Cardiac medicine Flashcards
What 4 components (of systole and diastole) can the cardiac cycle be split into?
What are the repetitive sequence of events that occur with each heart beat?
What is higher pressure; right or left ventricle?
The left is higher pressure, this is because the pulmonary vascular system is a low pressure system.
What does a pressure vs time graph look like for a heart beat?
Semilunar valve= aortic valve
AV valve= mitral valve
What do the different sections of an ECG represent?
P spike= atrial depolarisation
QRS peak= L and R ventricular depolarisation
T= ventricular repolarisation
How does atrial blood pressure remain fairly constant when pressure falls in the left ventricle?
The elasticity of blood vessels such as aorta.
What is stroke volume?
The volume of blood pumped by each ventricle per beat
Around 75ml, but may double with exercise
What is the ejection fraction?
It is the % of volume pumped out.
Usually 55-60%, in exercise can be upto 80% and in heart failure can be 20%.
What is cardiac output?
It is the volume of blood pumped per minute (by each ventricle)
CO= heart rate x stroke volume
CO= Blood pressure / Peripheral resistance
Uusally 5L/min at rest, exercise can be 25L/min
What two factors does stroke volume depend on?
a) contracility; the force of contraction (adrenaline increases this)
b) end diastolic volume; volume of blood in ventricle at the end of diastole
What is the Frank-Starling mechanism?
Stroke volume is proportional to diastole filling.
As end diastolic volume (preload) increases, so does stroke volume
What is peripheral resistance?
Also known as afterload
Is the resistance to blood flow away from the heart- altered by dilation or constriction of blood vessels.
Why does cardiac output not decrease much when peripheral resistance increases?
Stroke volume will decrease, which leads to an increase in end systolic volume. This leads to an increase in the end diastolic volume and subsequently an increase in stroke volume by the Frank-Starling mechanism
What is the excitation pathway during a heart beat?
The Sinoatrial node provides a depolarisating signal that radiates across the right atrium and to the left atrium.
The atrial action potention activates the atrioventricular node, and this travels through the bundle of his to the L and R bundle braches to the purkinje fibres which activates the ventricles.
What are the effects of noradrenaline and acetylcholine on the heart rate?
Noradrenaline speeds it up, ACh slows it down.
What ions are involved in the pacemaker potential, action potential creation and repolarisation?
What do neurogenic and myogenic mean?
Skeletal muscle is neurogenic, it needs a nervous impulse to initiate a contraction.
Cardiac muscle is myogenic, the muscle generates action potentials spontaneously.
What are the differences in the action potentials generated by heart and skeletal muscle?
Cardiac APs are much longer, and there is differences in the ions involved:
Where is the source of Ca from heart cells?
What is the atrioventiruclar node delay?
When the electric signal arrives at the atrioventricular node, there is a short delay to ensure blood has been pushed into the ventricles before they contract
Where are the 12 leads of an ECG placed?
What is left and right axis deviation in the heart?
The QRS axis represents the net overall direction of the heart’s electrical activity.
How can the ‘axis’ of an electrical impulse of a heart be cancelled?
What time does one large box on an ECG represent?
Therefore one large box corresponds to 0.2 seconds.
What does the PR interval represent?
It represents the time taken to conduct through the atrioventricular node and bundle of His.
What are the two types of Tachyarrhythmias?
- Narrow complex tachycardia- fast atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter (saw-tooth pattern)
- Broad complex tachycardia (QRS duration > 0.12s)
What does a too short and too long PR interval suggest?
Too short- signal is bypassing node (Wolff-Parkinson-white syndrome)
Too long- conductive tissue disorder- first degree heart block
What does ST elevation and depression indicate?
Elevation= acute infractio
Depression= ischemia or left ventricle strain
What are the ECG signs for left ventricular hypertrophy?
An abnormally tall R wave in the V5,6 leads and a deeper S in V1
How do you calculate the PR interval and what is the normal range for a PR interval?
0.12-0.20 seconds (3-5 boxes)
Count number of small boxes and times that by 0.04
What is the most common cause of left ventricular hypertrophy?
Hypertension
What does the ECG of right bundle branch block look like?
There is an initial smaller R wave as LV is polarised
Then s wave as it is depolarised
Then another R wave as the RV is depolarised late through muscle
Causes
What is the usual ventricular contraction?
