Tom Wrobel
PUBH 3400
Thursday, February 21, 2019
Wake Up Call – Heart Case Study
Section I – “Panic”
1. I believe that it is very likely she is experiencing symptoms of heart disease. A diagnosis for Denise is that she may be currently having a heart attack.
2. Common symptoms for heart disease include; pressure, pain, tightness, or aching sensation in ones chest or arms that may spread to ones neck, jaw, or back, nausea, indigestion, heartburn, abdominal pain, shortness of breath, cold swear, fatigue, and light-headedness/sudden dizziness. Denise claims to be experiencing some of these symptoms including shortness of breath, light-headedness, and cold sweats. I find it unusual that Denise went back to bed knowing that she felt like something was wrong and here extreme anxiety regarding the situation. It is important to note that heart attack symptoms can be different in men and women and therefor many women over look their symptoms because they do not match the obvious chest pain which is commonly experienced with men.
Section II – “A Voice From Within”
3. Denise has many daily characteristics in her lifestyle that can lead to various heart health complications. She had been around her husband who had smoked for years and has absorbed various carcinogens from second-hand smoke, Denise is stressed daily due to her catering business, and has anxiety surrounding her daughter moving away. She is also going through menopause which can explain her symptoms, but this increases her stress and fatigue as well as a change of hormones throughout the body which is another stress of the body.
4. Denise has not suffered from a heart attack yet. She had suffered from a cardiac ischemia. This is when a big decrease in blood flow occurs drastically decreasing oxygen to the heart.
5. Cholesterol; a compound of the sterol type found in most body tissues. Cholesterol and its derivatives are important constituents of cell membranes and precursors of other steroid compounds, but a high proportion in the blood of low-density lipoprotein (which transports cholesterol to the tissues) is associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease.
Hypercholesterolemia; an excess of cholesterol in the bloodstream.
Cardiac Ischemia; occurs when blood flow to your heart is reduced, preventing it from receiving enough oxygen. The reduced blood flow is usually the result of a partial or complete blockage of your heart's arteries
Collateral Vessels; These vessels provide an alternative source of blood supply to the myocardium in cases of occlusive coronary artery disease.
Angina Pectoris; a condition marked by severe pain in the chest, often also spreading to the shoulders, arms, and neck, caused...
