Cardiac and Respiratory Dysfunction Prevention and Improvement

Questions

Identify a cardiac or respiratory dysfunction and its cause. Outline the key steps necessary to prevent the dysfunction and improve health status.

Answer

Introduction

The heart and lungs are two vital organs in the body that work together to sustain life. The heart pumps blood, which carries oxygen, to all parts of the body. The blood then returns to the heart, so it can be pumped to the lungs to receive oxygen. Finally, the oxygen-rich blood is pumped back to all parts of the body. The heart is made up of specialized cardiac muscle, which does not become tired. The lungs are responsible for providing the oxygen and removing carbon dioxide. When the heart or lungs malfunction, it causes a decreased quality of life and can be life-threatening. Cardiac and respiratory dysfunctions lead to a decreased quality of life where a person may have difficulty completing everyday activities, such as climbing stairs, cleaning, grocery shopping, and taking care of their family. During severe dysfunction, a person may not be able to care for themselves and they may need to spend a lot of time and money on healthcare. Some dysfunctions can be life-threatening, for example, congestive heart failure or acute respiratory distress syndrome. Any therapy or lifestyle changes that can prevent or improve these dysfunctions can greatly increase the quality of life for that person and even be life-saving. Cardiac and respiratory disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. According to the American Heart Association, 8,100,000 people have a heart attack or angina. There are almost 650,000 cases of heart failure diagnosed each year, and it is the only cardiovascular disease that is increasing in incidence. The AHA estimated that the cost for heart failure in 2008 was 34.8 billion dollars, and by 2030 this will increase to 98.1 billion. With the statistics so high, it is important to further develop techniques to prevent and improve cardiac and respiratory dysfunctions.

1.1. Overview of Cardiac and Respiratory Dysfunctions

Cardiac dysfunction usually refers to the heart’s inability to maintain adequate blood circulation to meet the body’s needs. In an ideal situation, this would occur during both rest and activity. There are many different types of cardiac dysfunction including heart failure, cardiac ischemia, and arrhythmias. Respiratory dysfunction refers to inadequate gas exchange, and can be due to either inadequate ventilation or perfusion. Respiratory failure occurs when gas exchange is so poor that it does not meet the body’s metabolic demands, whereas respiratory insufficiency is a state in which there is a significant decrease in gas exchange that does not meet the body’s metabolic demands. Similar to cardiac dysfunction, respiratory dysfunction can occur during rest or during activity.

Cardiac and respiratory dysfunctions occur for a variety of reasons and in response to numerous stimuli. In order to understand how and why dysfunction occurs, it is useful to first understand the normal process of cardiac and respiratory function. Dysfunction of one system often leads to dysfunction of the other, and in fact it is hard to isolate one system from the other.

1.2. Importance of Prevention and Improvement

Prevention of the initial development of heart and lung diseases through treating the risks and underlying pathophysiological processes is obviously an effective strategy. Most cardiac and lung diseases are caused or made worse by modifiable lifestyle and environmental factors. Hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes have a multiplicative effect on the risks of cardiac failure and stroke, and due to their high prevalence in the population, effective treatment of these conditions would prevent a large number of cardiac events. Randomized controlled trials have shown that management of cardiovascular risk factors in hypertensive and diabetic patients can be effective in terms of reducing cardiac events, with and even without reduction in blood pressure or glucose levels.

The idea of prevention and improvement is something that is not only important, but imperative in the context of cardiac and respiratory dysfunction as it is exactly the strategies that are needed to take the pressure off ailing health systems worldwide. Acute care for decompensated major chronic or acute cardiac and respiratory disease is consuming large amounts of healthcare expenditure in western countries. In Australia alone, heart disease costs $5.9 billion per year, and lung diseases cost $2.5 billion. By focusing on prevention and quality improvement, hospital care could be reduced substantially, freeing up funds for other resources, as well as achieving further benefits to patients. Primary and secondary prevention are integral parts of improving patient outcomes and are necessary to reduce the growing prevalence of cardiac and respiratory diseases.

Understanding the Dysfunctions

2.1. Causes of Cardiac Dysfunction

2.1.1. Coronary Artery Disease

2.1.2. Hypertension

2.1.3. Heart Valve Disorders

2.2. Causes of Respiratory Dysfunction

2.2.1. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

2.2.2. Asthma

2.2.3. Lung Infections

Preventive Measures for Cardiac Dysfunction

3.1. Regular Exercise

3.2. Balanced Diet

3.3. Stress Management

3.4. Smoking Cessation

Preventive Measures for Respiratory Dysfunction

4.1. Avoiding Environmental Triggers

4.2. Proper Ventilation

4.3. Vaccinations

4.4. Avoiding Smoking and Secondhand Smoke

Improving Cardiac Health

5.1. Medications and Treatment Options

5.2. Lifestyle Modifications

5.2.1. Healthy Eating Habits

5.2.2. Regular Physical Activity

5.2.3. Stress Reduction Techniques

5.3. Cardiac Rehabilitation Programs

Improving Respiratory Health

6.1. Medications and Treatment Options

6.2. Pulmonary Rehabilitation Programs

6.3. Breathing Exercises

6.4. Airway Clearance Techniques

Conclusion