Maria is a 59 year old woman who was recently diagnosed with uncontrolled diabet
ID: 3507909 • Letter: M
Question
Maria is a 59 year old woman who was recently diagnosed with uncontrolled diabetes. She was seen at her providers office and told her blood pressure was elevated at 158/98 and was started on hypertension medications. In addition, Maria was given directions on eating healthier which included reduced carb intake, reduced salt intake, and to cut out soda. For the last two days Maria has been experiencing nausea and some slight chest tightness. She chalked it up to “catching something”. Today she is in the office and mentions this to you during intake and seems to be breathing heavier than usual.
Applying concepts you have learned in this learning plan, discuss the following: What is Maria potentially experiencing? What factors are leading you to this diagnosis? What diagnostic tests should be done now?
Explanation / Answer
Answer A.
As per the given symptoms, it seems that Maria is experiencing fibrillating heart. Fibrillating heart happens because of clots in the veins and arteries entering the heart. Due to clot, an adequate amount of blood does not enter the auricles. Sometimes the blood that is entering is more than normal, sometimes normal and sometimes less than normal. Finally, the heartbeat becomes irregular and quivering.
It is important to note that the irregular pumping of blood also causes nausea, irritability, and jittering feeling in the patient. The patient skips many beats; chest tightness is common. If skipping of beats is too much, then the patient may faint. Heart stroke will be the final outcome, if left untreated.
Answer B.
Chest tightness, nausea and the heavy jittering feeling that the patient is having has led to this outcome.
Answer C.
The diagnostic tests which should be done now are: