Stress Response and Health Breakdown (Essay Sample)

STRESS RESPONSE AND HEALTH BREAKDOWN
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Introduction
Angina, peripheral vascular disease and congestive heart are the primary causal factors of chronic and acute stress experienced by the 80-year-old Betty, who lives alone. Angina is a discomfort that’s brought about by inadequate intake of blood rich in oxygen to the heart muscles. Mostly it feels like a strain or a squeeze in one's chest. The discomfort may occur in one's shoulder, the arms, jaw, and neck or at the back since she lives alone at her home. For Betty’s case, Angina is used to relieve pain and can also be used to counter angina attacks. It allows more blood and oxygen to get to the heart muscle. The peripheral vascular disease usually causes a reduction of blood circulation to body parts and the brain or the heart. The primary causal factor is atherosclerosis, the buildup of fatty deposits that narrows blood vessels or blocks them. This condition mostly affects the blood vessels of the legs, arms and the kidneys. To help counter such conditions, the use of statins which lowers cholesterol and antihypertensive drugs to lower the blood pressure, conversely there is the use of anticoagulants that prevents blood clots from budding. Congestive heart failure impairs the chambers of the heart and mostly develops when the heart is not able to pump blood in low volumes. Blood and the rest of the fluids back up inside the lungs, the liver, and the lower abdomen. The only way one can prevent heart failure is by keeping blood pressure low. That is through releasing hormones that cause blood vessels to constrict the heart, therefore, leading to struggles in pumping of blood through the arteries and veins.
According to Burrell, Gerlach & Pless (2012), physiological processes are roles and actions of living organisms that usually supports life in single or in the multicellular organisms from their origin through life development. For Betty’s scenario, it can cause trauma, for instance, a complex regional and chronic surgical ache. Acute pain warns one of impending danger and the fact that she stays alone in her home. Nociception highlights the normal processes of pain and their responses to noxious stimuli that could be damaging the normal tissue with time. Chronic pain affects the people's quality of life through alliterating in injury or diseases that may result from acute pain. The 80-year-old Betty functions and activities may be affected since she stays alone in her apartment like attending the local senior citizens club.
If Betty’s pain persists therefore she’s is likely to experience discomfort. Burn or pain across the chest that usually starts from the breastbone and the pain is likely to spread to the neck, jaw, arms, and shoulders and in the throat. Muscle pain in the legs and arms is likely to be triggered by either walking or running as a result of a peripheral vascular disease. Betty’s is also likely to experience gangrene, reduced hair growth on her legs and ulcers that won’t heal. Also of concern is the congestive heart failure that comes with breath shortness, coughing spells, gaining weight easily or feel bloated and may also experience palpitations. Pain in the chest may range from unbearable to a serene discomfort. There’s a likelihood of retention of fluid to occur and associated swelling especially in the legs and in the feet after a long day.
Betty’s other stressors are cellulitis, acute pulmonary oedema and dehydration. Cellulitis manifests in Betty’s legs and consequently causes her much pain. Cellulitis is a bacterial infection that spreads beneath the skin of an individual and as a result of the spreading it can trigger swelling, redness, pain and warmth. On day three after being admitted the medical ward, she develops other signs where Betty experiences shortness of breath and some chest pains that ANGININE does not relieve whatsoever. Cellulitis is mostly caused by streptococcal infections and the fungal infections as well. The bacteria through the damaged skin such as the cut or a bite move down the skin surface causing cellulitis to develop. Betty’s clinical examination reveals that she has an acute pulmonary oedema that is a condition caused by excess fluids in the lungs. The fluids collect in the numerous air sacs in the lungs leading to difficulties in breathing. For example the clinical assessment reveals temperature to be 37.9degrees Celsius, breathing rate is RR 36 breaths/minute, the heart beating at 120beats per minute and the blood pressure of 180/110 mmHg.
Betty has a chest auscultation through revealed crackles and the pink frothy sputum she is coughing. Notably she has a bilateral peripheral pitting oedema, with cellulitis on the left lower leg as assessed by the clinic. These stressors can be managed through the use of bilevel, which is a positive airway pressure, and it is mostly used during noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (Reid & Chung, 2004).  Bilevel usually delivers a preset inspiratory positive airway pressure during inspiration and the expiratory positive airway pressure; conversely it can be described as a continuous airway pressure structure with a flow cycled change of the practical pressure position. Noninvasive procedures apply to diseases that do not spread or damage other organs and tissues. The procedures involve the use of tools that do not break the skin or physically enter the body. They include x-rays, CT scan, Holter monitoring and a standard eye exam but use devices like hearing aids, external splints and casts as well.
The use of ECG and cardiac monitoring is the continual monitoring of the heart activity especially by electrocardiography through the assessing the patient’s condition about their cardiac rhythm. The use of FRUSEMIDE for edema associated congestive heart failure, cirrhosis and renal ailments that include the nephritic syndrome. It is very useful whenever an agent with greater diuretic potential is required mostly for adults and pediatric patients. Frusemide applies as an adjunctive therapy, especially in severe pulmonary edema.
Indwelling catheter care where the catheter drains urine from the bladder into the bag outside the body. Mostly the main reason to have an indwelling catheter is for urinary leakage and not being able to urinate or other related health problems. Betty is transferring to a high dependency unit, which is an area in the hospital located closely to the intensive care unit. Care is more pronounced than on normal wards but not necessary to the point of intensive care.
Betty is under medication that includes the use of ACE inhibitor, selective beta blocker and digoxin. ACE inhibitors are medicines used mainly to treat high blood pressure and the heart failure. The inhibitors block the body from producing a chemical angiotensin II. The blood pressure rises if angiotensin enters the blood stream making the blood vessels narrower thus giving blood a less space to move in. Notably ACE inhibitors lower blood pressure by reducing angiotensin II in the body, it also helps to treat heart diseases when used with other medications.
Selective beta blocker is usually used to treat hypertension and angina pectoris. They are also used for migraine prophylaxis, to treat anxiety, to inhibit essential tremor and lastly block the side effects of hyperthyroidism. They are also used to treat angina, to mitigate abnormal heart rhythms and reduce high blood pressure. Conversely blocking the beta receptors may lead to bronchial constriction therefore care should be taken in the use of beta-blockers for patients with respiratory conditions. Digoxin is used to treat heart failure and abnormal heart rhythms; it also helps the heart perform better and heart rate cont...