Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)
Student’s Name
Professor’s Name
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Date
Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)
Introduction
Despite the current advancement in medical fraternities, cardiovascular diseases (CVD) continues to be a threat to people’s health globally. Coronary artery disease (CAD), also called Coronary Heart Disease (CHD), is a common type of CVD increasing mortality rates in the United States. Annually the disease causes approximately 647,000 deaths in the US, and about 1.8 adults are diagnosed with Coronary Artery Disease (“Coronary artery disease | cdc.gov,” 2019).
An estimate of about 2 in 10 deaths from CAD happens in individuals above 65 years. Coronary Artery Disease causes blood flow impairment in arteries that supply blood to the heart and is more prevalent in men than women. In the year 2017, non-Hispanic white adults found with coronary artery disease were about 11.5%, non-Hispanic blacks followed by 9.5%, and 6.0% were non-Hispanic Asians ranging from 18years and above.
Etiology and Risk Factors
According to (“Heart disease facts,” 2020), Coronary Artery Disease is mainly caused by plaque buildup in the walls of the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart. The plaque forms the buildup of cholesterol deposits that cause the arteries to shrink and narrow. This process is referred to as Atherosclerosis, and it can cause partial or complete blood flow obstruction. In other people, Atherosclerosis comes out as a heart attack or stroke. Women whose age ranges from 45 to 65 have a higher chance of dying from a heart attack than men in a year. Every year in the United States, medical fraternities encounter approximately 200,000 recurrent heart attacks.
Common causes that may lead to Coronary Artery Disease are poor diet and genetic influences. Additionally, other causes may include medical conditions such as Diabetes, Hypertension, and Dyslipidemia. Some other risk factors considered as non-modifiable include age, family history, race, and gender. Growing older can cause a person’s immunity to be low and viable for heart diseases. Physical inactivity and high levels of stress can also be a risk factor. For instance, when exercise or pressure occurs, not enough oxygenated blood is supplied to the heart. Therefore, it causes clogging in the arteries or the occurrence of a heart attack.
Coronary Artery Disease may occur due to environmental influences such as air pollution, smoking, and alcohol consumption. Air pollution causes an increase in heart attack cases and decreases in lung function. Proper nutrition also plays a significant role in preventing coronary artery disease because a lack of adequate dieting leads to obesity, which is a risk factor. Most women, compared to men, die of heart attacks and stroke. Heart diseases become more common as people continue to age: therefore, individuals must go for regular heart checkups. Additionally, based on age factor alone, men have a higher risk of getting the disease at the age of 45 while women are 65(“Heart disease facts,” 2020).
Pathophysiological Processes
Coronary Artery Disease, also called Atherosclerosis, forms as a result of the inflammatory process. It starts from the first formation of plaques, which we identified as fatty acids or cholesterol around the coronary arteries’ walls. The blood vessels get inflamed, posing a risk of blood clots and heart attacks. As a result of blood flow obstruction, the arteries cannot supply enough blood to the heart. The rapture of atheromatous plaques causes the collagen and the thrombotic cells to rapture. It then activates platelets and coagulation: therefore resulting in acute thrombus, which interrupts blood flow. This process causes Myocardial Ischemia; within the very first 10 seconds, the myocardial cells experience ischemia. The cells convert to anaerobic metabolism producing lactic acid as waste. It causes the development of pain due to the accumulation of lactic acid. It results in angina symptoms in its later stages.
Clinical Manifestations and Complication
Coronary Artery symptoms may present themselves as asymptomatic, stable, or unstable chest pain, also referred to as angina. Chest pain presenting itself as angina usually is related to the feeling of constriction on the neck, jaw, back, or arms. Angina occurs typically on the chest’s left side and is triggered by either physical or emotional stress. Additionally, these symptoms can be of a heart attack. Pain resulting from nausea, sweating, and vomiting may be signs of Myocardial Infarction (“Coronary artery disease and its symptoms,” 2018).
