Coronary Artery Disease: Causes, Symptoms and Treatments

Coronary Artery Disease: Causes, Symptoms and Treatments CAD also known as coronary heart disease or ischemic heart disease is a disease caused by the buildup of plaque in the coronary arteries, referred to as atherosclerosis which reduces the amount of oxygenated blood to the heart (McPhee Papadakis, 2011). CAD encompasses two pathologies, angina and myocardial infarction, commonly recognized as a heart attack (Parmet, Glass Glass, 2004). Angina is best described by pain or discomfort in the chest area, pain caused by angina can radiate throughout the body to various muscle areas (McPhee Papadakis, 2011). Stoppage of oxygen-rich blood to particular heart muscles results in a heart attack, delayed restoration of blood flow can result in severe muscle damage to the heart and possibly death (Parmet, Glass Glass, 2004). With approximately sixteen million Americans suffering from CAD, a person dies every minute as a victim of the disease (American Heart Association [AHA], 2012). The following paper will comprehensively examine CAD. Anatomy and Physiology of the Heart The heart is an essential organ that is responsible for pumping blood all throughout the body and supplying it with oxygen and nutrients; it is the central hub for the cardiovascular system and acts as the transport system of the body, which performs via electrical conduction activity (Burke et al., 1999). Major anatomical structures of the heart consist of the aorta, the pulmonary artery and vein, coronary arteries and the valves (McPhee Papadakis, 2011). The aorta is the main artery that pumps the blood out of the heart and to the rest of the body; the pulmonary artery and vein transport deoxygenated and oxygenated blood respectively, and the coronary arteries make a crown on the heart muscle and supply the myocardium with oxygenated blood and nutrients (Crawford, 2011). The valves in the heart are responsible for preventing backflow of blood and allow the blood to circulate in a uniform fashion (Crawford, 2011). The electrical conduction system of the heart accounts for the beati ng of the heart allowing it to contract and act as the pump of the body (Burke et al., 1999). CAD: Pathophysiology Occlusion of the coronary arteries due to plaque buildup leads to a condition called atherosclerosis; atherosclerosis refers to the narrowing and hardening of the arteries leading to damage to the blood vessels and is a major contributor to many heart diseases and disorders (McPhee Papadakis, 2011). Atherosclerotic plaques are formed from lipid and fat deposits such as cholesterol, these formations are indicative of diet as a risk factor in developing CAD (Chandra-Bose, 2012). Arteries are composed of three layers: adventita, intima, and media; the plaque typically develops between the intima and media layers (Crawford, 2011). The atherosclerotic plaques narrow the lumen of the arteries causing decreased amounts of blood to reach the heart and over time harden them causing decreased flexibility during vasoconstriction and vasodilatation (Chandra-Bose, 2012). Additionally, the atherosclerotic plaques can dislodge causing thrombosis and ischemic events, when the coronary arteries func tion is compromised, the heart does not receive adequate supply of oxygenated blood and nutrients causing decrease cardiac function (McPhee Papadakis, 2011). At times of stress, the body will try to counteract these changes to achieve homeostasis by exerting more energy than normal; however, prolonged exertion initiates a cascade of many disease processes and pathologies, such as cardiomyopathy, heart failure, arrhythmias, cardiac arrest, and characteristically myocardial infarction (Ruth, 2011). CAD: Risk Factors CAD tends to be the most common cause of death and disability in the United States (AHA, 2012). Common risk factors of CAD are family history, physical inactivity, poor diet, smoking and alcohol consumption; additionally, health issues such as hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, and obesity are also prevailing risk factors (Ruth, 2011). A person that has a family history of heart disease is at greater risk of developing CAD; physical inactivity, poor diet, and obesity interrelated for developing CAD (AHA, 2012). Obesity has become an epidemic that affects one in four Americans and results in many life-threatening consequences, notably CAD (AHA, 2012). Heart disease has become the cause of death in industrialized nations compared to underdeveloped nations due to sedentary lifestyles and an increased consumption of fast food (Chan, 2011). One of the most preventable risk factors for any disease is smoking, and for cardiovascular disease it is the number one preventable cause (Rut h, 2011). Other contributing risk factors include age and gender, males are typically more likely to develop CAD at an earlier age than women, however, the risk equalizes in old age (Ruth, 2011). Research