5.3 General Cardiovascular System Assessment
When evaluating a client for possible disorders of the cardiovascular system, the nurse must attend to individual and population risk factors, cultural influence, and socioeconomic factors that may impact preventative and curative health. Client health history, physical examination findings, and diagnostic test results will also play an important role in cardiovascular system assessment.
Risk Factors, Cultural, and Socioeconomic Influences on Cardiovascular System Health
Risk Factors
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains a significant global health concern, requiring providers to conduct a comprehensive risk assessment to guide client prevention and management strategies. A thorough client history is foundational for evaluating CVD risk, encompassing both modifiable and nonmodifiable risk factors. Understanding contributing risk factors provides essential insights into understanding an individual’s susceptibility to developing CVD and helps health care professionals tailor interventions effectively.
In the context of client history, identifying modifiable risk factors is crucial. Modifiable risk factors are risk factors that an individual can control through their actions, behavior, or lifestyle choices. These include factors such as tobacco use, physical activity, dietary habits, stress management, and sleep habits. Metabolic syndrome is a group of conditions that increases a person’s risk of coronary heart disease, diabetes, and stroke. The conditions include elevated blood pressure, blood glucose, and triglyceride levels, as well as increased waist circumference.[1] Understanding an individual’s modifiable risk factors allows health care providers to provide specific educational interventions to help prevent cardiovascular disease.[2]
Nutritional history, in particular, plays a pivotal role in cardiovascular health. See Figure 5.16[3] for an image illustrating healthy food choices. When first assessing cardiovascular risk, it can be helpful for individuals to provide a 24-hour food intake log. Providers may ask for individuals to record this for a brief period of time, often one to three days to help understand dietary patterns. Understanding an individual’s food and fluid intake over a brief period provides insight on dietary patterns and identifies deficiencies or excesses. It can be especially helpful to examine an individual’s saturated and trans fat intake, as well as cholesterol, salt, and dietary sugar.[4],[5]
Assessing nonmodifiable risk factors is also important. Nonmodifiable risk factors are those that cannot be changed. Age, gender, and ethnic origin all contribute to an individual’s CVD risk profile. Gathering information about chronic diseases, family history, and medication history helps in gauging potential risk. Family history and genetics play a crucial role in assessing overall risk. A positive family history of coronary artery disease (CAD) in a first-degree relative emerges as a