Diagnostics
Doctors may suggest the following tests: Cardiac Catheterization, Angiogram, Electrocardiogram, and Echocardiogram. In an Echocardiogram test, the doctor examines whether the artery walls contribute to the heart’s pumping activity. Treatments for Coronary Heart Disease include Cardiac Rehabilitation, Medication, surgery, and Lifestyle Changes.
Lifestyle changes may include eating the right nutrition and keeping Alcohol consumption. In this case, medications are only needed when the lifestyle changes are not reducing the cholesterol levels. The medicines help in reducing the occurrence of strokes and heart attacks. An example of this medicine is blood thinners; they help break down blood clots and prevent them from occurring (“Coronary artery disease and its symptoms,” 2018). In Conclusion, Coronary Artery Disease is more associated with the environment than Genetics.
References
Coronary artery disease and its symptoms. (2018, August 2). GradesFixer. https://coronary-artery-disease-and-its-symptoms/
Coronary artery disease | cdc.gov. (2019, December 9). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/coronary_ad.htm
Heart disease facts. (2020, June 24). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/facts.htm
Question
NR283 Pathophysiology
RUA: Pathophysiological Processes Guidelines
NR283 Pathophysiological Processes Guidelines V4 Revised: 8/18/2020
11
Purpose
This project is an in depth investigation of a health condition. It willallow for the expansion of knowledge and the
ability to generalize larger concepts to a variety ofhealth conditions.
Course outcomes: This assignment enables the student to meet the following course outcomes:
1. Explain the pathophysiologic processes of select health conditions. (PO 1)
2. Predict clinical manifestations and complications of select disease processes. (PO 1, 8)
3. Correlate lifestyle, environmental, and other influences with changes in levels of wellness. (PO 1, 7)
Due date: Your faculty member will inform you when this assignment is due. The Late Assignment Policy applies
to this assignment.
Total points possible: 100 points
Preparing the assignment
Follow these guidelines when completing this assignment. Speak with your faculty member if you have questions.
1) Select a disease process that interests you.
2) Obtain approval of the selected disease process from the course faculty.
a. Faculty will share how to submit your topic choice for approval.
3) Write a 2-3 page paper (excluding title and reference pages).
4) Include the following sections about the selected disease process (detailed criteria listed below and in the Grading
Rubric).
a. Introduction of disease – 20 points/20%
• One paragraph (approximately 200 words)
• Includes disease description
• Includes epidemiology of disease
b. Etiology and risk factors – 20 points/20%
• Common causes of the disease or condition
• Risk factors for the disease or condition
• Impact of age
• Prevalence based on gender,
• Influence of environment
• Genetic basis of disease
• Lifestyle influences
• All information supported by current literature
c. Pathophysiological processes – 20 points/20%
• Describes changes occurring at the cellular, tissue, and/or organ level that contribute to the disease
process.
• Describes adaptation of the cells and body in response to the disease.
• Relates disease processes to manifested signs and symptoms.
d. Clinical manifestations and complications – 20 points/20%
• Describes the physical signs and symptoms that are important in considering the presence of the disease.
• Identifies signs that contribute to diagnosis of the condition
• Identifies symptoms that contribute to diagnosis of the condition.
• Identifies complications of the disease.
• Discusses the implications to the patient when complications are left untreated.
e. Diagnostics – 10 points/10%
• Includes list of common laboratory and diagnostic tests used to determine the presence of the disease.
2
NR283 Pathophysiology
RUA: Pathophysiological Processes Guidelines
NR283 Pathophysiological Processes Guidelines V4 Revised: 8/18/2020
21
• Discusses the significance of test findings in relation to the disease process.
f. APA Style and Organization – 10 points/10%
• References are submitted with assignment.
• Uses appropriate APA format (7th ed.) and is free of errors.
• Grammar and mechanics are free of errors.
• Paper is 2-3 pages, excluding title and reference pages
• At least two (2) scholarly, primary sources from the last 5 years, excluding the textbook, are provided
For writing assistance (APA, formatting, or grammar) visit the APA Citation and Writing page in the online library.