has indicated that CAD paired with diabetes, hypertension, and/or hypercholesterolemia can breed fatal consequences (Chan, 2011). CAD: Symptoms Most patients of CAD are asymptomatic, whereas other patients can present with a variety of symptoms such as shortness of breath, tightness around the chest, chest pain, clenched fist, or possibly death; patients that do however exhibit symptoms typically tend to have advanced stages of damage to their coronary arteries (McPhee Papadakis, 2011). Angina is the classic heart pain most patients complain about that is caused by ischemia which is the lack of oxygen supply to a region of the heart (Chandra-Bose, 2012). Patients can experience angina at anytime, however characteristically its exhibited after a person has been involved in an extraneous activity, such as exercise; angina can be categorized as stable, unstable, or variant (McPhee Papadakis, 2011). CAD: Complications Myocardial infarction occurs when the heart is deprived of oxygenated blood because of rupture of the atherosclerotic plaque, resulting in a state of ischemia; the area of the heart that the damage occurs depends on the vessels that are occluded, exhibiting a variety of symptoms and/or complications (Torpy, Lynm Glass, 2008). Therefore, essentially if a patient experiences a myocardial infarction at a particular region of the heart that area will suffer an ischemic event and kills the heart tissue and makes it dysfunctional (Torpy et al., 2008). Overall, a myocardial infarction has a poor prognosis and tends to lead to morbidity and mortality (Burke et al., 1999). CAD: Diagnosis CAD is a condition that develops over time; therefore, there arent any palpable tests that can indicate if a person is suffering from CAD (McPhee Papadakis, 2011). When examining the onset of CAD, healthcare providers consider a patients history, physical exams and relative risk factors (Andraws, Berger Brown, 2005). Healthcare providers utilize electrocardiogram, stress testing, echocardiography, and laboratory testing when examining patients that are at risk of developing CAD (Andraws, Berger Brown, 2005). Electrocardiograms also known as an EKG or ECG detect the hearts electrical activity, rhythm, heart rate, axis, and any abnormal enlargements of the heart; an EKG is a quick and efficient way of indicating whether a patient has experienced or is experiencing a myocardial infarction (Andraws et al., 2005). Stress testing can be induced by exercise or medication for evaluating ischemia in a patient; an echocardiography utilizes sound waves to monitor the hearts activity, includi ng the size, shape, and blood flow; laboratory testing, such as blood tests are conducted on a regular basis to assess the levels of cholesterol, sugar, and proteins such as inflammatory markers (Andraws et al., 2005). Other tools, such as chest x-rays, angiography, positron emission tomography, and cardiac cauterization can be utilized for patients with greater risk factors and/or advanced stages of CAD (McPhee Papadakis, 2011). CAD: Treatment CAD is a complex disease since it encompasses other pathologies (AHA, 2012). However, treatment options for CAD tend to be simple at its early stages, such as lifestyle changes; patients are encouraged to partake in therapeutic lifestyle changes such as daily exercise, eating healthy well-balanced meals, and stress and weight management; comprehensive therapeutic lifestyle changes help regulate the risk of other diseases such diabetes, hypertension and obesity (Ruth, 2011). Therapeutic life changes help reduce the risk of heart disease by lowering cholesterol and maintaining a body mass index of less than 25, which is considered to be normal (Ruth, 2011). For advanced stages of CAD, medication such as anticoagulants, aspirin, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, and nitroglycerin are prescribed to help reduce symptoms, lower cholesterol and blood pressure, prevent blood clots; aspirin is the leading medication to help relieve angina and prevent myocardial infarction (McPhee Papa dakis, 2011). Patients that have extensive damage to their arteries or have experienced a myocardial infarction may require medical procedures, such as angioplasty or coronary artery bypass grafting; angioplasty or percutaneous coronary intervention is a medical procedure done to open blocked or narrowed coronary arteries, this is commonly referred to having a stent put in place to prevent future blockage from occurring (Ruth, 2011). Coronary artery bypass grafting is an extensive surgical procedure done where doctors use blood vessels from other areas of the body that arent blocked to bypass narrowed and damaged coronary arteries, thus improving the blood flow to the heart (Ruth, 2011). Conclusion CAD is a disease caused by the buildup of plaque in the coronary arteries, referred to as atherosclerosis which reduces the amount of oxygenated blood to the heart (McPhee Papadakis, 2011). Occlusion