The case of the 45-year-old woman is a complicated situation since the newly acquired symptoms also correspond to the presence of COPD. Moreover, the complexity is added by the emergence of a variety of factors influencing the patient’s quality of life. They suggest that the worsening of her condition is connected not to one but several body systems (McCance & Huether, 2019). In this case, it is vital to consider cardiovascular and cardiopulmonary pathological processes since they are connected to the causes of the patient’s condition. Their assessment should be complemented by the inclusion of other factors such as, for example, race and ethnicity that can affect the risks for the woman.
Cardiovascular and Cardiopulmonary Pathophysiologic Processes
The first step towards making a correct diagnosis is the consideration of cardiovascular and cardiopulmonary pathophysiological processes. It is essential for obtaining the full picture of the patient’s overall state and analyzing the changes. Since she experiences shortness of breath and an unusual cough in the first place, the examination should start with the cardiovascular system, which is intertwined with COPD. In this situation, it is likely that the patient is at risk of heart failure resulting from low oxygen levels and the consequent rise in blood pressure (McCance & Cunningham, 2019). Other processes are related to the cardiopulmonary system, and they include increased pressure in it leading to lung hyperinflation (Brashers, 2019b). In this way, blood and cardiopulmonary pressures are the processes corresponding to the patient’s condition.
Racial/Ethnic Variables
The woman’s physiological functioning can be affected by various factors not related to her state. They can be considered by the systems in order to demonstrate the impact of each of them on the problem. Since the primary health issue is COPD, it is vital to pay attention to the possibility of complications related to cardiovascular and cardiopulmonary pathophysiological processes. The former’s development is connected to hypertension, which is more significant in the case of the black race (Brashers, 2019a). The latter’s risk factors include the fact of belonging to the Hispanic population of the country (Brashers & Huether, 2019). Therefore, these two racial/ethnic variables should also be considered when assessing the risks for the patient.
The Interaction of These Processes
The interaction of the cardiovascular and cardiopulmonary pathophysiological processes specified above is another aspect of the matter. It adds to a better understanding of risks in each particular case. In the situation of the woman, both hypertension and lung hyperinflation are possible problems developed as a result of COPD (McCance & Huether, 2019). There are many symptoms that prove this assumption, and they include the reported cough with thick green sputum production, fevers, and shortness of breath. Hence, the processes under consideration can negatively affect the patient by increasing the risk of heart problems or even death. Therefore, addressing the outcomes of the processes’ interaction is essential for making predictions.
Conclusion
To sum up, the case of a 45-year-old woman is an example of acquired complications to the existing COPD. They are connected to the functioning of the cardiovascular and the cardiopulmonary systems and their pathophysiological processes. Taking into account the current condition and the new symptoms, it is reasonable to assume that the patient is likely to have developed lung hyperinflation and hypertension. It can be better assessed with the inclusion of race or ethnicity since the black race and the Hispanics are at higher risk than white people to suffer from these complications. These factors can contribute to a negative outcome related to possible heart problems and death.
References
Brashers, V. L. (2019a). Alterations of cardiovascular function. In K. L. McCance & S. E. Huether (Eds.), Pathophysiology: The biologic basis for disease in adults and children (8th ed, pp. 1058-1114). Mosby.
Brashers, V. L. (2019b). Structure and function of the pulmonary system. In K. L. McCance & S. E. Huether (Eds.), Pathophysiology: The biologic basis for disease in adults and children (8th ed, pp. 1142-1161). Mosby.
Brashers, V. L., & Huether, S. E. (2019). Alterations of pulmonary function. In K. L. McCance & S. E. Huether (Eds.), Pathophysiology: The biologic basis for disease in adults and children (8th ed, pp. 1162-1200). Mosby.
McCance, K. L., & Cunningham, S. G. (2019). Structure and function of the cardiovascular and lymphatic systems. In K. L. McCance & S. E. Huether (Eds.), Pathophysiology: The biologic basis for disease in adults and children (8th ed, pp. 1016-1057). Mosby.
McCance, K. L. & Huether, S. E. (2019). Pathophysiology: The biologic basis for disease in adults and children (8th ed.). Mosby.