The fibres of the left bundle branch begin conudction and impulses travel across the interventriular septum from left to right
How can you calculate HR from and ECG strip of regular and irregular heart rates?
Divide 300 by the number of large squares between R waves for regular
For irregular, the number of QRS complexes x6 (since a rhythm strip is a 10s recording of the heart)
What is bradyarrhythmia and tachyarrhythmia?
B= any abnormality of cardiac rhythm resulting in a slow HR < 60 BPM
A= any abormalility of cardiac rhythm resulting in a fast HR > 100 BPM
What is first degree heart block?
When there is slow conduction through the AV node
What does the ECG look like for 1st degree heart block?
Regular rhythm
PR > .02s and is constant
What are the different tyes of second degree heart block?
Mobitz I- the PR interval is not constant, continues to lengthen until a QRS is missing
Mobitz II- PR interval is constant however miss a QRS complex either randomly, every 2 P waves or 3
What is the treatment for first, second and third degree heart block?
First- not usually treatment
Second- pacemaker
Third (complete)- pacemaker, isoprenaline
What is isoprenaline?
Used for complete heart block
It is a non-selective beta adrenoceptor agonist
What is 3rd degree (complete) heart block?
Atria and ventricles beat independant of each other
QRS’s and P’s have their own rhythm
What does the ECG look like for second degree heart block?
What is narrow complex and broad complex tachycardia?
Narrow QRS complex tachycardia (NCT) represents an umbrella term for any rapid cardiac rhythm greater than 100 beats per minute (bpm) with a QRS duration of less than 120 milliseconds (ms)
Broad is the same but with a QRS duration of greater than 120ms
What are examples of narrow complex tachycardia?
Atrial fibrillation
Atrial flutter
What does the ECG for atrial fibrillation look like?
There are no visible P-waves and an irregularly irregular QRS complex, separated by small uneven oscillations.
What does the ECG of a patient with atrial flutter look like?
What is the Vaughan Williams classification?
It is the most established classification of arrhythmic drugs and is based on both their electrophysioloigcal and pharmacological characteristics
What are anti-arrhythmic drugs?
They are drugs which supress cardiac arrhythmias
They may supress the cells that depolarise spontaneously or they may extend the refractory period during which excitable cells cannot be depolarised
What are the different classifications of anti-arrhythmic drugs?
Class 1a, 1b and 1c
Class 2
Class 3
Class 4
What property do class 1 anti-arrhythmic drugs share?
They block the entry of sodium ions through voltage gated sodium channels
It limits the rate of sodium entry during action potentials
What are the 3 subgroups of class 1 antiarrhythmic drugs?
Class 1a= moderate Na+ channel blocking activity and significantly lengthen the action potential because they also block K+ channels in phase 4. Rarely used
Class 1b have weak Na+ channel blocking activity but shorten action potentials of myocardial cells. Rarely used for arrhythmias
Class 1c have the strongest Na+ channel blocking activity but no not significantly affect the length of the action potential
What are examples of type 1 antiarrthymic drugs?
Type 1 quinidine
Type 2 lidocaine
Type 3 flecainide, propafenone
What are class II anti-arrhythmic drugs?
Beta-adrenoceptor antagonists or beta blockers
Beta blockers reduce the rate of spontaneous depolarisation by decreasing the availability of Ca2+ ions.
Examples-atenolol, metoprolol
What are type III anti-arrhythmic drugs?
These block K+ channels involved in repolarisation, thus prolonging the cardiac action potential
Causes QT elongation
What are examples of type III anti-arrhythmic drugs?
Amiodarone, sotalol
What are type III anti-arrhythmic drugs used to treat?
Tachyarrhthymias resulting from increased automaticity (atrial fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia)
What property do type IV anti-arrhythmic drugs share?
They block voltage sensitive L-type calcium channels. They slow conduction in the pacemaker cells and the atrioventricular node
On what cells do the different classes of antiarrhythmic drugs act on?
Class I= myocardial cells
Class II= pacemaker cells
Class III= myocardial cells
Class IV= pacemaker cells
What anti-arrthymic drugs cannot be classified according to the Vaughan Williams classification system?
Digoxin, adenosine and magnesium
Sotalol has both class II and III properties
What is the treatment for bradyarrthymias?
Temporary or permement pacemakers
Muscarinic antagonist- atropine
Adrenergic drugs such as adrenaline
What is atrial fibrillation?
