Cardiology Flashcards
Hypertension Pathophysiology
The amount of resistance of blood pumping through the body/arteries
Hypertension is known as the silent killer, when a patient starts to have signs and symptoms with hypertension, major organs have already been affected
Organs Involved in Hypertension
CAKE
Cardiac system: congestive HF due to the overworking of the heart which makes it become enlarged
brAin: Stroke (increased pressure weakens blood vessels which can cause a clot to form or for them to rupture
Kidneys: renal failure (weakens and narrows the arteries to the kidneys and the kidneys dont receive proper perfusion)
Eyes: visual changes, Blurred vision
Normal Blood Pressure
120/80
Prehypertension
120-139/80-89
Stage 1 Hypertension
140-159/90-99
Stage 2 Hypertension
160/>100
Hypertension Crisis
Over 180/130
Emergency Crisis, can destroy vital organs
Give IV drugs immediately
Beta Blockers: Blocks beats slows heart
C: CCBs Clams the heart
D: Dilators (vasodilators) Nitro - decreased BP
E: ER to ICU
Hypertension Complications
AABC
Atherosclerosis (scarred, hard arteries)
Aneurysm: (popping blood vessels)
Broken Kidneys (Eyes and Heart Failure)
Renal failure
Retinopathy “blind”
Neuropathy
Heart Failure
Clots
Lung = PE
Brain = CVA stroke
Heart = MI
Hypertension Causes
‘SODA’
Stress: smoking, sedentary lifestyle, stimulants
Obesity, Oral contraceptives
Diet (High sodium and Cholesterol), Diseases + Dr. HH
Diabetes, renal disease, heart failure, hyperlipidemia (over 200)
A: African men and Age
Diagnostic Imaging Tests Hypertension
Chest Xray
Echo
ECG: Tall R peaks
3 BPs 1 week apart is what a doctor needs to diagnose hypertension
looking for:
Enlarged Left ventricle
Left ventrical hypertrophy
Diagnostic Lab Tests for Hypertension
BNP (bulging ventricles)
C-Reactivie Protein
Cholesterol Panel (Clogged Arteries)
Cholesterol Panel
Cholesterol Panel (Clogged Arteries)
Total cholesterol = 200 or less
triglycerides = 150 or less
LDL = 100 or less
HDL = 40 or more
(fruits and veggies do not add cholesterol to the body, animal products clog arteries)
BNP
BNP (bulging ventricles)
100 & less = normal
300+ Mild
600+ Moderate
900+ Severe
C-Reactivie Protein
Shows total body inflammation
Ejection fraction
Amount of blood being pumped out of left ventricle
55% -70% is normal
40%. or less is BAD
Secondary Hypertension
Caused by a pre-existing issue, there is something causing the person to have high blood pressure
Pregnancy
Cushing syndrome
Chronic Renal failure
Diabetes
Hypo/hyperthyroidism
Symptoms of Hypertension
Silent killer, most likely no symptoms
Most common symptoms:
Headache
Blurry vision
Chest pain
Nose bleeds
Ringing in the ears
Dizzy
Nursing Interventions For Hypertension
Measure BP in both arms
Evaluate dietary intake, body mass index
Educate: limit sodium. alcohol and caffeine diet, quiet smoking (vasoconstriction), start exercising (cardiovascular) for weight loss, medication compliance, monitor BP
Education for Hypertension
Educate: limit sodium. alcohol and caffeine diet, quiet smoking (vasoconstriction), start exercising (cardiovascular) for weight loss, medication compliance, monitor BP
Hypertension Treatments
DRESS
Diet (low sodium, calories, cholesterol)
Reduce alcohol and Caffeine intake
Exercise: Walking (30min x5 days/week)
Stop smoking and Alcohol
Stress Reduction
Hypertension Pharmacology
ACE Inhibitors
ACE inhibitors: end in PRIL think chill pril
Clam Low BP or HR (decrease)
Side effects think ACE:
Angioedema
Cough
Electrolyte imbalances (low sodium, high potassium)
Hypertension Pharmacology
ARBS
Lowers BP
LoSARTAN (relaxed man)
less workload on the heart and more relaxation to the blood pressure
lets fluid out, decreases BP
Hypertension Pharmacology
Beta Blockers
Blocks Beats, breaks on the heart (slows the heart)
Ends in LOL
Atenolol, labetalol
L = Lowers
Caution before giving beta blockers
4 B’s
Bradycardia (60 or less)
Bottomed out BP (80/60)
Breathing problems (COPD, asthma)
Blood sugar masking (diabetes)
Hypertension Pharmacology
Calcium Channel Blockers
Calcium Channel Blockers
Clams the Heart, Controls the BP
Niphedipine (PINE rhymes with break TIME, calms the heart)
Cardizem (ZEM, think ZEN = Clam)
Verapamil (mil = chill)
Hypertension Pharmacology
Diuretics
Diuretics
Decrease BP
Drain Fluid (urinate)
Dehydrate (dried body)
Potassium sparing Diuretics
Potassium sparing
(caution: Avoid potassium)
S - SpironolACTONE
S- Spares potassium
Blocks aldosterone
Avoid salt substitutes
Potassium wasting Diuretics
K+ wasting
(caution: hypokalemia 3.5 or less)
FurosemIDE
HydrochlorathiazIDE
DrIED
*only give potassium wasters if potassium is normal (3.5-5.0)
* not isorbIDE (nitrate used for chest pain)
Eat foods high in potassium
Hypertension Pharmacology
Dilators
Dilators decrease BP by dilating the blood vessels
D: Decrease BP
D: Dilates Vessels
D: Decrease vascular Resistance
Nitro = pillow for the heart
Never give if a patient is on viagra or erectile drugs - significant drop in BP will kill pt ex. Sildenafil
Pharmacology
Anti platelet and Cholesterol
Help to prevent clots and help with plaque build up in the arteries
Anti Platelet
ASA
Clopidogrel (plavix)
Caution: Bleeding
Cholesterol Lowering
lovaSTATIN “stay clean” cleans out arteries
Caution: Liver Toxic, no grape fruit
Coronary Artery Disease Pathophysiology
coronary arteries deliver a constant supply of blood to the heart muscle
begin to develop fatty plaques that can lead to restriction of blood flow to the heart
Fatty plaques are caused by a condition called ATHEROSCLEROSIS
Happens overtime
Limits blood supply to the heart muscle and can rupture which can lead to thrombosis formation (hence causing a myocardial infarction)
Atherosclerosis can also lead to hypertension, chest pain, and heart failure.
