgical repair of her aorta

Mitral valve replacement

Vitamin K supplementation

QUESTION 9

Rashidah quit smoking 5 years ago, but still suffered a myocardial infarction. She is tempted to start smoking again since quitting “obviously didn’t make me healthier.” What does research tell us about her future health risks if she resumes smoking?

QUESTION 10

Before Rashidah is discharged from the hospital, her care team informs her that she may experience stable angina, a form of chest pain, in the future. Briefly explain how angina is different from the pain associated with a myocardial infarction.

QUESTION 11

Roberto is a 78-year-old male who has recently been diagnosed with Class III Congestive Heart Failure (CHF). His physician told him that his left ventricle has become stiff and cannot relax. Although there is no current treatment that can “fix” Roberto’s condition, he is prescribed two medications- an ACE inhibitor and beta blockers.

There are multiple types of CHF. Which of these types does Roberto have?

Systolic heart failure

Diastolic heart failure

Right-sided heart failure

None of these choices is correct.

QUESTION 12

Which of these statements is most likely true of Roberto’s current symptoms?

He doesn’t experience any symptoms at all at rest or during exercise.

He has no symptoms at all during rest, but experiences palpitations, fatigues, and shortness of breath during mild exercise.

He experiences fatigue, shortness of breath, and palpitations at rest and is not able to participate in any physical activity.

QUESTION 13

Because of the dysfunction of Roberto’s left ventricle, which of these findings is most likely?

Decreased cardiac output

End-diastolic volume is increased significantly

Decreased diastolic pressure in the left ventricle

Increase in stroke volume

QUESTION 14

Briefly describe how beta-blockers will influence Roberto’s heart function, specifically the physiology of the ventricles.

QUESTION 15

Briefly describe how ACE-inhibitors will influence Roberto’s heart function.

QUESTION 16

Roberto’s doctor orders several tests of his heart function, including “ejection fraction.” Briefly explain what an ejection fraction measures. (Include what a normal measurement would be.)

QUESTION 17

Which of the following conditions may have led to Roberto’s CHF?

Faulty heart valves

Hypertension

Myocarditis

Prior heart attacks

All of these choices are correct.

QUESTION 18

Which of the following choices is NOT a risk factor for developing CHF?

Sleep apnea

Obesity

Heart arrhythmias

History of leukemia

QUESTION 19

Which heart valve opens to allow blood to leave the left ventricle?

Mitral valve

Tricuspid valve

Pulmonary valve

Aortic valve

QUESTION 20

Further testing reveals that Roberto has hypertrophy of the left ventricle. How does this finding relate to his diagnosis? BSC2347 Module 2 Case Study Assignment

 

MORE INFO 

Acute chest pain and shortness of breath

Introduction

Acute chest pain and shortness of breath can be caused by many different heart conditions and other diseases outside of the heart.

Acute chest pain and shortness of breath

Chest pain can be a symptom of many different heart conditions. It’s important to remember that chest pain is not always caused by a heart attack, since it can also occur with other forms of heart disease. A blockage in the blood supply to your heart muscle could cause acute chest pain and shortness of breath, as well as other symptoms such as nausea and sweating.

If you’re experiencing sudden symptoms like these, don’t hesitate to seek medical help right away! Many people are unaware they’ve been having an actual heart attack until they have time to reflect upon what happened; if you feel anything like this happening now or anytime soon after having taken this quiz (or any quiz or test), call 911 immediately!

The cardiovascular system is the body’s mass transport system.

The cardiovascular system is the body’s mass transport system. The heart and blood vessels carry blood throughout the body, supplying all organs with oxygen and nutrients. In addition to pumping oxygenated blood through your body, your heart also pumps deoxygenated (anaerobic) or unoxygenated (anaerobic) waste products from one side of your body to another.

The heart is made up of four chambers: atria (left side), ventricles (right side), superior vena cava that brings deoxygenated venous return from upper limbs-heart chambers into right atrium via septum primum ; septum secundum attaches left atrium to ventricle ; tricuspid valve located between both sides of each chamber prevents backflow when pressure rises during systole

Within this system, there are many subsystems that must function in harmony.

The cardiovascular system is the body’s network of blood vessels that transports oxygenated blood to all parts of the body. It includes arteries, veins and capillaries.

The heart’s chambers are separated by valves that prevent backflow when they fill with blood while pumping out their contents into other vessels nearby. The mechanical force of contraction moves this fluid through different pathways depending on its needs (such as returning it to the lungs).

Many heart diseases that can cause acute chest pain and shortness of breath.

Acute chest pain and shortness of breath are often caused by heart problems. Heart attacks, MI (myocardial infarction), coronary artery disease, pulmonary embolism (PE) and valvular heart disease can all occur with acute chest pain and shortness of breath.

• Heart attack: This occurs when your heart muscle becomes damaged due to a lack of blood flow or an abnormal blockage in the arteries that supply blood to your heart muscle. The most common cause is atherosclerosis—the buildup on walls inside arteries due to fat deposits—but other conditions also can lead to a clotting process that damages the outer wall of an artery.* Myocardial infarction: When this happens at least one large section(s) within an organ (for example your left ventricle) stops working properly causing damage both inside & outside its boundaries.* Coronary artery disease: This condition causes fatty plaque build up inside arteries leading from larger blood vessels into smaller ones leading towards capillaries which supply oxygenated blood throughout our body including our muscles.* Pulmonary embolism: Blood clots break loose from veins into narrow spaces called vasa vasorum which leads directly into pulmonary capillaries causing blockages requiring immediate medical attention for treatment purposes such as oxygen therapy

Obstructions in the blood supply to the heart muscle can result in a heart attack or myocardial infarction (MI).

