Cardiology Flashcards
What is the best known risk factor for coronary artery disease?
Age
State 7 risk factors for coronary artery disease.
- Age
- Tobacco smoking
- High serum cholesterol
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Hypertension
- Family history
True or False: the artery walls contain epithelium cells.
False - epithelial cells are found in the endothelium
What is the location of the sinoatrial node?
Cristae terminalis
What is the primary cause of ischaemic heart disease?
Atherosclerosis
What is the most common presentation of ischaemic heart disease?
Angina and normal examination
State 3 non-modifiable risk factors for ischaemic heart disease.
- Family history
- Age
- Ethnicity
State 8 modifiable risk factors of ischaemic heart disease.
- Smoking
- Poor nutrition
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Alcohol
- Stress
- Hypertension
- Obesity
- Diabetes
How does angina present in ischaemic heart disease?
- Constricting discomfort in front of chest, neck, shoulders, jaws or arms
- Brought on by physical exertion
- Relieved by rest or GTN spray in under 5 minutes
What 4 investigations would you do to diagnose ischaemic heart disease?
- ECG
- Lipid profile
- FBC
- HbA1c
What would the result of an ECG be in ischaemic heart disease?
Usually normal
What would a lipid profile show in ischaemic heart disease?
High LDL, low HDL
Why would you perform a FBC for suspected ischaemic heart disease?
To exlude anaemia
Why would you perform a HbA1c for suspected ischaemic heart disease?
To exclude diabetes
What is the gold standard investigation for angina?
CT coronary angiography
State 3 secondary prevention measures recommended for ischaemic heart disease?
- Antiplatelet therapy
- Lipid lowering therapy
- Good hypertensive and glycaemic control
State 2 examples of antiplatelet therapy.
- Aspirin
2. Clopidogrel
How does antiplatelet therapy prevent ischeamic heart disease?
They stop platelets agregating on plaques, therefore preventing further occlusion of vessels and iscaemia.
What drugs are used as lipid lowering therapy in iscaemic heart disease?
Statins
What is given to angina patients for short term symptomatic relief?
GTN spray
What is GTN spray, and how is it administered?
Glyceryl trinitrate spray is sprayed under the tongue for fast absorption.
What 2 things may be given to angina patients for long term symptomatic relief?
Beta blockers or calcium channel blockers.
What is a very typical side effect of calcium channel blockers?
Ankle swelling
What 3 things are given to patients as secondary prevention of angina?
- Aspirin (low-dose)
- Atorvastatin
- ACE inhibitors
What is the main complication of ischaemic heart disease?
Acute coronary syndrome
What does STEMI and NSTEMI mean?
STEMI = ST elevation myocardial infarction NSTEMI = Non-ST elevation myocardial infarction