Jonathan Case Study Homeostasis Assessment

Introduction

Jonathan Yung is a sixteen-year-old year twelve student. There is no past health history recorded in the school as he is a new student. He was playing bubble soccer on a hot and sunny day. He is feeling very hot and heart is beating very fast. His skin looks flushed and shirt soaked. Asking for water and a chair to sit shows that he is very tired and thirsty.   

According to the data provided Jonathan previous blood pressure (BP) was 110/60, 112/60 whereas the current is 130/70. According to Berman, et al (2017) blood pressure is affected by the exercise, stress temperature and more. According to the NSW health Standard Adult General Observation chart, Jonathan BP is in a normal range. His body temperature is 38.5°c which is in a high point of the lower grade of fever (Lowe grade fever is temperature 37.5- 38.5°c) (ABC Health & Wellbeing, 2013). His has hyperthermia due to heavy exercise in a hot and humid day. His temperature exceeds the expected body temperature rise by exercise. Heavy exercise is responsible for heat production and a rising core body temperature by 1 to 1.5°C (2 to 3°F) (Walker H, Hall W, Hurst J 1990). According to his previous two records, his body temperature rises by more than 1.5°C. His respiratory rate also increases very high level than his last two previous records. Similarly, Jonathan current pulse rate is very high capering to his previous two records. He has tachycardia so that he is feeling his heart is beating very fast. 

Jonathan was playing outside on a hot and humid day so, his body temperature rise. Negative feedback loop activated in homeostasis to maintain his core body temperature. Thermoreceptors in his skin and brain detect increased heat and transmit messages that travel through sensory neurons to the hypothalamus of the brain (Amerman, 2019). The hypothalamus then receives, and processes change information and send something that travels within the motor neuron to blood vessels and the sweat glands of the skin. Stretches the skin's blood vessels and enhances sweat gland activity (Amerman, 2019).  That is why he is looking flushed skin, sweating, and soaked shirt. Respiration is another way to lose body temperature (Sirmons, K 2016). Exercise burn energy in the body and body need more oxygen and nutrition. Medulla oblongata in the brain sends an instruction to increase the respiratory rate significantly to fulfill the desire level oxygen into the lungs and exhale carbon dioxide. Blood vessels in the skin dilate while the body tries to lose the temperature as fluid. So, the heart rate starts raising to pump a higher amount of blood to capillary on the skin to exchange oxygen and lose the fluid as sweat to reduce the body temperature (Amerman, 2019).

Further cues collection 

After reviewing Jonathan situation, I am a little worry about his medical condition. He has a fever, tachycardia, tachypnea. Therefore, first, I put him in a comfortable resting position to him cool down. I will contact Jonathan’s mother who is waiting in the car park to pick her son. Jonathan health history has never been recorded in the school. Then I will consult about his past health history with his mother. I will take his vital sign in another half an hour. The exercise and hot atmosphere can be the reason for his abnormal vital sign.

According to Jonathan situation, I will collect the following additional cues. 

• Vital signs after 30 minutes. 

• Any infection.

• Any respiratory illness to him and any other family member, like asthma.

• Family history of any heart disease and diabetes.

• Fluid consumption before the match.

• Health history.

Vital signs assessment is essential to determine the body’s response to physical, psychological stress or changes in the physiological function of patients (RPA policy directive, 2010). Vital signs will restore in their set point after 30 minutes of heavy exercise. So, it is very important to assess Jonathan vital signs because he has just finished his bubble soccer. His vital sign after resting thirty minutes helps me to determine his health situation (RPA policy directive, 2010).

Fever is not itself an illness. It is usually a body's response to a symptom of an underlying infection (Passarella, E 2018). Therefore, it is important to collect information about any infection and diseases. Fever can be the cause of tachypnea. To maintain the body homeostasis, tachypnea is compensatory to lose heat from the body. Similarly, this is essential to obtain information about respiratory illness because Jonathan has tachypnea.  Tachypnea can be the cause of chronic condition like asthma. Heart disease and diabetes are chronic diseases