NR283 Pathophysiology
RUA: Pathophysiological Processes Guidelines
NR283 Pathophysiological Processes Guidelines V4 Revised: 8/18/2020
31
Grading Rubric
Criteria are met when the student’s application of knowledge within the paper demonstrates achievement of the outcomes for this assignment.
Assignment Section and
Required Criteria
(Points possible/% of total points available)
Highest Level of
Performance
High Level of
Performance
Satisfactory
Level of
Performance
Unsatisfactory
Level of
Performance
Section not
present in
paper
Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)
Introduction of Disease
(20 points/20%) 20 points 18 points 16 points 7 points 0 points
Required criteria
1. One (approximately 200 words) paragraph
2. Includes disease description
3. Includes epidemiology of disease
Includes no fewer
than 3 requirements
for section.
Includes no fewer
than 2 requirements
for section.
Includes no less
than 1 requirement
for section.
Present, yet
includes no
required criteria.
No requirements
for this section
presented.
Etiology and Risk Factors
(20 points/20%) 20 points 18 points 16 points 7 points 0 points
Required criteria
1. Common causes of the disease or condition
2. Risk factors for the disease or condition
3. Impact of age
4. Prevalence based on gender
5. Influence of environment
6. Genetic basis of disease
7. Lifestyle influences
8. All information supported by current literature
Includes no fewer
than 8 requirements
for section.
Includes no fewer
than 7 requirements
for section.
Includes no fewer
than 6 requirements
for section.
Includes 5 or fewer
requirements for
section.
No requirements
for this section
presented.
Pathophysiological Processes
(20 points/20%) 20 points 18 points 16 points 7 points 0 points
Required criteria
1. Describes changes occurring at the cellular, tissue,
and/or organ level that contribute to the disease
process.
2. Describes adaptation of the cells and body in
response to the disease.
3. Relates disease processes to manifested signs and
symptoms.
Includes no fewer
than 3 requirements
for section.
Includes no fewer
than 2 requirements
for section.
Includes no less than
1 requirements for
section.
Section present, yet
includes no required
criteria.
No requirements
for this section
presented.
NR283 Pathophysiology
RUA: Pathophysiological Processes Guidelines
NR283 Pathophysiological Processes Guidelines V4 Revised: 8/18/2020
41
Clinical Manifestations & Complications
(20 points/20%) 20 points 18 points 16 points 7 points 0 points
Required criteria
Describes the physical signs and symptoms that are
important in considering the presence of the disease.
1. Identifies signs that contribute to diagnosis of the
condition
2. Identifies symptoms that contribute to diagnosis of
the condition.
3. Identifies complications of the disease.
4. Discusses the implications to the patient when
complications are left untreated.
Includes no fewer
than 4 requirements
for section.
Includes no fewer
than 3 requirements
for section.
Includes no fewer
than 2 requirements
for section.
Includes 1 or fewer
requirements for
section.
No requirements
for this section
presented.
Diagnostics
(10 points/10%) 10 points 4 points 0 points
Required criteria
1. Includes list of common laboratory and diagnostic
tests used to determine the presence of the disease.
2. Discusses the significance of test findings in relation
to the disease process.
Includes no fewer than 2 requirements for section. Includes 1 or less
requirement for
section.
No requirements
for this section
presented.
APA Style and Organization
(10 points/10%) 10 points 9 points 8 points 4 points 0 points
Required criteria
1. References are submitted with assignment.
2. Uses appropriate APA format (6th ed.) and is free of
errors.
3. Grammar and mechanics are free of errors.
4. Paper is 2-3 pages, excluding title and reference
pages
5. At least two (2) scholarly, primary sources from the
last 5 years, excluding the textbook, are provided
Includes no fewer
than 5 requirements
for section.
Includes no fewer
than 4 requirements
for section.
Includes no fewer
than 3 requirements
for section.
Includes 1-2
requirements for
section.
No requirements
for this section
presented.
Total Points Possible = 100 points