of the coronary arteries due to plaque buildup leads to a condition called atherosclerosis; atherosclerosis refers to the narrowing and hardening of the arteries leading to damage to the blood vessels and is a major contributor to many heart diseases and disorders (McPhee Papadakis, 2011).With approximately sixteen million Americans suffering from CAD, a person dies every minute as a victim of the disease (AHA, 2012). Common risk factors of CAD are family history, physical inactivity, poor diet, smoking and alcohol consumption; additionally, health issues such as hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, and obesity are also prevailing risk factors (Ruth, 2011). CAD is a condition that develops over time; therefore, there arent any palpable tests that can indicate if a person is suffering from CAD (McPhee Papadakis, 2011). Treatment options for CAD tend to be simple at its early stages, such as lifestyle changes (Ruth, 2011); for advanced stages of CAD, medication such as anticoagulants, aspirin, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, and nitroglycerin are prescribed to help reduce symptoms, lower cholesterol and blood pressure, prevent blood clots; aspirin is the leading medication to help relieve angina and prevent myocardial infarction (McPhee Papadakis, 2011). Patients that have extensive damage to their arteries or have experienced a myocardial infarction may require medical procedures, s uch as angioplasty or coronary artery bypass grafting (Ruth, 2011).

Motivation Theories Essay

Content theories of motivation are based on the fact that the labor activity of workers due solely to the needs and focus on their identification. In turn, procedural theories of motivation are based on the fact that behavior of an individual is determined not only by a person’s needs, but also by the perception of the situation, expectations for the capacity, as well as the effects of the selected type of behavior, according to Motivation. Needs. It should be noted that Abraham Maslow recognized that people have many different needs and they could be divided into five main categories: he theory of justice expectations. According to this theory, the results achieved by the employee depend on three variables: the effort, the ability of a person’s character and awareness of its role in the labor process. The level of effort, in turn, depends on the value of interest and assesses the likelihood of relations efforts and rewarded. Achieving the desired results can lead to internal rewards of the satisfaction of the work performed, and external rewards – financial incentives, praise, career, etc. It is also believed that there may be a link between performance and employee to give him rewards that reflect the possibilities determined by the head of a particular employee and the organization. Value theory by L. Porter – E. Lawler in the practice of motivation is that it shows how important it is to create a motivational system to combine elements such as effort, ability, results, reward, satisfaction and perception. Furthermore L. Porter – E. Lawler showed that the high productivity of work is the cause of complete satisfaction, rather than a consequence of it. An important conclusion of this theory is the need to change the employee’s salary, depending on the success of his work. According to the theory of justice, people have their own assessment of the equity interest issued for certain results. Satisfaction – is the result of internal and external rewards based on their equity. Satisfaction is a measure of how valuable reward actually is. This assessment will affect the person’s perception of future situations. Motivational concepts that are also enough known are related to a group of content theories are the theory of David McClelland, in which he focuses on the needs of the higher levels: power, success and involvement. On this basis, according to McClelland, there is a fourth requirement – to avoid trouble, obstacles or opposition to the implementation of the above three requirements. Motivational and hygienic model of F. Herzberg. It is widely known among scholars and practitioners was another model of motivation, developed F. Hertzberg with employees in the mid 50-ies of XX century and known as the â€Å"two-factor theory of hygiene. † As hygiene factors, he took the following: company policy and administration;  working conditions; earnings; interpersonal relationships with superiors, colleagues and subordinates; degree of direct control over the work. Motivation, according to F. Herzberg, is achievement of objectives, promotion, high level of responsibility and autonomy, creative and business growth, recognition, interesting content work. According to F. Herzberg hygiene factors themselves are not a cause for satisfaction, but their degradation leads to dissatisfaction with work, according to Frederick Herzberg’s motivation and hygiene factors. Therefore, these factors