Cardiac Conditions Flashcards
What is cardiomyopathy?
Disease of the heart muscle, causing it to become enlarged, thick or rigid
What are the 2 types of cardiomyopathy?
- Dilated cardiomyopathy
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
What is dilated cardiomyopathy?
- L ventricle enlarged
- Thinner walls weakened and not able to contract normally
- Caused by genetics, viral infections or exposure to toxins
What is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?
- Portion of the heart becomes thickened without an obvious cause
- Hear unable to pump blood effectively
What are the 2 types of septal defect?
- Atrial
- Ventricular
What are the symptoms of an atrial septal defect?
- Shortness of breath
- Cyanosis
- Recurrent chest infections
- Lethargy
What is a ventricular septal defect?
- Genetic defect (sometimes linked with Down’s syndrome)
- Complications include heart failure, hypertension and endocarditis
What is Marfans syndrome?
- Genetic condition affecting elasticity of skin, lungs and heart
- Characteristics include tall, slim frame, wide arm span, long digits and a concave chest
What is coronary heart disease?
- Coronary arteries become narrowed by a gradual build up of fatty material
- Caused by raised BMI, smoking, alcohol and a diet high in fat/sugar
What is peripartum cardiomyopathy?
Heart muscle enlarged during 3rd trimester or first few months PN
How are cardiac conditions managed?
- Consultant care
- IV diuretics
- Beta-blockers
- Hydralazine
- ACE inhibitors
Name the different parts of the circulatory system in order
R atrium - R AV valve - R ventricle - Pulmonary arteries - Lungs - Pulmonary veins - Left atrium - L AV valve - L ventricle - Aorta - Body - Vena cava
How does the heart contract?
- SA node sends an electrical signal to the atria
- Atria contract
- Signal travels to AV node and is delayed
- Signal travels down the Bundle of His
- Signal travels down Purkinje fibres
- Ventricles contract from bottom up
Why is the electrical signal delayed at the AV node?
To allow the blood to flow through to the ventricles
What are some of the main cardiac changes that occur in pregnancy?
- Vasodilation
- Increased cardiac output
- Decreased BP
What is chronic hypertension?
Women diagnosed with high BP before pregnancy or within the first 20 weeks (>140and/or >90)