It involves disorderly atrial depolarisation that is no longer coordinated by the SA node
results from multiple small re-entry circuits, predominantly within the left atrial muscle, that cause it to fibrillate rather than contract.
What is atrial flutter?
Involves a rapid circuit of depolarisation around the right atrium, usually close to the tricuspid valve
What is atrial tachycardia?
Atrial tachycardia involves the establishment of an ectopic pacemaker in the atria, which ini;ates the depolarisa;on of the cardiac conduc;on system in preference to the sinoatrial node. There may be a single ectopic focus or mul;ple foci.
What is atrialventricular nodal re-entry tachycardia?
involves the establishment of a rapid re-entry circuit within the atrioventricular node that becomes the pacemaker that drives rapid ventricular depolarisa;on.
What is atrioventricular re-entry tachycardia?
the re-entry circuit involves an aberrant bypass tract that creates an abnormal electrical connection between the atria and ventricles, sometimes called paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia
What are the 5 common supraventricular tachyarrhythmias?
- Atrial fibrillation
- Atrial flutter
- Atrial tachycardia
- Atrioventricular nodal re-entry tachycardia
- Atrioventricular re-entry tachycardia
What are the physiological consequences of atrial fibrillation?
A rapid iregular heart rate
Reduced ventricular filling
Reduced cardiac output
What is the presentation of a patient with atrial fibrillation?
Palpitations
Anginal chest pain
Dizziness or syncope
Can be asymptomatic
Low blood pressure and irregular HR can be seen
What are the treatment goals for patients with atrial fibrillation?
Reduce symptoms and prevent complications, especially stroke
Restore sinus rhythm and control rhythm
How can sinus rthym be restored in patients with atrial fibrillation?
inus rhythm can be restored by electrical cardioversion, or
pharmacological cardioversion with an oral or intravenous
an;arrhythmic drug (e.g. flecainide acetate, amiodarone
hydrochloride)
What is the difference in treatment pathways between atrial fibrillation that has been present for more than 48 hours and life-threatening newly-onset fibrillation?
If atrial fibrillation has been present for more than 48 hours, electrical cardioversion is preferred and should not be agempted until the patient has been fully anticoagulated for at least 3 weeks. If patients present with life-threatening haemodynamic instability caused by new-onset atrial fibrillation, they should undergo emergency electrical cardioversion without delaying to achieve anticoagulation.
What drug is given to maintain sinus rhythm post-cardioversion?
Standard beta-blocker e.g. bisoprolol
If this is ineffective, an oral anti-arrhythmic drug
What is the next treatment goal for supraventricular tachyarrythmias if cardioversion is not possible or fails?
Controlling ventricular rate- beta blockers or calcium channel blockers or digoxin ( last only effective at controlling rate at rest)
Reduce risk of stroke- anticoagulation with warfarin or apixaban
What beta blockers are used to treat cardiac conditions?
Beta-1 antagonists such as atenolol, metoprolol and bisoprolol
This is the predominant receptor type in the heart
Where do beta blockers act in the heart?
Beta 1 adrenoceptors..
- In the SA node
- In the AV node
- In the conducting system
- In the cardiac myocytes
What are beta blockers used for in cardiac conditions?
- treatment of arrhythmias
- treatment of hypertension- reduce CO
- treatment of angina pectoris
- more recently, heart failure (fix impaired cardiac function)
What are the adverse effects of beta blockers?
- Bronchospasm in lungs
- lethary due to decreased HR ans blood pressure
- Cold peripheries
- May precipitate heart block
What are calcium channel blockers and how do they work?
They are a class of drugs that all share the ability to interfere with the entry of calcium ions into excitable tissue via L-type voltage gated calcium channels.
This reduced availability for Ca2+ for participation in action potentials
What are some of the subclasses of calcium channel blockers?
Dihydropyridines e.g. amlodipine and nifedipine, act peripherally on arteriolar vessels used for hypertension
Centrally acting drugs e.g. verapamil and dilitazem used for tachyarrythmias
What is the mechanism of action of calcium channel blockers against supraventricular arrythmias?
Reduce the rate of membrane depolarisation of SA node
Reduces rate of AV conduction- reducing the ventricular response rate in atrial fibrillation
Does not affect purkinje fibres, the myocytes of the atria and ventricles or bundle of His
What patients should you not give calcium channel blockers to?
