ESSAY: Cardiovascular diagnoses

Using Chapter 7 of your Goolsby and Grubbs text, select one common diagnosis and one less-common diagnosis for the cardiovascular system. Describe how you would be able to differentiate them from each other on an exam

ANSWER

Cardiovascular Diagnoses

Also known as the vascular or circulatory system, the cardiovascular system refers to an organ system allowing blood circulation and transportation of nutrients (electrolytes and amino acids), hormones, oxygen, and cardio dioxide to and from the body cells to nourish the body and help fight diseases, as well as stabilize pH and temperature (Grad, 2015). In this regard, therefore, one common diagnosis for the cardiovascular system is blood tests, and the less common diagnosis is echocardiography. Carrying out blood tests are done in the laboratory, and is the most common form of diagnosis as it involve taking tests to determine various risk factors for cardiovascular conditions (Goolsby & Grubbs, 2018). It also comprises the detection of fats, lipid components, and cholesterol components. On the other hand, echocardiography involves the use of sound waves, but on rare occasions.

Both approaches can be differentiated. Blood tests can be differentiated from echocardiography based on the detection of any heart condition. For instance, blood tests involve the measurement of the number of proteins released into the bloodstream when heart muscle cells die (Grad, 2015). In this case, a high protein level is a sign of a heart condition such as a heart attack. On the other hand, echocardiography test involves the use of sound waves to develop a moving picture of a human heart. A probe is rolled over a patient’s chest where the image is created and displayed on the monitor, which provides information on the size, workings, shape, heart chambers and valves (Goolsby & Grubbs, 2018). The difference, in this case, is that this test shows the heart muscle areas with poor blood supply, areas that are not contracting, and the presence of any injury to the muscle of the heart.

References

Grad, C. (2015). Heart rate variability and heart rate recovery as prognostic factors. Clujul Medical, 88(3), 304-309.

Goolsby, M. J., & Grubbs, L. (2018). Advanced Assessment: Interpreting Findings and Formulating Differential Diagnoses. Philadelphia: F.A. Davis Company.