The cardiovascular and cardiopulmonary pathophysiologic processes

45-year-old woman presents with chief complaint of 3-day duration of shortness of breath, cough with thick green sputum production, and fevers. Patient has history of COPD with chronic cough but states the cough has gotten much worse and is interfering with her sleep. Sputum is thicker and harder for her to expectorate. CXR reveals flattened diaphragm and increased AP diameter. Auscultation demonstrates hyper resonance and coarse rales and rhonchi throughout all lung fields. 
Assignment
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.
·  How these processes interact to affect the patient.

Overview

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the major public health concern in people aged 40 years or above. It is currently the 4th leading cause of death in the world and projected to be the 3rd leading cause of death by 2020. COPD and cardiac comorbidities are frequently associated. They share common risk factors, pathophysiological processes, signs and symptoms, and act synergistically as negative prognostic factors. Cardiac disease includes a broad spectrum of entities with distinct pathophysiology, treatment and prognosis. From an epidemiological point of view, patients with COPD are particularly vulnerable to cardiac disease. Indeed, mortality due to cardiac disease in patients with moderate COPD is higher than mortality related to respiratory failure.

Pathophysiology of COPD and Cardiovascular disease

COPD is a chronic pulmonary disease with an often indolent evolution and systemic repercussions.Its main cause is constant and prolonged exposure to cigarette smoke or other noxious gases and particles which lead to reduced air flow and pulmonary hyperinflation due to varying degrees of airway obstruction and emphysema, as well as to systemic inflammation, ultimately causing skeletal muscle dysfunction, respiratory failure, and diminished peripheral blood flow.

In patients with COPD and CVD, the interaction of pathophysiologic processes of the respiratory, cardiac and vascular systems is complex and modulated by the action of pharmacologic agents used in the treatment of both conditions, some of which have true antagonistic effects on the autonomic nervous system. The potential side effects associated with the use of these drugs to treat COPD may translate into adverse events from a cardiovascular perspective (and vice-versa)

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2531043718301508