11-year-old boy complains of wheezing and difficulty “getting enough air.” Notices it more when he is playing baseball and symptoms improve when exercise activity stops. He says that the symptoms are getting worse and the symptoms are even occurring at rest. Mother says the child is allergic to cat dander and his next-door neighbor in their apartment building recently began sheltering cats for the local humane society. Auscultation demonstrates wheezes on forced expiration throughout all lung fields. ( must be included in paper)  Assignment (1- to 2-page case study analysis) In your Case Study Analysis related to the scenario provided, explain the following · The cardiovascular and cardiopulmonary pathophysiologic processes that result in the patient presenting these symptoms. · Any racial/ethnic variables that may impact physiological functioning.

Two-page case studies must be original and 100% unique.

Case Study Analysis

In the example, the 11-year old boy has wheezing or difficulty breathing that worsens when he exercises and gets better with rest. The forced exhalation of all lungs is accompanied by wheezes. The symptoms of asthma are wheezing and coughing and difficulty in breathing. Asthma is a chronic condition that affects the airways and causes inflammation. These complex processes are a result of cardiovascular and cardiopulmonary mechanisms that cause asthma symptoms.

Asthma is predominantly an inflammation of the airways which causes hyperresponsiveness to air and air flow obstruction. (Chung, 2015.) Exposure to environmental allergens such as pollen and dust mites can trigger the inflammation. As a response, airway epithelial cellular release cytokines chemokines and other mediators of inflammation, which activate and attract inflammatory cells like eosinophils T lymphocytes mast cells. They release mediators such as histamines and leukotrienes that cause edema and mucus production, further restricting the airways.

Asthma is associated with the autonomic nervous systems and neurotransmitters like acetylcholine or norepinephrine that regulate the airway response and tone. In individuals with asthma, the parasympathetic nervous system is overactive, leading to bronchoconstriction, whereas the sympathetic nervous system is underactive, reducing bronchodilation (Kumar & Clark, 2017). This results in typical asthma symptoms such as wheezing or shortness-of-breath, coughing or chest tightness.

The physiological functions of people with asthma may be affected by race and ethnicity. Research has shown that the severity and prevalence of asthma, as well as treatment outcomes, vary between different races and ethnicities. African Americans are at higher risk of death and morbidity from asthma than Caucasians. In addition, they’re more likely hospitalized for asthma and receive emergency medical care (Chung, 2014). The disparity in asthma rates may be due to a variety of factors such as genetic susceptibility to the disease, environmental exposures and social and cultural barriers that prevent access to care.

As a conclusion, it is most likely that the 11-yearold boy described in this situation has asthma. It’s a chronic condition of the respiratory system characterized with airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness. Pathophysiology for asthma includes inflammatory, neural and other mechanisms. Race and ethnicity may influence asthma outcome. Effective management of asthma requires a comprehensive approach that addresses both the underlying pathophysiology and the individual patient’s needs and preferences.

References:

Chung, K. F. (2015). Asthma genotyping is necessary for new and improved targeted therapies. Journal of Internal Medicine, 278(6), 483–487. https://doi.org/10.1111/joim.12398

Kumar, P., & Clark, M. (2017). Clinical Medicine (9th edition). Elsevier.