Understanding Cardiovascular and Thyroid Disorders: A Nursing Perspective - Paper Example

When an individual is affected by aortic stenosis, they experience challenges in blood flow as the condition impacts the valves from opening fully (Clavel et al., 2016). The approach affects the flow of blood across the body, and this is a critical aspect that influences the heart to overwork. The approach weakens the heart, triggering to chest pain, fatigue, and challenges in breathing (Clavel et al., 2016). Normally, the narrowing of the aortic valve occurs because of the integration between progressive fibrosis and calcification of the matrix, thus increasing their stiffness (Lindman et al., 2016). In some cases, the condition minimizes the valve area.

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What assessments/tests should you expect to be done on this infant?

As a way of determining the condition of the patient, a nurse may conduct an echocardiographic assessment (Lindman et al., 2016). Normally, this kind of assessment test reviews the peak velocity, mean pressure gradient, and aortic valve area, which are major indicators of the condition (Clavel et al., 2016). As such, the application of the assessment test gives nurses a clear indication of the flow rate of blood, thus providing background data regarding the condition (Lindman et al., 2016). In this case, echocardiographic assessment provide essential prognostic information, which assists nurses in determining the condition of aortic stenosis in a patient (Clavel et al., 2016). As a way of improving precision when assessing the condition, nurses may engage the calcium score using computed tomography (Lindman et al., 2016). The approach assists in clearly determining the nature of the aortic stenosis affects the patient.

What should you include in the teaching plan for the parents of this infant?

During the establishment of a teaching plan for the parents, it is crucial to encourage the application of calories to the infant as it improves the growth rate. The food product improves heart performance, thus enhancing blood pumping. Additionally, it is essential to ensure the plan clearly highlights the posture that the parent should keep the baby (Clavel et al., 2016). In particular, the plan should encourage the parent to keep the infant in an upright position, and this is a crucial way of increasing oxygenation in the body (Lindman et al., 2016). Furthermore, it is crucial to engage safe activities, which avoid overworking the heart of a child (Lindman et al., 2016). As a way to ensure a good flow of blood, it is crucial for the child’s healthcare provider to engage regular blood pressure checks in the teaching plan (Clavel et al., 2016). The approach assists parents in understanding numerous approaches they are supposed to deploy to avoid heart overworking.

Describe the pathophysiology of Peripheral Vascular Disease.

Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD) occurs when a blood vessel becomes small in size, thus affecting the flow rate. The condition is triggered by other factors such as hardening of the arteries and arteriosclerosis (Budzynski et al., 2016). When such a condition occurs, an individual experiences a challenge in limb performance due to a lack of enough oxygen. From the pathophysiology perception, ischemia of the lower limbs can be categorized as functional and critical (Budzynski et al., 2016). Normally, ischemia takes place when the flow of blood is normal, but changes, when the body become active (Newman et al., 2017). The approach affects the amount of blood that flows in the limbs.

What are the top 3 nursing priorities for this patient?

When dealing with a patient affected by Peripheral Vascular Disease, it is crucial for a nurse to effectively review the performance of sensory nerves that occur due to a low supply of oxygen (Newman et al., 2017). The condition is highly linked to paresthesias and loss of position of sense, which may fully affect the performance of a limb (Budzynski et al., 2016). Additionally, it is crucial for a nurse to examine the severity of the condition as it may paralysis a patient (Budzynski et al., 2016). In this case, if the level of blood flow in the patient is too low, the condition may cause paralysis.

What teaching would you need to include in the plan of care for this patient?

In the care plan, nurses are required to engage in activities and mobility, which decreases the chance of damaging tissues. Physical exercise enhances the development of collateral circulation, which reduces the severity of the condition (Budzynski et al., 2016). Additionally, it is crucial for a nurse to ensure the patient stays in warm conditions. However, the heat should be regulated as it may limit blood flow (Budzynski et al., 2016). Furthermore, the plan should inform the patient on how to detect early signs, thus making it easier to detect the problem.

