Coronary Artery Disease Nursing Care Plan
Coronary Artery Disease
Tabatha Turner
Practicum I
Arkansas Tech University
Coronary Artery Disease “Acute coronary syndromes represent a spectrum of clinical conditions that are associated with acute myocardial ischemia” (Gulanick & Myers, 2011). Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is one of these clinical conditions that affect approximately 13 million people (Rimmerman, 2011). Because coronary diseases are the leading cause of death in men and women, nurses need to be involved in the care and education of people with or without CAD.
Prevention is the best cure. Nurses play an important role in the treatment of CAD by offering and supplying comfort for anxiety and pain, minimizing symptoms and side effects, educating patients on the disease process, and helping to reduce risks and promote healthier lifestyles.
Pathophysiology
The heart is supplied blood, oxygen, and nutrients by the coronary arteries. When functioning normally, the coronary arteries ensure adequate oxygenation of the myocardium at all levels of cardiac activity (Klabunde, 2010). CAD is a heart disease that is caused by impaired blood flow to or through the coronary arteries. Several disorders can arise from the disease ranging from myocardial ischemia to myocardial infarction. Blood flow through the coronary arteries is usually dictated by the heart’s need for oxygen. It is controlled by physical, metabolic and neural factors and uses 60 to 80% of the oxygen in the blood that flows through the coronary arteries (Porth, 2011). When this blood flow is interrupted, damage ensues. Blood flow can be blocked by atherosclerosis, the buildup of fats and cholesterol in and on the artery walls (plaques) (Mayo Clinic, 2012). These buildups can be either stable and obstruct blood flow or unstable, “which can rupture and cause platelet adhesion and thrombus formation” (Porth, 2011). When the plaques are disrupted and a thrombus is formed, blood flow is obstructed and a myocardial infarction (MI)
Tabatha Turner
Practicum I
Arkansas Tech University
Coronary Artery Disease “Acute coronary syndromes represent a spectrum of clinical conditions that are associated with acute myocardial ischemia” (Gulanick & Myers, 2011). Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is one of these clinical conditions that affect approximately 13 million people (Rimmerman, 2011). Because coronary diseases are the leading cause of death in men and women, nurses need to be involved in the care and education of people with or without CAD.
Prevention is the best cure. Nurses play an important role in the treatment of CAD by offering and supplying comfort for anxiety and pain, minimizing symptoms and side effects, educating patients on the disease process, and helping to reduce risks and promote healthier lifestyles.
Pathophysiology
The heart is supplied blood, oxygen, and nutrients by the coronary arteries. When functioning normally, the coronary arteries ensure adequate oxygenation of the myocardium at all levels of cardiac activity (Klabunde, 2010). CAD is a heart disease that is caused by impaired blood flow to or through the coronary arteries. Several disorders can arise from the disease ranging from myocardial ischemia to myocardial infarction. Blood flow through the coronary arteries is usually dictated by the heart’s need for oxygen. It is controlled by physical, metabolic and neural factors and uses 60 to 80% of the oxygen in the blood that flows through the coronary arteries (Porth, 2011). When this blood flow is interrupted, damage ensues. Blood flow can be blocked by atherosclerosis, the buildup of fats and cholesterol in and on the artery walls (plaques) (Mayo Clinic, 2012). These buildups can be either stable and obstruct blood flow or unstable, “which can rupture and cause platelet adhesion and thrombus formation” (Porth, 2011). When the plaques are disrupted and a thrombus is formed, blood flow is obstructed and a myocardial infarction (MI)
References: BCS Heart, (2012). Cardiac Catheterization. Interventional Cardiology and Cardiovascular Services Gulanick, M., Myers, J. (2011). Cardiac and Vascular Plans. Nursing Care Plans (209).St. Louis, MS: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing. Klabunde, R. (2010). Retrieved October 2, 2012 from Cardiovascular Physiology Concepts. Coronary Artery Disease KU Medical Center, (2012). Retrieved October 3, 2012 from KU Medical Center online information, http://classes.kumc.edu/cahe/respcared/cybercas/cabg2/stevmi.html Mayo Clinic, (2012). Retrieved October 4, 2012. Coronary Artery Disease, http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/arteriosclerosis-atherosclerosis/DS00525 http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/coronary-artery-disease/DS00064/DSECTION=risk-factors National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHI). (2011, July). Coronary Artery Disease. Retrieved October 5, 2012. NHI article on MedlinePlus Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/coronaryarterydisease.html#cat3 Porth, C.M Rimmerman, C. (2011). Diseases and Conditions: Coronary Artery Disease. Retrieved October 5, 2012, Cleveland Clinic Web site: http://my.clevelandclinic.org/heart/disorders/cad/understandingcad.aspx Scherer, E. (2012) Retrieved October 2, 2012 from Discovery Fit and Health online information, http://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/food-nutrition/facts/foods-high-in-saturated-fat-and-cholesterol.htm Smeltzer, S., Hinkle J., Bare, B., & Cheever, K. (2010). Coronary Artery Disease. H.