NURS 6521 Week 9 Discussion: Women’s and Men’s Health, Infectious Disease, and Hematologic Disorders Example

NURS 6521 Week 9 Discussion: Women’s and Men’s Health, Infectious Disease, and Hematologic Disorders Example

NURS 6521 Week 9 Discussion: Women’s and Men’s Health, Infectious Disease, and Hematologic Disorders Example

The patient in this case study is a 46-year-old woman with a family history of breast cancer and has been up to date on yearly mammograms. She is currently having hot flashes, nocturnal sweats, and genitourinary issues. She had been feeling good up until a month ago when she went to see her gynecologist for her yearly exam and to talk about her symptoms.

Her Pap smear has been routine except for a history of ASCUS around five years ago. She has a history of hypertension (HTN) and is currently taking Norvasc 10mg once a day and HCTZ 25mg once daily. The patient’s blood pressure is 150/90 today. She has regular monthly menstrual cycles, with her last menstrual period (LMP) occurring one month ago.

The patient presents with conventional signs of perimenopause, the transitional phase preceding menopause, including hot flushes, nocturnal sweats, and genitourinary problems. Regular menstrual cycles do not rule out perimenopause, as cycles can remain regular early (Nik Hazlina et al., 2022). The symptoms and age of the patient are consistent with this diagnosis. The patient’s heightened blood pressure may be a consequence of the hormonal fluctuations that occur during perimenopause, or it may be a recurrence of the pre-existing hypertension.

Managing perimenopausal symptoms while reducing risks related to a family history of breast cancer and pre-existing hypertension are among the patient’s primary concerns. To prevent cardiovascular problems, the caregiver should also strive for optimal blood pressure regulation.

Treatment Recommendation and Justification

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) should be considered as part of the treatment regimen to address perimenopausal symptoms (Langer et al., 2021). For the treatment of vasomotor symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats, doctors may prescribe estrogen therapy alone or in conjunction with progestin. Given that the patient has hypertension, careful thought should be given to the hormone therapy option (Palacios et al., 2019). In this situation, transdermal estrogen might be considered as it may affect blood pressure less than oral estrogen.

Given the patient’s current blood pressure measurement of 150/90, modifying or reevaluating the antihypertensive drugs, Norvasc and HCTZ, may be necessary to regulate blood pressure better. Achieving blood pressure objectives and lowering the risk of cardiovascular problems may require adding more antihypertensive drugs or modifying the current prescriptions (Khalil & Zeltser, 2023). In addition, the patient ought to think about modifying their lifestyle. To improve perimenopausal symptoms and blood pressure regulation, it is recommended to lose weight, reduce sodium in the diet, exercise regularly, and manage stress.

Patient Education

Patient education is crucial for managing the patient’s health needs. The patient should be advised of hormone replacement treatment’s potential benefits and hazards (Langer et al., 2021). Emphasizing lifestyle changes, such as a nutritious diet, frequent exercise, and stress reduction, can also improve overall health and aid in managing hypertension. The patient should be educated on the significance of regular follow-up appointments to monitor blood pressure, evaluate drug efficacy, and address any concerns or adverse effects (Khalil & Zeltser, 2023).

It is also critical to talk about breast cancer screening and preventative techniques because the patient has a family history of the disease (Budh & Sapra, 2023). Encourage the patient to continue having annual mammograms and to self-examine their breasts frequently. Education on recognizing the signs and symptoms of breast cancer and the importance of early detection should be part of the patient education plan.

References

Budh, D. P., & Sapra, A. (2023). Breast Cancer Screening. StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK556050/

Khalil, H., & Zeltser, R. (2023). Antihypertensive Medications. StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/book