Atherosclerosis Case Studies

     Atherosclerosis is one of a group of health problems that define coronary artery disease, oftentimes referred to as heart disease. Atherosclerosis is the leading cause of heart disease in the United States. The following is the definition provided by the American Heart Association:

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.

Coronary artery disease remains number one killer of the western civilization despite 40 years of aggressive drug and surgical interventions (Esselstyn). Usually, pharmaceutical drugs, such as statin, are given to try to slow the progression, but may provide uncomfortable side effects. In fact, the majority of patients discontinue statins within 1 year of treatment initiation (Maningat). Furthermore, surgery is performed to circumvent clogged arteries and literally bypass the symptoms. In the last year, 500,000 coronary bypass procedures were performed (Swaminathan et al). However, these surgeries can have significant risks, including the potential to cause further heart damage, stroke, and brain dysfunction. Thus, it is evident that these way of treatments may not be enough on its own, and that getting to the

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the commonest heart disease in the United States1. Approximately, 29% of patients with Myocardial Infarction ( MI ) present with ST- elevation Myocardial Infarction ( STEMI )2. STEMI is the result of complete occlusion of a major epicardial coronary artery due to thrombus formation. STEMI from a small coronary artery presenting as substantial EKG abnormalities similar to occlusion of a major artery and hemodynamic instability is a rare entity. The epidemiology, typical clinical presentation, outcomes, and optimal management in this group of patients are not sufficiently known.

Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) it is also know as Coronary Artery Disease. It happens when the blood vessels delivering to the heart develop blockage or are narrowed by plaque, which reduces the flow of the blood, oxygen and nutrients supplied to the heart. If this happens the person starts to feel chest pain (also known as angina pectoris) and then it lead to the person to have a heart attack. It is known to be the main factor to cause cardiac arrest and it can be fatal unless the heart is restarted in minutes.

One of the patient’s secondary diagnoses is atherosclerotic heart disease of native coronary artery without angina pectoris. He had a heart valve replacement in 2011. Atherosclerosis is a disease in which plaque made of fat, cholesterol, calcium, and other substances builds up inside the arteries. This is an issue because the plaque hardens over time and narrows the arteries, which then limits the flow of oxygenated blood to vital tissues. This condition can lead to heart attacks, strokes, and death. Coronary artery atherosclerosis is the single largest killer of both men and women in the United States (Boudi, 2016). The patient’s atherosclerosis is located in the coronary artery. This artery is one of two main blood vessels that branch off

I am concerned with coronary artery disease (CAD), as it is the leading cause of death in the United States and Florida. It is the most well-known kind of coronary illness. Over time CAD can debilitate the heart muscle and contribute to heart attacks. There are many modifiable risk factors, such as quit smoking, decrease alcohol intake, modifying the diet to reduce sodium and sugar intake, reducing obesity by losing weight, and increasing activity. Hypertension, diabetes also contributes to CAD.

A diagnosis of PVD indicates that there’s a lack of tissue perfusion to the extremities, in this case to the patient’s feet. This lack of tissue perfusion to the feet can be caused by a type of condition where it inhibits blood flow, which prevents oxygenated blood from reaching the extremities. Without oxygenated blood reaching the extremities, it will cause damage to the tissue as seen with ML’s right toe. Having the ulcer on the right toe, indicates how there is lack of perfusion reaching that area.

