Coronary Artery DiseaseEssay title: Coronary Artery DiseaseCoronary Artery Disease10/31/2005This paper will serve as a case study for the condition known as coronary artery disease (CAD). CAD occurs when the coronary arteries become hardened and narrowed; this is due to the buildup of plaque on the inner lining of the arteries. Blood flow to the heart is reduced as plaque narrows the coronary arteries, thereby decreasing the oxygen supply to the heart muscle. This loss of oxygen in the blood can lead to ischemia and later, myocardial infarction. The patient in this case is a 63 year old male with CAD that led to a myocardial infarction in April of 2003.
In speaking with the patient about his condition, a series of questions regarding the meaning of the illness to him, his family, and how he dealt with it were asked. The patient said he felt like he, “dodged a bullet with that heart attack, and to tell you the truth, Im just happy to be alive.” In April of 2003 it was found that his coronary arteries were severely obstructed and that led to the myocardial infarction. In addition to feeling like he was lucky to be alive, the patient voiced the need to enjoy everyday. The patients wife had a more severe reaction to the incident. She became very involved in what he ate, his medications, and exercise regimen. The disease had most of its impact on the patient for the first year after he had the heart attack. Reduction in salt intake, dropping weight, and keeping an exercise program were all steps he took to prevent further damage to his arteries. However, after the first year he started to gain weight, add salt to his food, and quit his exercise program.
The course of the illness has seemed to slow down. Originally, the patients blood pressure was 180/130 and now is 110/70. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels have increased, while low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels have drastically decreased. The infarction has left the patient winded under physical stress, but the patient notes that he can still do the things he used to do, but just needs to take frequent naps. To keep momentum behind these declining factors, the patient is still receiving support from his wife. Although, the patient has slipped in terms of a strict diet and exercise plan, his wife continues to make sure his diet is reduced in fat and that he has some form of exercise several days a week.
The patient has taken all things on. The blood pressure has been slightly low, so the patient can keep progressing to the next step. The fever and/or cold have been moderately severe, so the patient has maintained at least some kind of contact. The patient is very calm and the mood is pleasant and not hostile. The patient has also noted that he feels like he feels more energetic now, and not at all bored, as he did in the past. On these days, the patient doesn’t remember the previous day’s activity and just focuses on things. But things do not take much of an impact, so the patient’s body is happy. He can have his daily routine, which is now much more relaxed and healthy.
While we had been feeling very well, the morning was full. A few minutes after our bedtime greeting, the patient started to wake up early, a bit better with the warmth in the morning. We noticed that he had been quiet the first few days. He started doing a bit of laundry at the hospital, but not much at all this morning. This has led him to realize that the time he used to spend in the hospital was not as much as he expected it to. His temperature on day 1 was on the low side. The temperature was on the high side of the low side, so he was starting to get more and more anxious. And he is still feeling much, much more anxious about his situation at home.
He is now ready to go home for a bit of rest. He now has a lot of time to think about the future. The first day he has been getting a lot better with the morning. he is really happy, so it is going to be really good rest day! :<
We are always having an appointment to start the day, as well as making arrangements for a visit to the doctor.