Essay about Pathophysiology of a Myocardial Infarction

Heart failure can be attributed to either right sided, left or both. Left-sided heart failure is of two types, systolic failure and diastolic failure. Systolic failure is the when the left ventricle loses its ability to contract normally. The heart cannot pump with enough force to push enough blood into circulation. Diastolic failure is when the left ventricle loses its ability to relax normally. Which results in the heart not being able to fill with blood during the resting period. Both result in a decrease in cardiac output. (AHA, 2012). A decrease in the cardiac output into the systemic circulation causes blood to accumulate in the left ventricle, left atrium, and pulmonary circulation. This increase

The most common physiological process leading to a myocardial infarction is the occlusion of coronary arteries by a process known as atherosclerosis. In fact, atherosclerosis is present in more than 90% of persons with coronary heart disease.1

The right side of the heart brings in the circulated blood from the body and sends it to the lungs for oxygen circulation. When the left side of the heart weakens, the right side of the heart has to work harder to compensate. Again, as the heart muscle loses strength, blood and fluid become backed up in the body. The person may experience swelling and trouble catching breath. The symptoms of right sided heart failure are peripheral edema, ascites, hepatomegaly, increased jugular venous pressure, presence of a parasternal heave indicating the compensatory increase in contraction strength, congestion of the gastrointestinal tract resulting in weight loss, impaired liver

After a period of time, the heart muscles of the left ventricle begin to weaken. The weakening of the left ventricle will lead to decreased empting of the heart (systolic heart failure) which results in decreased cardiac output again. Since the left ventricle does not empty completely, blood begins to back up into the left atrium and then to the pulmonary circulation thus resulting in pulmonary congestion and dyspnea (Story 2012, 104). If left untreated, the blood will back up and affect the right side of the heart causing biventricular heart failure (both right and left heart failure). In right sided heart failure, the right ventricle weakens and cannot empty completely. This incomplete emptying causes blood to back up into the systemic circulation causing systemic edema (Lewis et al. 2014, 771).

This occurs because when the right heart fails as a forward pump, cardiac output falls, resulting in backward dumping and leading to what is commonly known as "backward failure." If the right ventricle cannot pump effectively, the volume of blood in the veins increases, leading to congestion, similar to that of left-sided failure. Venous congestion in the form of edema is often easy to see in areas of the body lower than that of the heart. The venous congestion is also the cause of swollen ankles that many patients with right-sided heart failure tend to display.

Clearly differentiate the pathophysiology of angina and myocardial infarction, including signs and symptoms. (5 marks)

Heart diseases have always been the most life threatening disease to human life. This research paper focuses on one of such heart diseases, the Myocardial Infarction, in women. Throughout the paper, various reasons for its occurrence in women have been mentioned and discussion has been done on the prevention methods and treatments available for it. Moreover, this research paper aims to find methods for nurses to deal with patients suffering through this disease.

Left sided heart failure occurs as a result of ineffective left ventricular contractile function. As the pumping ability of the left ventricle fails, cardiac output falls. Blood is no longer effectively pumped out into the body; it backs up into the left atrium and the into the lungs, causing pulmonary congestion, dyspnea, and activity intolerance. If the condition persists, pulmonary edema and right

The body needs a certain amount of cardiac output to maintain its basic functions. In congestive heart failure the body needs more output than the heart can put out. To make up for the lack of cardiac output, the heart sends all of its output to the essential organs such as the brain and lungs. It neglects to send as much blood to the extremities. This is why in congestive heart failure patents, edema is usually present. Fatigue results from the heart having to work extra hard to send blood to only a few essential organs. This is why fatigue is considered the first symptom of congestive heart failure. Congestive Heart Disease can happen on either side of the heart, or it can effect both sides. When the heart cannot keep up with what the body needs capillary pressure increases. When this capillary pressure increases it causes sodium to build up, and the body does not excrete the

There are many races, hurdles, and obstacles to contend with throughout the course of life such as: life itself, family and health. In the realm of Certified Nursing, I have become more intent on knowing more about the lifestyles of the people, and the good and bad results of daily tasks that ensure their happiness. Safety, and the many diseases/disorders that have been encountered by others, can only be counter-acted by better knowledge, resources, and means of assurance in providing ways of increasing the (ADLs). While reading, I came across the disorder of Myocardial Infarctions, and found the information to be remarkably interesting. First of all, I learned that infarctions are commonly known for being obstructions of the blood supply to the organs and tissues; whether by the thrombus or embolous. This obstruction causes tissues to die. ” (Medicine Net, 2015).There’s different kinds of infarctions, such as: Myocardial, Acute, Cerebellar, and Right Ventricular. Therefore, myocardial infarctions are “irreversible necrosis of heart muscle, which are secondary to prolonged ischemia” (emedicine, 2015). Therefore, myocardial infarctions are “irreversible necrosis of heart muscle, which are secondary to prolonged ischemia” (emedicine, 2015).

Congestive Heart Failure is a condition in which the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the needs of the rest of the body (Department of Health & Human Services, 2012). The failure can occur in on either side of the heart. In left-side heart failure, fluid backs up into the lungs, causing shortness of breath, due to the fact that the blood entering the left side of the heart comes from the pulmonary artery, and when the left ventricle cannot pump fluid out of the heart or when the left atrium cannot empty completely into the ventricle it backs up into the lungs. In right-side heart failure, fluid can back up into the abdomen, legs, and feet, causing swelling. The blood being pumped into the right

Right sided heart failure is often times a response to left sided heart failure. When the left side of the heart has failed, the blood backs up into the lungs due to a decrease in output so the blood then backs up into the right side of the heart causing problems with it too. Heart failure in the right ventricle comes from it not being able to eject an adequate amount of blood into the pulmonary system (Huether and McCance, 2012).

e) Myocardial infarction: Myocardial infarction is a heart attack. “Myocardial infarction occurs when blood supply to a part of the myocardium is interrupted. This can be caused by a lack of blood flow, obstruction by a clot, or a rupture of plaque build up.”

I. Description: Congestive Heart Failure is more of a syndrome than a disease. Heart failure may be classified according to the side of the heart affected, (left- or right-sided failure), or by the cardiac cycle involved, (systolic or diastolic dysfunction). (Schilling-McCann p. 176). The word "failure" refers to the heart's inability to pump enough blood to meet the body's metabolic needs. (Schilling-McCann p. 176). When the heart fails to deliver adequate blood supply edema may develop. (Cadwallader p. 1141). Where edema occurs depends on what side of the heart is failing.

Right ventricular infarction may occur with occlusion of the right coronary artery. With infarct affect the posterior wall of the left ventricle and the posterior interventricular septum, they extend to the right ventricular wall in 15 to 30% of cases. The central venous pressure may be elevated markedly if acute right ventricular failure develops. Low right ventricular output causing shock often responds well to vigorous fluid therapy but poorly to vasodilators. Infusions raise both right and left ventricular filling pressures. The diagnosis of right ventricular infarction is difficult but may be established by right sided ECG leads and echocardiographic studies (Bullock, 1996).