Cardiac conditions Flashcards
Cardiovascular Disease - CVD
> General term for conditions affecting the heart and blood vessels (+ associated damage to arteries of brain/kidneys/eyes)
> Types
- Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)
- CVA/TIA
- Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD)
- Aortic Disease
Coronary Heart Disease - What is it?
> A.K.A Coronary Artery Disease or Ischaemic Heart Disease
Where coronary arteries become blocked or narrowed
> Includes
- Angina
- Myocardial Infarction
- Heart Failure
CHD - Risk factors
> Age > Male > Lower socio-economic status > Smoking > Excess alcohol > Diet (high salts/sat fats) > Reduced exercise > Blood pressure > Cholesterol > obesity > diabetes \+ genetics \+ south Asian descent \+ psychological wellbeing
CHD - symptoms
> Only develop after 75% occlusion
> Pain/Numbness/tingling/burning in chest, arms, shoulders, jaw, upper back, upper abdomen > Dizziness > SoB > Fatigue > Nausea > Indigestion > Sweating/Clammy skin > Rapid Heart Rate > Palpitations > Swollen ankles/legs > Malaise
Angina
- definition
- types
- treatment
> Transient chest pain due to inadequate supply of O2 to heart muscle
Types (first 3 = 10 mins symptoms, micro = 30 mins)
- Stable - during stressful times
- Unstable - no particular demand on heart
- Variant - coronary artery goes into spasm
- Microvascular (Cardiac syndrome 10) - very smallest vessels of heart are affected
> Treatment
- Nitrates - vasodilators (non-specific = side effects)
- Anticoagulants
- lifestyle changes
- Surgery - CABG/angioplasty
Myocardial Infarction
- definition
- Diagnosis
> Severe reduction in blood supply to heart (angina is often precursor to MI)
Leads to ischaemia and tissue death = scar formation (loss of functional ability)
> Diagnosis
- Cardiac enzymes (troponin and creatine kinase levels - show after damage)
- ECG (ST elevation, T wave inversion, Enlarged Q wave)
- Silent MI’s can occur - no ECG change so check enzyme levels as well
MI
- Symptoms
- Prognosis
- Treatment
> Symptoms = same as CHD
Prognosis depends on site and extent of damage (left ventricle is most commonly affected - left coronary artery = 50-70%)
- 20% sudden death
- 13% delayed death
- 55% delayed recovery
- 12% uncomplicated recovery
*Complications = arrhythmias, heart failure, cardiogenic shock, thrombus formation, rupture
> Treatment
- Meds (beta blockers, vasodilators)
- Surgery (angioplasty, stent, CABG)
- Physio (Cardiac rehab and perioperative care)
Heart Failure
- Definition
- Causes
> Unable to pump blood around body (usually due to stiffness or weakness of heart) > Causes - MI - Hypertension (especially in lungs) - Cardiomyopathy - Damaged valves - Arrhythmias - congenital conditions - chemotherapy - excess alcohol - chronic anaemia - viral infection
Heart Failure
- Symptoms
- Treatment
> Symptoms
- SoB (on exertion and possibly at rest)
- Swollen feet/ankles (+lower back/stomach)
- Fatigue
> Treatment
- No cure
- mainly treat symptoms
- diuretics for hypertension
- pacemaker or implantable defibrillator to improve pumping action
Heart Valve disease
> Condition where heart valve doesn’t open (stenosis) or close (leaky) fully
- can affect any of the four valves
> Causes
- Congenital heart disease
- Rheumatic Fever
- Cardiomyopathy
- MI
- Ageing
- Endocarditis
> Symptoms
- SoB
- Peripheral swelling
- Fatigue
Other conditions
- Atrial Fibrillation
- Out of hospital Cardiac arrest
- Aortic Aneurysm
- Congenital Heart Disease
> Atrial fibrillation
- irregular heart beat (due to changes in conduction via muscle fibre changes in heart)
> Out of hospital cardiac arrest
> Aortic Aneurysm
- widening of aorta (at risk of bursting)
- due to weakening of the artery wall
> Congenital Heart Disease
- Developmental defects from birth
- Can include - Stenosis, septal defects, transposition of the great arteries)