Those with heart failure
What conditions should you prescribe calcium channel blockers for?
Atrial fibrillation and other supraventricular tachyarrhythmias
Hypertension
Angina
How Verapamil administered?
It has a relatively short half like and needs to be given 3x a day orally
What are the adverse effects of calcium channel blockers?
Vasodilator effects cause hypotension, headache or flushing
Bradycardia or heart failure
What are cardiac glycosides and what is their mechanism of action?
Derivived from foxglove plants e.g. digoxin
Digoxin inhibits the sodium/potassium-ATPase pump
by inhibi;ng the Na+/K+-ATPase, digoxin diminishes a factor that drives calcium out of the cell, consequently increasing its availability to bind with troponin and participate in myocyte contraction
Caused increased contractibility
Effect on HR not know- reduced SA firing rate and reduces conduction velocity of electrical impulses through AV node
What are cardiac glycosides used for?
Heart failure, not used as much
Atrial fibrillation
How is digoxin administered?
Long half life- administered by mouth once daily
If rapid effect needed a loading dose should be given
What are the adverse effects of digoxin?
Low therapeutic range
Warning signs of toxicity include anorexia, nausea and vomiting
If taken in too high doses can be pro-arrhythmic
What is atrial flutter?
Atrial flutter typically involves a re-entrant circuit of depolarisation in the right atrium around the tricuspid valve annulus.
What does the ECG look like for atrial flutter?
A ‘saw-tooth’ pattern with a frequency of around 300/minute. Fortunately, the atrioventricular node cannot conduct at that rate and the ventricles are only activated by every second, third or fourth circuit.
What are the goals of treatment for atrial fibrillation?
- restoration of sinus rythm
- prevention of recurrent episodes
- control of ventricular rate
- prevention of thromboembolic complications
How can sinus rhythm be restored in atrial flutter, and then maintained?
Cardioversion and pharmacological therapy
Give anti-arrhythmic drugs to stop recurrent episodes
What is the treatment goal if sinus rhythm cannot be restored?
Ventricular rate can be controlled by drugs that block the AV node such as beta blockers and calcium channel blockers
What is paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia?
Describes the tachyarrhythmia that results from a re-entrant circuit through the atrioventricular node. This produces a rapid regular narrow complex tachycardia.
What does the ECG for paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia look like?
What is the presentation of a patient with paroxyssmal supraventricular tachycardia?
Palpitations, may be accompanied by dizziness, breathless and chest pain
Pulse rat is rapid (> 150)
What is the treatment strategy for paryoxysmal supraventricular tachycardia?
Vagal stimulation manœuvres such as the Valsalva manœuvre or immersing the face in cold water. Carotid sinus masage would work too
If that does work, give intravenous adenosine
What is adenosine?
Naturally occuring nucleoside that is formed from the breakdown of adenosine triphosphate (ATP)
What is adenosines mechanism of action?
It binds to A1 receptors in SA and VA nodes which are coupled to G proteins
Activation of this pathway opens potassium channels, which hyperpolarises the cell
G protein also decreases cAMP which reduces calcium entry
Also acts on presynaptic sympathetic receptors to inhibit release of noradrenaline
These actions produce a temporary block of conduction through AV node, abolishing the re-entry circuit
Why is sinus arrhythmia not always regular?
This is normal, rate changes with respiration. On inspiration the thoracic pressure changes and blood is sucked into the chest. Therefore more needs to be pumped out. It is the opposite for expiration
What are the causes of AV nodal block?
- Sino-atrial disease
- Coronary heart disease
- Aortic valve disease
- Damage during heart surgery
- Drugs e.g. beta-blockers, digoxin and calcium channel blockers
How do you treat AV nodal block?
Remove any triggering cause
Give atropine and isoprenaline treatment
Permanent pacemaker
What is contraction of the heart known as?
Systole
What is the average cardiac output?
5L of blood per min
What controls the arteriole tone?
Sympathetic nervous system
Hormones e.g. angiotensin 2
Local factors such as nitric oxide
What are the two sides to the capillary fluid equilibrium?
HYDROSTATIC pressure tends to filtrate water from capillary to interstitial space
ONCOTIC pressure tends to draw water back into the plasma
Normally the pressure gradients are balanced
What is exiting and entering the capillaries at different points?
