1 Cardiovascular and Cardiopulmonary Pathophysiologic Processes The case of a 65-year-old patient shows that he has challenges in the cardiovascular and cardiopulmonary pathophysiologic processes that result in symptoms recorded. Atrial fibrillation and right ventricular strain pattern are caused by the activation of fibrotic pathways, leading to the alteration of growth factor-β and matrix metalloproteases (Frangogiannis, 2022). The change influences the structural remodeling of the atria to set the ground for the development of atrial fibrillation. The patient may have suffered from this kind of transformation. On the other hand, cardiopulmonary pathophysiologic processes that may cause chest pains and short breathing include pulmonary embolism. Embolism in the pulmonary vein could be due to factors such as coagulation and inflammation. The embolus causes inflammation of the visceral pleura, causing pleuritic chest pain. Moreover, pericarditis and myocardial infarction can pleuritic chest pain. The patient has signs of T wave inversions in the right chest, usually caused by pulmonary embolism (Weston, Alkhatib, & Kotwal, 2020). This results in overloading of the right ventricular with pressure. Abnormal changes in rhythm and contractility of the heart muscles cause palpitations. The abnormality is due to a wide range of factors, including embolism and weakening of heart muscles. Embolism leads to pressure on the heart to pump blood rapidly. However, given the patient's age and possible inflammation, the heart can experience slow and irregular contractions, which affect palpitations. Atrial fibrillation in the patient is a result of changes in the heart tissues. The process of change includes inflammation and blood clotting. The right ventricular strain pattern is caused by pulmonary embolism, pulmonary hypertension, right ventricle infarction, and pulmonary fibrosis (Harada & Nattel, 2021). The patient shows signs of pulmonary embolism that the patient is likely to have suffered. The stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system
2 increases the risks of coagulation. The coagulation process, when it happens in pulmonary arteries, leads to embolism or thrombosis, blocking the flawless flow of blood into and outside the heart. Racial or Ethnic Variables That May Impact Physiological Functioning The physiological functioning is impacted by racial and ethnic variables such as social and economic inequalities. For instance, in the US, African Americans, Hispanics, and American Indians are more likely to suffer from cardiovascular diseases than Whites (Lewsey & Breathett, 2021). Due to socioeconomic inequalities bedeviling members of these communities, they are predisposed to stress, depression, obesity, and abuse of substances, which has a bearing on their physiological functioning. Abuse of drugs and alcohol coupled with a lack of a good diet affects the functioning of various body organs, including the heart and lungs. How These Processes Interact to Affect the Patient The cardiovascular and cardiopulmonary pathophysiologic processes are mutually supportive, especially in keeping the body healthy. The cardiovascular process entails the functioning of the heart and blood vessels. Cardiopulmonary processes involve the blood flow between the heart and lungs and play a vital role in purifying blood and circulation of oxygen in the body. The pulmonary embolism process reduces oxygen supply in the body due to the narrowing of vital blood vessels that carry blood to and from the lungs. Shortness of breathing is a sign of a patient gasping for fresh air due to blockage. A healthy patient requires a well-functioning cardiovascular and cardiopulmonary pathophysiologic process. The heart, blood vessels, and lungs should be healthy to support physiological processes. However, for the case study, the patient has shown signs of unhealthy functioning of the heart, blood vessels, and lungs as evidenced in atrial fibrillation and right ventricular strain pattern. The interaction between the cardiovascular and
3 cardiopulmonary pathophysiologic processes, particularly pulmonary embolism and inflammation compromises the patient's physiological functioning (Arrigo & Huber, 2021). In a nutshell, the patient could be suffering from cardiovascular and cardiopulmonary illnesses.
4 References Arrigo, M., & Huber, L. C. (2021). Pulmonary embolism and heart failure: a reappraisal. Cardiac Failure Review, 7. Flachskampf, F. A. (2021). Right Ventricular Strain in Pulmonary Hypertension: Looking at the Small Print. Cardiovascular Imaging, 14(7), 1487-1488. Frangogiannis, N. G. (2022). Transforming growth factor-β in myocardial disease. Nature Reviews Cardiology, 19(7), 435-455. Harada, M., & Nattel, S. (2021). Implications of inflammation and fibrosis in atrial fibrillation pathophysiology. Cardiac Electrophysiology Clinics, 13(1), 25-35. Lewsey, S. C., & Breathett, K. (2021). Racial and ethnic disparities in heart failure: current state and future directions. Current Opinion in Cardiology, 36(3), 320–328. Weston, L., Alkhatib, H., & Kotwal, S. (2020). Atypical chest pain with precordial T wave inversions. European Journal of Internal Medicine, 82, 112-113.