Atherosclerosis Pathophysiology
Build up of plaque on the artery walls
asymptomatic until the plaque becomes so big the artery starts to become narrow and blood flow to the heart becomes restricted.
The patient can experience stable angina
but the patient only has the chest pain during ACTIVITY.
The activity increases the heart rate and puts strain on the heart which already has compromised blood flow, but when the activity STOPS the pain STOPS too.
Collateral circulation
This can develop if chronic ischemia is experienced. This is where more than one artery forms to re-route blood to the heart muscle to make up for the decreased blood flow due to the blockage.
Left Coronary artery
The left main coronary artery supplies blood to the left side of the heart (left ventricle and left atrium)
Right Coronary Artery
Right coronary artery provides blood to the right atrium and ventricle and the SA (sinoatrial) and AV (atrioventricular) nodes which regulatethe heart rhythym.
The right coronary artery divides into smaller branches including the
Right posterior descendng artery
Acute marginal atery
Factors that increase astherosclerosis
Smoking
Unhealthy: obese or overweight
High cholesterol
Sedentary lifestyle
Diabetes
Family history
Signs and Symptoms Coronary Artery Disease
Chest pain
Shortness of Breath
Fatigue
How is Coronary Artery Disease Diagnosed
Blood test: Lipoprotein profile: total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, triglycerides
Stress test: monitor the heart rate and rhythm during exercise and see if there are any EKG changes
Heart Cath: a special catheter is inserted into the femoral or radial artery to assess for blockages in the artery. Dye is injected into the coronary arteries to assess if they are blocked (coronary angiography)…moderate sedation is used and the patient breathes on their own.
Treatment Coronary Artery Disease
Cardiac doctor makes the decision if the artery needs:
PCI (also called angioplasty): Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
Balloon angioplasty: inflates a balloon in the blocked artery to compress the plaque against the artery wall and a stent is placed to allow blood to flow back through the artery.
Atherectomy: removal of plaque from the artery
Nursing Interventions Coronary Artery Disease
Educate the patient about the significance and complications of CAD
Modifying lifestyle:
How to manage with diet (low fat, low calorie)
Exercise program
Smoking cessation and why it is important
Weight loss
Monitoring heart rate and blood pressure
Signs and symptoms and when to seek help
Stable Angina
Pain during exercise or stress
Stable (chronic) angina is the most common type of angina
Usallyuindicates 70% of the artery is blocked by plaque build up
Chest pain during times of exertion or emotional stress because the body needs more blood then the artery can supply
Pain usually goes away with rest
Cause of Stable Angina
Reduced blood flow which causes ischemia (lack of blood flow and oxygen) to the heart, almost like the heart is being strangled which causes terrible chest pain
Underlying cause of stable angina is atherosclerosis of one or more of the coronary arteries
What are the 3 layers of the Heart
Epicardium (outermost)
Myocardium (middle)
Endocardium (inside heart)
Unstable Angina
Chest pain during exercise or rest aswell as at REST, doesn’t go away
Emergency: High risk of progressive to MI (heart attack)
Unstable angina = heart tissue is alive but ischemic (starving for oxygen and blood)
Myocardial Infarction = tissues have already began too necrose or die
Cause of Unstable Angina
Caused by rupture or astheroscerlotic plaque or thrombosis (blood clot forms on top of plaque)
Although the occlusion might not block the entire vessel there is now even less room for blood to flow by and the heart tissue is starting to feel starved for oxygen even while pumping at a normal rate
Angina Treatment
Nitroglycerin is typically given to open up coronary artery
Pill or Spray: Stable angina - take before strenuous activity
Call 911 if there is still pain after 1st dose
3 doses max 5 min apart
No swallowing: Sublingual
Keep in dark original container, avoid light and heat, replace every 6 months
Nitro patch: Unstable angina, can happen at anytime
Apply 1 time per day not PRN
Never use two patches
Patches are shower safe
Rotate locations daily.
Clean, dry, shaven area
If patch falls off: (over 1 hour ago) take pill/spray, patch can take 40-60min to work
Nurses - always wear gloves, very potent to the skin
Acute coronary syndrome
Describes a range of conditions related to sudden, reduced blood flow to the heart.
These conditions include a heart attack and unstable angina
Causes of Acute Coronary Syndrome (MI)
SODDA
Stress, stimulants (caffeine, amphetamines) Smoking
Obesity (BMI over 25)
Diabetes and Hypertension (140/90)
Diet High cholesterol
African American male
Age (over 50)
Men more common than women
Myocardial Infarction Pathophysiology
Heart need oxygen to pump, during an MI there is a blockage in the coronary arteries so the heart muscle suffocates to death
500 cells die per minute, if blocked over 45 minutes these cells can die permanently called necrosis
Narrowing and blockage is called by plaque build up (CAD, Atherosclerosis)