Acute Coronary Syndrome Flashcards
Define angina:
A condition marked by severe pain in the chest, often also spreading to the shoulders, arms, and neck, owing to an inadequate blood supply to the heart.
- exacerbated by exercise
Define acute coronary syndrome.
Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is the umbrella term or a set of signs and symptoms due to decreased blood flow in the coronary arteries such that part of the heart muscle is unable to function properly or dies.
Define STEMI.
ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) is a very serious type of heart attack during which one of the heart’s major arteries.
Define NSTEMI.
NSTEMI stands forNon-ST-elevation myocardial infarction - causes less damage to a persons heart than a STEMI.
IHD
Ischaemic heart disease - decreased blood supply to the heart muscle.
Myocardial Infarction
MI refers to cardiac muscle necrosis resulting from ischaemia.
What are the three broad manifestations of atherosclerosis?
- Coronary - ACS -MI, Angina, Sudden death.
- Cerebrovascular - TIA, CVA.
- Peripheral - intermittent claudication.
Progression seqence of atherosclerosis:
What is the common underlying pathology of ACS?
Disruption of an atherosclerotic plaque.
Troponin is a biomarker of what?
Cardiac myocyte necrosis
How can pain present in a myocardial infarct?
Central crushing/tight/squeezing chest pain.
Tooth/Jaw pain.
Pain radiating down left arm.
What are non-modifiable risk factors of MI?
Age
FH
Male
What are modifiable risk factors of MI?
Smoking
Hypertension
Diabetes
Hyperlipidaemia
Obesity
Sedentary lifestyle
Cocaine use
How is cocaine a risk factor for MI?
Cocaine use causes vasospasm hence ischaemia.
What are symptoms of an MI?
Acute crushing central chest pain lasting longer than 20minutes.
Chest pain can radiate to left arm, neck, jaw, epigastrium.
Assocaited nausea, sweatiness, breathlessness, palpitations.
In whom may a silent infarct present in?
Diabetic / elderly patients.
How do silent infarcts present?
Syncope
Pulmonary oedema
Epigastric pain / vomiting
Post-operative hypotension
Oliguria
Acute confusion
Stroke/Diabetic hypoglycaemic states
A localised / Sharp / pain that is worse on inhalation suggests what?
That it is not a heart problem.