Angina And Heart Failure Flashcards
Unstable angina
Pain increases
Early stages of progressive CAD
Chronic or stable angina
Exacerbated by nicotine, alcohol, caffeine
Subsides within 15 minutes of rest or drug
Nitrates
Helps chest pain because it vasodilates
Mechanism of action of nitrates
Dilates blood vessels
Dilates everything close to heart not just coronary arteries
Indications of nitrates
Acute episode of angina
Contraindications of nitrates
Hypotension (systolic is less than 90)
Glaucoma
Severe head injury
Erectile dysfunction
Why is severe head injury a contraindication to nitrates
It will vasodilate head and let too much blood in the brain
Side effects of nitrates
Hypotension
Headache
Considerations with nitrates
Angina pt gets 3 doses of nitrate 5 minutes apart
Have an IV in, in case patient gets dehydrated
Check BP
Assess and reassess bp before giving other doses
Nitroglycerin
Nitrate agent
Fast acting
Sublingual, iv, topical, spray
Isordil
Nitrate agent
Long acting
What to know when applying topical nitrates
Wear gloves
Take off old patch and wipe it off
Place new patch elsewhere
When does nitroglycerin lose potency
Within 6 months
Beta blockers with angina
Not approved fortis use but has some anti-anginal
Benefits of beta blockers with angina
Decreases heart rate
Decreases myocardial contractility