What can disturb the hydrostatic fluid equilibrium?
Oedema- when excess salt and water can’t be excreted from the body in the form of urine, and resultantly is retained in the body’s cells.
Causes include malnutrition, liver disease, inflammation, vasodilator drugs or deep vein thrombosis
What measures afferent information about blood pressure and volume?
Pressure= arerial baroreceptors
Volume= volume stretch receptors and juxtaglomerular cells
What circulating hormones effect blood pressure and volume?
Pressure= angiotensin II, adrenaline and vasopressin
Volume= aldosterone, natriuetic peptides and vasopressin
What is arterial blood pressure and what units is it measured in?
The hydrostatic pressure within the arterial system
Measured in millimeters of mercury mmHg
What is the average ABP in young adults?
120/80
How do you calculate arterial blood pressure?
ABP= CO x SVR
CO= stroke volume x heart rate
SVR= resistance to blood flow
What is heart rate increased and decreased by? (nervous systems)
Increase by sympathetic system; noradrenaline of beta-1 adrenoceptors
Decreased by parasympathtic system; acetylcholine on muscarinic receptors
What controls the radius of a blood vessel?
Circulating hormomes
Smooth muscle layer which is innervated by post-ganglionic sympathetic nerve endings to cause vasoconstriction
What are atrerial baraceptors and where are they located?
They respond to stretch in the vessels by producing action potentials, info travels in different nerves to the vasometer centre.
Located within the carotid sinus- glossopharyngeal nerve (IX) and the aortic arch- vagus nerve (X)
Where do efferent nerve from the vasomotor centre act apon?
SYMPATHETIC= Heart- increase HR or contractibility
Blood vessels- constrict or dilate
Adrenal medulla- release catecholamines
Kidney- ateriolar constriction and renin secretion
PARASYMPATHETIC= heart- decrease HR
What are the differnt types of fluid in the body?
Blood volume= 4L
Extracellular (interstitial) fluid= 12L
Intracellular fluid= 32L
These are usually in equilibrium with each other
How much fluid is filtered and output a day?
Filters 180L a day from which the urine output is 1.5L a day
What cells release renin when there is low delivery of sodium and water to the kidneys?
Juxtaglomerular cells
What is the function of angiotensin II?
It is a vasoconstrictor
Increases filtration in kidney
constricts other arteriolar beds to increase systemic vascular resistance
Stimulates the release of aldosterone which acts to conserve sodium
What is the macula densa?
Area of closely packed specialised cell in the kidneys. They are sensitive to the concentration of sodium cholride
Contains juxtaglomerular cells
What is oncotic pressure?
Plasma has a high concentration of albumin and other proteins that create a draw, which leads to absoprption of water
What system helps to return any excess fluid to the circulation?
Lympahtic system
What cauees a reduce and increase in plasma oncotic pressure?
REDUCTION= malnutition, chornic liver disease
INCREASE= areas of inflammation when capillary walls become porous
What causes an increase in arteriolar or venous hydrostatic pressure?
A= vasodilating drugs e.g. calcium channel blocker
V= venous obstruction e.g. deep vein thrombosis
What allows blood pressure to be maintained during a haemorrhage?
When the circulation is volume depleted the hydrostatic pressure is lower which pulls fluid from the extracellular space back into the circulation
Why can small changes in arteriolar tone cause large changes in arteriolar resistance?
The Poiseuille equasion states resistance is directly related to the length and viscosity of blood but inversely linked to the 4th power of the radius
What is myocardial contractility influenced by?
Contractibility increases in response to noradrenaline, released by postganglionic sympathetic nerve endings acting on beta-1 adrenergic receptors
How does the autonomic nervous system affect the radius of the blood vessels?
Noradrenaline acts on adrenoceptors and causes vasocontriction
No siginificant parasympathetic innervation
What is vasopressin?
Also called antidiuretic hormone, it is released from the posterior pituitary gland when plasma volume is reduced
What is the afferent input for blood pressure regulation?
Afferent info derived from arterial baroreceptors.
Located around the carotid sinus and in the aortic arch
They respond to stretch by producing action potentials
What are the sources of afferent information required too control blood volume?
- the juxtagolmerular cells in the kidney sense sodium and water delivery to the distal tube and respond by releasing renin
- volume also sensed by low pressure stretch receptors in the RA- when reduced leads to activation of sympathetic nervous system
What is the renin-angiotensin system?
