First, review the patient’s symptoms and medical history provided in the case study. Identify any cardiovascular and cardiopulmonary pathophysiologic processes that could be contributing to the patient’s symptoms. These conditions could include hypertension, heart disease, asthma, chronic obstruction pulmonary disease (COPD), pulmonary embolism and other.
Next, consider any racial/ethnic variables that may impact the patient’s physiological functioning. Some populations are more vulnerable to respiratory and cardiovascular disorders and might respond differently to treatment. African Americans tend to have higher hypertension rates and risk of heart disease. Native Americans however have lower COPD rates.
Finally, analyze how the identified cardiovascular and respiratory processes interact to affect the patient’s overall health. A patient suffering from COPD or heart disease may feel shortness of breath and fatigue due to reduced lung function combined with impaired heart function.
Follow the College of Nursing formatting guidelines when writing an analysis. Include a title page and a summary. Your analysis should be supported by evidence-based sources.