Obstructions in the blood supply to the heart muscle can result in a heart attack or myocardial infarction (MI). These types of obstruction include atherosclerosis, thromboembolus, valvular disease and cardiac tumors.

Atherosclerosis is a type of plaque that builds up in the arteries, narrowing them and causing them to lose their flexibility. If this process occurs over time without treatment it can lead to serious health problems like coronary artery disease (CAD) or peripheral vascular disease (PVD).

Obstructed blood flow due to blocked arteries is associated with atherosclerosis.

Atherosclerosis is a disease where plaque builds up in the arteries. The plaque is made of cholesterol and other substances that can harden, causing it to narrow or block blood flow. This can lead to heart attacks and strokes, among other problems.

Atherosclerosis can also cause chest pain and shortness of breath

Other causes of obstruction include thromboembolus from valvular disease and cardiac tumors.

• Valvular disease can cause obstruction. Valves in the heart are normally closed, but when they’re open, blood flows into the lungs and out of the body. If your valve isn’t working properly, though, it doesn’t close completely and blood keeps flowing back into your heart. This causes pulmonary edema—a condition where fluid builds up in your lungs (pulmonary edema).

• Cardiac tumors can also cause obstruction. Tumors aren’t generally dangerous unless they grow very large or metastasize (spread) to other parts of your body.[1] However, some types can grow very quickly; these are known as malignant tumors.[2] If a malignant tumor causes an obstruction between two valves or between three different valves in one area along their course through vital organs like the brainstem or heart muscle wall , this might lead to several symptoms including shortness of breath which may be followed by chest pain if there is no other reason for this symptom being present at all!

Diseases such as hypertension also contribute to atherosclerosis and aneurysms.

Hypertension is a major risk factor for atherosclerosis and aneurysms. Aneurysms are bulging blood vessels in your brain, heart and other organs that can lead to hemorrhaging.

Hypertension also causes atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) in the brain, heart and other organs through a process called oxidative stress. Oxidative stress occurs when there’s too much free radicals present in your body—these are highly reactive molecules that damage cell membranes and cause inflammation. Free radicals can damage many parts of our bodies over time, including our blood vessels as well as other tissues such as muscles or joints if they get damaged by free radicals too often!

Disorders outside the heart can also affect the cardiovascular system, including infections, kidney failure, lung diseases and cancers.

The heart is just one of many organs that can be affected by disorders outside the heart. Disorders outside the heart can also affect the cardiovascular system, including infections, kidney failure, lung diseases and cancers. Other conditions that can affect your heart include:

• Heart attack (myocardial infarction) – A sudden blockage of blood flow to part or all of your heart muscle that causes chest pain and shortness of breath. This type of attack usually occurs when blood clots form in one or more coronary arteries during a stressful event such as exercise or emotional upset. You may have warning signs before having a myocardial infarction (such as chest pain), but they’re often subtle and short-lived; they may disappear before you notice them yourself.

• Coronary artery disease – A condition caused by narrowing (atherosclerosis)of coronary arteries due to deposits called plaques that build up over time due to high cholesterol levels in your bloodstream; these plaques can rupture and cause aneurysms – sections with weak walls – which eventually cause blockages in other parts

of those same arteries behind them leading up towards their destinations on either side

Some people may have cardiomyopathy in which the heart muscle weakens either directly or due to side effects of a medication.

Cardiomyopathy is a disease that weakens the heart muscle, either directly or due to side effects of a medication. It can be caused by alcohol abuse and viral infections.

Cardiomyopathy is often related to alcoholic cardiomyopathy and viral myocarditis (an inflammation of the heart muscle).

The most common type of cardiomyopathy is dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), which is often related to alcohol abuse and viral infections.

The most common type of cardiomyopathy is dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), which is often related to alcohol abuse and viral infections. It can also be caused by other factors as well, such as heart valves that become damaged or diseased.

The signs and symptoms of DCM include:

• Shortness of breath

• Fatigue or exhaustion

• Inability to exercise regularly

Acute chest pain and shortness of breath can be caused by many different heart conditions and other diseases outside of the heart.

Acute chest pain and shortness of breath can be caused by many different heart conditions and other diseases outside of the heart. There are several causes that can lead to this problem, including:

• Cardiovascular system problems, such as coronary artery disease (CAD) or blood clotting disorders.

• Heart disease, which is a condition that affects how your heart works. When this happens, it may not pump blood properly throughout your body or send it out at an incorrect rate. This can cause angina pain and sudden attacks in people with no apparent reason for them; other symptoms include shortness of breath and fatigue after exertion or stress.* Blood flow issues due to atherosclerosis (hardening) in arteries leading from arteries supplying oxygen-rich blood into smaller ones carrying less oxygenated blood away from where you need it most — like toward your brain! High cholesterol levels increase risk even more because high cholesterol leads directly toward plaque build up on walls surrounding these smaller vessels while also increasing inflammation over time which further contributes towards increased risk factors including heart attack/stroke.”

Conclusion

Acute chest pain and shortness of breath can be caused by many different heart conditions and other diseases outside of the heart. When your doctor suspects an underlying cause, they will ask questions about your symptoms and medical history. They may use imaging tests such as EKG and X-ray to determine whether there is a blockage in one or more arteries leading to the heart or other organs. If these tests are positive, they may order additional tests to confirm their diagnosis including an electrocardiogram (ECG) or stress test using echocardiography (echocardiography). If you have any of these symptoms, it’s important that you contact a doctor immediately so that they can take appropriate action before things get worse!