The primary defence of glomerular filtration rate
Influences blood pressure, blood volume and electrolyte balance
How is angiotensin II formed?
When renin enters the circulation it cleaves off the decapeptide angiotensin I from angiotensinogen. Angiotensin I is then shortened to angiotensin II by the angiotensin coverting enzyme (ace)
What actions does angiotensin II have? (in the kidneys)
Locally, it constricts the efferent arteriole to favour an increase in glomerular capillary pressure and filtration.
What actions does angiotensin II have systemically?
- It acts on arteriolar resistance vessels to cause vasoconstriction (increasing systemic vascular resistance and blood pressure),
- It stimulates thirst and the release of the water conserving hormone vasopressin at the posterior pituitary gland
- It stimulates the release of the sodium-conserving hormone aldosterone from the adrenal cortex
What are the actions of aldersterone?
It acts to conserve sodium in the body, often in exchange for loss of potassium and hydrogen ions
Acts mainly on kidneys but also on GI tract
What role does the sympathetic nervous system play when there is low blood volume?
Increases rate and contracility of heart
Systemic vascular resistance also increased
Veins also restrict- lose reservoir function
Arteriolar contraction in kidneys- reduces glomerular filtration and urine production
Secretion of renin at juxtoglomerular cells
What two effects does the signal from macula densa cells when there is a decrease in sodium have?
First, it decreases resistance to blood flow in the afferent arterioles via vasodilation, which increases glomerular capillary hydrostatic pressure and helps increase glomerular filtration rate toward normal, and
Second, it increases renin release from the juxtaglomerular cells of the afferent and efferent arterioles, which are the major storage sites for the enzyme renin.
What are causes of haemorrhage?
Causes are major injury, complications of surgery and GI bleeding, e.g. gastric ulcers
What is the immediate physiological impact of haemorrhage?
Decrease in intravascular volume
Leads to decreased venous return, decreased ventricular filling and reduced cardiac output
This reduces blood pressure, which reduces renal perfusion and the hydrostatic pressure
Perfusion given to priority organs
What afferent sensors are activated in haemorrhage?
Baroreceptors
Volume stretch receptors
Juxtaglomerular sensors
What are the immediate efferent responses during haemorrhage?
Sympathetic nervous system=
- increase HR and contracibility via beta-1 adrenoceptors
- Cause widespread vasoconstriction via alpha-1 adrenoceptors
- Vasoconstriction sacrifices blood flow to less important organs
- Reservoir function of veins decreased
- Increases adrenaline in circulation
What are later efferent responses in haemorrhage?
- renin release from kidneys (due to sympathetic system and also because cells sense decreased sodium and water)
- This promotes activation of angiotensin II- vasocontrictor
- reduced hydrostatic pressure favours water absorption into the vasculature
What will continuous blood loss lead to?
Hypovolaemic shock
What are the symptoms of hypovolaemic shock?
Hypotension
Low urine output
Confusion
Tachycardia
Pale skin
Cold peripheries
Sweating
What is the treatment for hypovoleamic shock?
Intravenous fluids and bloods should be given
Source of bleeding found and treated
What are the risk factors for atherosclerosis?
Age, male sex, genetics, hypertension, cholesterol, diabetes and smoking
What is the difference between a stable atheromatous plaque and an unstable one?
What are the consequences of myocardial ischemia caused by atherosclerosis?
Causes a reduced cardiac output- activates the sympathetic and renin-angiotensin systems
This causes vasocontriction that increases blood pressure
Eventually patient can no longer support the blood pressure and renal function and accumulates fluid
How are diruretics used to treat CV disease?
E.g. furosemide that reduced sodium and water overload
How are ACE inhibitors used to treat CV disease?
Antiotension-converting enzyme inhibitors, e.g. ramipril are used to reduce effects of renin-angiotensin system activation
How are nitrate drugs used to treat CV disease?
E.g. glyceryl trinitrate- relaxes veins and arteries to reduce the work of the heart
What are diruretics?
Drugs that increase the excretion of sodium ions, cholrine ions and water from the renal tubules, thereby increasing urinary flow
What 5 groups can diuretic drugs be split into?
- Loop diuretics
- Potassium-sparing diruretics
- Osmotic diuretics
- Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors
- Thiazide diuretics