Essay About Patient History And Heart Rate Result

Pathophysiology
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Patient History: MA., a 56 year old, Caucasian female with a long history of diabetes, tobacco
use, hypertension, and ulcers. Patient presented to the emergency room complaining of chest
pain that radiates to her neck and left shoulder. Patient further states that during periods of
compliance. She was brought to the ER by a concerned coworker. Temperature – 36.2C, Pulse –
Admitting diagnosis: Chest pain R/O Myocardial Infarction.
Pathophysiology: Increases in heart rate result in increased oxygen demand by the heart. The
heart has a limited ability to increase its oxygen intake during episodes of increased demand.
Therefore, an increase in oxygen demand by the heart has to be met by a proportional increase in
blood flow to the heart. If this demand is not met, pain will insue. Chest pain is a cardinal
symptom of cardiac disorders but can be precipitated by numerous other conditions which are
non-cardiac in nature; anxiety, musculoskeletal injuries, pulmonary disorders and gastric
disorders. Irritation of the small arteries supplying the heart with blood causes aggregation of
platelets. Repeated irritation or trauma from smoking, hypertension or high cholesterol creates
the predominant accumulation of plaques inside the artery causing stable angina, stenosis and
reduced blood flow. (Phipps, Monahan, Sands, Marek & Neighbors, 2003). Unstable angina
occurs when a portion of the plaque becomes unstable, either partially obstructing the bore of the
artery or it breaks off causing either temporary obstruction or arterial spasms. Myocardial
infarction results when the unstable angina fracture either closes the artery or a subsequent
fibrous platelet plug blocks the artery cutting off blood flow and oxygenation of