Describe the pathophysiology of Graves’ disease.

Graves is an autoimmune illness that affects the thyroid, and it is highly triggered by hyperthyroidism. In this case, the antibodies that are produced by the immune system activates and produce thyroid hormone in large quantities. According to Struja et al. (2017), the particular etiology is unidentified; however, the integration of genetic and environmental aspects appears to be a key aspect that causes the disease (Haider et al., 2017). Additionally, an individual with a family history that is associated with autoimmune diseases such as diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis have a high chance of developing diseases (Haider et al., 2017). Moreover, lifestyle such as smoking is another critical aspect that has highly been linked with the development of the diseases.

What is a potentially life-threatening complication associated with hyperthyroidism?

Based on the nature of the illness, the most life-threatening issue if hyperthyroidism is left unmanaged could trigger complications associated with heart glitches (Struja et al., 2017). As a result of excess thyroid, there is heart palpitation and hyperactivity of the body that occurs due to a high rate of food breakdown. As such, the body tends to operate on overdrive approaches that highly impact heart performance. When such complications occur, the condition could trigger abnormal heartbeat and cardiac dilation, which occur due to an increase in the size of the heart (Struja et al., 2017). In some cases, individuals affected by the complication experience sudden cardiac arrest (Haider et al., 2017). Therefore, controlling the underlying hyperthyroidism immediately after the symptoms appear is a major approach to control the rise of such complications.

What are the possible causes of the complications identified?

According to Haider et al. (2017), endocrine disorders are key aspects that lead to complication as their performance influence how other organs operate. In this case, hormonal disorder impacts more than one organ in a particular pattern(Struja et al., 2017). Normally, releasing and stimulating of one hormone is impact by others, in the same way with hyperthyroidism (Struja et al., 2017). As such, the complications that are experienced in the condition occurs due to the undertreatment of the disease. When such a condition occurs, body metabolism becomes overactive, and this triggers the production of excess thyroid in the blood that flows to the head, causing numerous complications that are life-threatening (Haider et al., 2017).

References

Budzynski, J., Wisniewska, J., Ciecierski, M., & Kedzia, A. (2016). Association between bacterial infection and peripheral vascular disease: a review. The International Journal of Angiology 25(1), 3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4760071/

Clavel, M. A., Magne, J., & Pibarot, P. (2016). Low-gradient aortic stenosis. European Heart Journal, 37(34), 2645-2657. https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/article/37/34/2645/2469941

Haider, U., Richards, P., & Gianoukakis, A. G. (2017). Thymic hyperplasia associated with Graves' disease: pathophysiology and proposed management algorithm. Thyroid, 27(8), 994-1000. https://emrc.mui.ac.ir/sites/emrc.mui.ac.ir/files/Journal_Club/96-07-29/Thymic%20Hyperplasia%20Associated%20with%20Graves%E2%80%99%20Disease%20Pathophysiology%20and%20Proposed%20Management%20Algorithm.pdf

Lindman, B. R., Clavel, M. A., Mathieu, P., Iung, B., Lancellotti, P., Otto, C. M., & Pibarot, P. (2016). Calcific aortic stenosis. Nature reviews Disease primers, 2(1), 1-28. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5127286/

Newman, J. D., Rockman, C. B., Kosiborod, M., Guo, Y., Zhong, H., Weintraub, H. S., ... & Berger, J. S. (2017). Diabetes mellitus is a coronary heart disease risk equivalent for peripheral vascular disease. American Heart Journal, 184, 114-120. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5325078/

Struja, T., Kutz, A., Fischli, S., Meier, C., Mueller, B., Recher, M., & Schuetz, P. (2017). Is Graves’ disease a primary immunodeficiency? New immunological perspectives on an endocrine disease. BMC Medicine, 15(1), 174. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12916-017-0939-9