Racial/Ethnic Variables That May Impact Physiological Functioning

Cardiovascular diseases such as chronic heart diseases are less prevalent and has less effects among the Hispanic population. Hispanics are less likely to develop chronic heart diseases compared to the non-Hispanic whites (Benjamin et al., 2018). Besides, they are also less likely to die from heart diseases compared to the non-Hispanic whites. This shows the existing racial and ethnic variabilities on the impact of the disease across the population (Benjamin et al., 2018). 

How the Processes Interact To Affect the Patient

Impaired functioning of the heart, as aforementioned result in fluid up, which result in swelling seen as peripheral edema and abdominal swelling. The buildup of the fluids in the lungs impairs gaseous exchange, resulting in shortness of breath with slight exercise or while lying flat (Dharmarajan & Rich, 2017). These symptoms can be attributed to failure by the patient to adhere to the diuretics medications prescribed for the congestive heart failure. 

Conclusion

The cardiovascular and respiratory systems are closely related. Pathologies of either the systems affect the functioning of the other system. The patient with congestive heart failure presents with these symptoms since failure to take the diuretics resulted in fluid buildup in the body, and resulted in her presentation with the highlighted symptoms. 

References

Benjamin, E. J., Virani, S. S., Callaway, C. W., Chamberlain, A. M., Chang, A. R., Cheng, S., ... & Muntner, P. (2018). Heart disease and stroke statistics—2018 update: a report from the American Heart Association. Circulation, 137(12), e67-e492. https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/abs/10.1161/cir.0000000000000558