Angina Case Study Essay

The most common type of heart disease is called coronary artery disease. Coronary artery disease develops when the arteries narrow and become hard. The heart cannot receive all the blood it needs through the stiff narrow arteries. Symptoms include pressure and chest pain or squeezing in the chest which is also known as angina. Angina should be understood as a warning sign and that the sufferer is at an increased risk of a heart attack. When blood is blocked from getting to the heart for more than twenty minutes the result is a heart attack. The symptoms of a heart attack can be less dramatic than what television portrays. The Clutching of the chest and falling to the floor is not what women should expect. The common signs for women to look for are heartburn, loss of appetite, feeling tired or weak, shortness of breath, nausea, and pain in the back, neck or jaw. Women should not hesitate to call for help should they experience these symptoms. It is important that women do not let shame or embarrassment keep them from taking action to insure their safety.

Mr. XXXX is a 44 years old Caucasian male, a general construction worker who works on a nearby highway for the bridge project, and checked in this urgent care center for complaining of chest pain and shortness of breath (SOB). The chest pain is constant dull and pressure like pain, and started 3 hours ago. The pain is located on the center of chest. He rates the pain 4 out of 10 on a pain scale 0 to 10 while resting. The pain gets worse and increases after eating. He experienced increased chest pain and SOB with simple walking from the parking lot to this office. The pain was not resolved with taking PO 365mg of Aspirin 2 hours ago and resting. He was diagnosed with hyperlipedemia 10 years ago. He is taking medication to manage his high cholesterol level. He denies past history of chest pain, hypertension, and coronary artery disease. He denies any history of heart surgery or cardio artery bypass surgery. He is anxious and fearful for his first chest and SOB. He smokes a half pack a day for past 20 years. He drinks one bottle of bear every evening with meals. He denies taking any herbal medication or illicit drugs. He has been a good appetite. He reported 20 lbs weight gain since his retirement from military. He has an irregular meal time and does not exercise as much as he used to do in the military.

ECG: sinus tachycardia with waveform abnormalities consistent with LVH, Pronounced Q waves consistent with pulmonary edema.

The following summary is an updated case study of a 47 year old male patient, Jim who was diagnosed with Coronary Artery Disease. The patient did receive information on what CAD is and was informed that test were needed to fully diagnose and be evaluated for underlying conditions (high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol levels, diabetes and blockage. I will discuss the type of test needed for this condition and tests for any underlying conditions that are related to this disease. The type of treatment needed to control and lower his risk factor. I will also give the patient information about complementary and alternative medicine so the patient will be well informed about different types of treatment. The patient will be informed about the prognosis of the disease, and the options that the patient has to succeed in the changes in his lifestyle that are needed.

Physical Examination: General: The patient is an alert, oriented male appearing his stated age. He appears to be in moderate distress. Vital signs: blood pressure 132/78 and pulse 68 and regular. Temperature is 38.56 oC (101.4 oF). HEENT:Normocephalic, atraumatic. Pupils were equal, round, and reactive to light. Ears are clear. Throat is normal. Neck: The neck is supple with no carotid bruits. Lungs: The lungs are clear to auscultation and percussion. Heart: Regular rate and rhythm. Abdomen:Bowel sounds are normal. There is rebound tenderness with maximal discomfort on palpation in the right lower quadrant. Extremities: No clubbing, cyanosis, or edema.

You need to explain to him the s/s of blood clotting (since he may have too low an INR d/t treatment and he needs to know this). Explain that his a-fib puts him at risk for blood clots.

The right ventricle fills up  tricuspid valve closes  right ventricle contracts  pulmonary valve opens  the blood flows into the pulmonary artery  pulmonary valve closes  pulmonary artery splits into two vessels each going to the lungs.

Mr. Howard, a 57-year-old man, had a 3-month history of progressive typical anginal chest pain. He reported that the symptoms first occurred with heavy exertion and involved what he described as“heaviness” in his chest. The symptoms were promptly relieved with rest. Over the past weeks, he had been experiencing increasingly frequent episodes of chest pain and diaphoresis. The episodes had become more prolonged, and he had experienced one episode of pain occurring at rest after a heavy meal. Mr. Howard was moderately obese and had a 20-year history of hypertension, which was being treated. Other risk factors in Mr. Howard’s history include hypercholesterolemia (350 mg/dL), which he was attempting to treat with dietary modifications, and a 30-year two-pack-a-day smoking history which continued up to the present time. Mr. Howard previously had surgery for a bilateral inguinal hernia repair, cholecystectomy, and arthroscopic surgery on his left knew. He also gave a history of problems with gastric reflux and was currently taking cimetidine (Tagamet).

Coronary Artery Disease, also known as CAD, is the most common form of heart disease. (Heart and Stroke Foundation, 2009) Coronary Artery Disease obstructs the blood flow in vessels that provides blood to the heart which is caused by the buildup of plaque on the artery walls. (Rogers, 2011, p.87) (Heart and Stroke Foundation, 2009) Plaque is a yellow substance that consists of fat substances, like cholesterol, and narrows or clogs the arteries which prevents blood flow. (Heart and Stroke Foundation, 2009) Plaque can build up in any artery but usually favors large and medium sized arteries. (Heart and Stroke Foundation, 2009)

Mr. S is a 29-year-old male with past medical history of (PMH) hypertension (HTN) and obesity who presented to local emergency room (ER) with headache and chest and back pain. Mr. s had been seen at urgent care three days prior for a headache and near syncope and was told to hold his metoprolol due to bradycardia. Due to health insurance related problem, he has been off amlodipine and lisinopril for a month.

“The patient is Adam Rudd, a 78 y/o white male with a history of hypertension. He has been diagnosed with hypertension past 15 years and is on anti-hypertensive medications and aspirin. He is very weak and short of breath. He is accompanied with his longtime friend Jennifer, who reports that Rudd was looking very weak and was complaining of severe headache and blurred vision before coming to the hospital. He is 5’9” and weighs 270 lb. Vital signs recorded were: oral temperature 98.20 F, BP 224/120 mm Hg with a heart rate of 102 beats/minute and respiration of 24 breaths per minute. The pulse oximetry reading was 94% on room air. He is complaining of severe headache and blurred vision. Rudd said that he did not take his antihypertensive medication or aspirin since he ran out of pills. He has not been taking his medication for past 15 days. He reports no known allergies to any medications or other substances.”

Angina is associated with clinical events that can affect prognosis, for example Von Arnim et al

     In today’s society, people are gaining medical knowledge at quite a fast pace. Treatments, cures, and vaccines for various diseases and disorders are being developed constantly, and yet, coronary disease remains the number one killer in the world.

Patient is a 45 yo male; 5’7”, 221 lbs who entered the emergency room at 6:30 am on 9/7/14 with severe chest pain (onset at 6:00 am) radiating to his arm, L arm numbness and nausea and vomiting. Past medical history reported by wife includes peptic ulcer, tobacco use (1-2ppd for 27 years), elevated blood pressure (controlled by lopressor). Wife did not know of any family history but reports patient’s father is deceased, died at 42 in his sleep. Mother alive and with high blood pressure.

It is the time of progress. The time of supercomputers, space shuttles, and many other wonders of technology. We have walked on the moon. We do our shopping at home via Internet navigation.