Sample Solution

In this case study, a 76-year-old female patient is exhibiting a number of symptoms including weight gain, shortness of breath, peripheral edema and abdominal swelling. It is revealed that the patient has a history of congestive heart failure (CHF) and is not adhering to her prescribed diuretic therapy. The underlying cardiopulmonary pathophysiological processes leading to these symptoms can be explained through an analysis of CHF and its effects on fluid accumulation in the body.

When a person suffers from CHF there are typically two primary components which lead to cardiac dysfunction: volume overload caused by increased venous return or ventricular systolic dysfunction due to impaired contractility. In this case it appears that the patient is primarily suffering from volume overload as evidenced by her complaints of peripheral edema and abdominal swelling as well as her need for diuretics (reduce fluid retention). This condition occurs when blood accumulates in the veins and pressure increases causing excessive fluid leakage into other parts of the body such as around organs or skin resulting in oedema. This process also affects breathing wherein extra effort is required for ventilation due to increased pulmonary pressures (Borer & Schwartz 2017).

The subsequent reduction in oxygen delivery which results from these changes often causes fatigue along with with exercise intolerance, both common concerns among those affected by CHF (Borer & Schwartz 2017). Additionally, over time changes may occur within muscle composition leading towards further weight gain due to reduced physical activity levels combined with metabolic adaptations associated with chronic heart failure (Hofmann et al., 2018). Therefore overall, we can see how these symptoms arise from an interplay between cardiopulmonary system processes linked to congestive heart failure.