Atherosclerosis is the hardening and narrowing of arteries, which quietly and gradually blocks arteries, putting blood flow at risk, according to WebMD. Plaque gathers up in the arteries and is composed of fatty substances, calcium, fibrin, cholesterol, and waste products from cells. It can completely or partly cut off the blood in the artery. One of two things can happen in the area where the plaque is building up in the artery: a piece of the plaque may break off or a blood clot may form on the plaque's surface, according to the American Heart Association. Atherosclerosis is a kind of arteriosclerosis, which is simply the thickening and hardening of arteries. It is typically the agent of strokes, peripheral vascular disease, and heart attacks,

Atherosclerosis is a reduction of the arteries triggered by a buildup of plaque. It is also called arteriosclerosis or hardening of the arteries. Arteries are the blood vessels that transport oxygen and nutrients from the heart to the rest of the body. As the body gets older, fat and cholesterol can collect in the arteries and form plaque. The buildup of plaque makes it difficult for blood to flow through the arteries. This buildup may transpire in any artery in the body and can result in a shortage of blood and oxygen in various tissues of the body. Pieces of plaque can also break off, causing a blood clot. If left untreated, atherosclerosis can lead to heart attack, stroke, and heart failure. Atherosclerosis is a fairly common problem associated with aging. According to the University of Maryland

First, Coronary Artery Disease is a serious heart condition that impairs blood flow to the heart muscle. A nurse should have knowledge of the disease process, signs and symptoms, diagnostic tests, and treatments available. The coronary arteries supply blood, oxygen, and nutrients to the heart. The main coronary arteries are the left and the right arteries. The left coronary artery. The disease is typically caused by plaque accumulation in the coronary arteries. Atherosclerosis is the formation of plaque affecting layers of the large and midsize arteries. Plaque contains cholesterol, triglycerides, phospholipids, and collagen. When plaque accumulates in the arteries it decreases the size of the inside of the arteries. Plaque may surround the

The current epidemic of coronary heart diseases continues to increase as “cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death globally resulting in about 30% of deaths annually” (Jaleta, Gudina, & Getinet, 2014) and with Atherosclerosis being one of the top diseases among African Americans and obese children. Atherosclerosis is described as the disease of clogged arteries from buildup of plaque, causing arteries to become narrow, thick, and stiff which makes blood flow very difficult to pass. As many factors do contribute to the growth of this disease, this literature review will discuss the factors of the African American race as well as children being affected by Atherosclerosis. The substances of the plaque is usually composed of cholesterol, fat, and calcium which sticks together to harden over time in the walls of the arteries. As a result of such action, narrowed arteries can cause blood clots which can overtime lead to a heart attack. Although it is a treatable condition, lots of preventable methods are required to see improvements such as nutrition and exercise.

Atherosclerosis is a complex process involving entrance, modification and accumulation of plasma low density lipoproteins (LDLs); recruitment and proliferation of the cells in the arterial wall. The process advances through a series of stages that begins with the formation of foam cells and tends towards the formation of the complex atherosclerotic plaque, which consists of a lipid core covered by a fibrous cap and areas that are rich in inflammatory cells. Free radical mediated oxidation of LDL plays a key role in atherogenesis. The oxidation of LDL is a process during which both the proteins and lipids undergo oxidative changes to form the oxidized–LDL.

Atherosclerosis is one of a group of health problems that define coronary artery disease, oftentimes referred to as heart disease. Atherosclerosis is the leading cause of heart disease in the United States. The following is the definition provided by the American Heart Association:

Atherosclerosis is characterised by gradual decrease in the luminal diameter of large arteries, it has major health implications and contributes to around 50% of all deaths within westernized countries (7). Patients can undergo coronary artery stenting to prolong the effects of this. Treatments for this have undergone major developments over the past 40 years, including balloon angioplasty in 1977, development of bare-metal stents (BMS) in the 1980’s, introduction of drug-eluting stents (DES) in 2000 (43) and current research into incorporating NO donors into stents. The first stent implantation performed on a human was conducted in 1986 (13), since then they have become one of the most common ways of intervention due to atherosclerosis. In the US there are 500,000 people who undergo stenting annually (42). The success of stenting is inhibited by the reoccurrence of restenosis. Multiple things can affect the rate of in-stent restenosis, elevated LDL levels, increased levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor I, type 2 diabetes and enhanced platelet aggergability (10). Therefore the severity of restenosis will differ between patients.