are not motivating for employees’ value. Group motivators directly cause job satisfaction and affect the level of labor achievements. The theory of five nuclear factors by Hackman and Oldham. In the 70-ies of XX century was published a review of Hackman and Oldham the impact of the content of labor to maintain motivation. Developing the doctrine F. Herzberg, in their model, they identified five so-called nuclear factors, which, to them, a significant effect on work motivation. In accordance with the severity of these factors in the ordinary activities of the employee, they lead to the specific experiences that Hackman and Oldham called â€Å"critical mental states. Group theory of valence-instrumentality expectations includes concepts of Heinz Heckhausen, Vroom and a number of similar theories relating to procedural learning motivation towards work behavior. Common to these theories is the proposition that there is a requirement – not only requirement motivation. People consciously choose a course of conduct which, in their view, would lead to the desired results. These theories try to explain what objectives are formed, and why, how persistent they are pursued to achieve the expected results. The theory of Justice S. Adams. The group process of theories of motivation is aimed at organizational problems of production, the substance of the work, and is to be widely used in the western management â€Å"theory of justice†, developed in the 60 years of XX century. Adams, on the results of studies conducted in the company â€Å"General-Electric†. This theory postulates the search for the individual a certain state of equilibrium with its social environment (in particular, in terms of evaluation and pay, rewards for achievement). Individual compares two relationships: the relationship between his own effort and reward; same ratio, seen in monitoring the activities of others and to compare with their own efforts and reward. The theory of motivation of D. Atkinson. One of the theories is a process known as the theory of motivation of D. Atkinson, the essence of which is as follows. Employee behavior is the result of the interaction of the individual qualities of the individual and the situation of its perception. Each person strives for success, avoids failure and has two related motives: the motive for success and motivations to avoid failures. The theory of reinforcement B. Skinner. A significant contribution to the study of the mechanisms of human motivation to work made development of B. Skinner, who proposed the theory in 1938, increase motivation (reinforcement theory), the essence of which is as follows: people’s behavior is determined by their past experiences. Consequently, workers prefer a mission that in the past entailed positive results, according to Theories of Motivation. All in all, there are many motivational theories and many authors who have shown their opinion considering the issue. Lyman Porter and Edward Lawler, Maslow, Atkinson Heckhausen, and Hackman and Oldham have different point of view but all of them have something in common. The theories of motivation describe the reasons and personal development that a human has and expands its potential, as well as the need for self-actualization that can never be fully satisfied. Works cited Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs motivational model.

Grow Calcium Chloride Crystals

Its easy to grow calcium chloride crystals. The crystals are thin, six-sided needles that catch the light so that they seem to glow from within. Materials calcium chloride - CaCl2water - H2O Although you may not know it, you probably have calcium chloride in your home. This salt is used in moisture control products, such as DampRid, and in salt to remove ice from sidewalks. If you use road salt, check the label to make sure its calcium chloride and not another chemical. You can also order calcium chloride online. Grow Crystals The procedure for growing calcium chloride crystals is essential the same as growing table salt crystals or those of any salt.   Heat water to a full rolling boil. The solubility of any salt is highly dependent on temperature.Stir in calcium chloride until it stops dissolving. If you like, you can filter the solution into a new container, discarding any remaining solids.Place the container with the solution in a place where it wont be disturbed. Let the crystals grow. Tips Ordinarily you can remove crystals and preserve them, but calcium chloride is so hygroscopic, taking the crystals out and leaving them in open air will lead to degradation within hours. Its best to appreciate these crystals in their solution.Calcium chloride crystals are naturally colorless. You can try to color the crystals by adding food coloring to the crystal growing solution.One easy way to grow these crystals is simply to leave a container of DampRid hanging in your home or vehicle. Eventually the conditions will become right for crystal formation.