Cardiology Circulatory Flow Flashcards
Aortic Aneurysm
A balloon-like bulge in the aorta, the large artery that carries blood from the heart through the chest and torso. Aortic aneurysms can dissect or rupture: The force of blood pumping can split the layers of the artery wall, allowing blood to leak in between them.
SYMPTOMS: Back pain.
Cough.
Weak, scratchy voice (hoarseness)
Shortness of breath.
Tenderness or pain in the chest.
CAUSE: Thoracic aortic aneurysms are usually caused by high blood pressure or sudden injury. Sometimes people with inherited connective tissue disorders, such as Marfan syndrome and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, get thoracic aortic aneurysms
Aortic Dissection
A serious condition in which a tear occurs in the inner layer of the body’s main artery (aorta). Blood rushes through the tear, causing the inner and middle layers of the aorta to split (dissect). If the blood goes through the outside aortic wall, aortic dissection is often deadly.
SYMPTOMS: Sudden severe chest or upper back pain, often described as a tearing or ripping sensation, that spreads to the neck or down the back.
Sudden severe stomach pain.
Loss of consciousness.
Shortness of breath.
CAUSE: Some of the things that may raise your risk of aortic dissection include: Uncontrolled high blood pressure (hypertension) Hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) Weakened and bulging artery (aortic aneurysm)
Atherosclerosis
Arteriosclerosis
Atherosclerosis is a specific type of arteriosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is the buildup of fats, cholesterol and other substances in and on the artery walls. This buildup is called plaque. The plaque can cause arteries to narrow, blocking blood flow.
The buildup of fats, cholesterol and other substances in and on the artery walls. This buildup is called plaque. The plaque can cause arteries to narrow, blocking blood flow. The plaque can also burst, leading to a blood clot
SYMPTOMS: Chest pain or pressure (angina)
Sudden arm or leg weakness or numbness.
Slurred speech or difficulty speaking.
Brief loss of vision in one eye.
Drooping facial muscles.
Pain when walking.
High blood pressure.
Kidney failure.
CAUSE: Atherosclerosis is thickening or hardening of the arteries caused by a buildup of plaque in the inner lining of an artery. Risk factors may include high cholesterol and triglyceride levels, high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, obesity, physical activity, and eating saturated fats.
Central Edema
Chronic Venous Insufficiency
Chronic venous occurs when your leg veins don’t allow blood to flow back up to your heart. Normally, the valves in your veins make sure that blood flows toward your heart. But when these valves don’t work well, blood can also flow backwards. This can cause blood to collect (pool) in your legs.
SYMPTOMS: Dull aching, cramping or heavy feeling in the legs.
Leg swelling.
Pain that worsens when you stand and improves when you put your legs up.
Tingling sensation in the legs.
Visible varicose veins on the surface.
CAUSE: High blood pressure in the leg veins over time, due to sitting or standing for long periods. Lack of exercise. Smoking. A blood clot in a deep vein, often in the calf or thigh (deep vein thrombosis)
Lymphedema
Swelling due to build-up of lymph fluid in the body. Lymph nodes act like a drain in your sink. If the drain is clogged, the fluid cannot drain. It usually happens in the arms or legs, but can occur in other parts of the body.
SYMPTOMS: Swelling of part or all of the arm or leg, including fingers or toes.
A feeling of heaviness or tightness.
Restricted range of motion.
Recurring infections.
Hardening and thickening of the skin (fibrosis)
CAUSE: can be caused by cancer or by cancer treatment. Sometimes a cancerous tumor can get big enough to block the lymph system. Surgery to remove cancer may also remove lymph nodes or some of the vessels that carry the lymph fluid.
Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD)
In the legs or lower extremities is the narrowing or blockage of the vessels that carry blood from the heart to the legs. It is primarily caused by the buildup of fatty plaque in the arteries, which is called atherosclerosis.
SYMPTOMS: Coldness in the lower leg or foot, especially when compared with the other side.
Leg numbness or weakness.
No pulse or a weak pulse in the legs or feet.
Painful cramping in one or both of the hips, thighs or calf muscles after certain activities, such as walking or climbing stairs.
Shiny skin on the legs.
CAUSE: It is primarily caused by the buildup of fatty plaque in the arteries, which is called atherosclerosis.
Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH)
Can be caused by inherited changes (mutations) in the LDLR, APOB, and PCSK9 genes, which affect how your body regulates and removes cholesterol from your blood. About 60-80% of people with FH have a mutation found in one of these three genes.
SYMPTOMS: Bumps or lumps around your knees, knuckles, or elbows.
Swollen or painful Achilles tendon.
Yellowish areas around your eyes.
A whitish gray color in the shape of a half-moon on the outside of your cornea.
CAUSE: can be caused by inherited changes (mutations) in the LDLR, APOB, and PCSK9 genes, which affect how your body regulates and removes cholesterol from your blood. About 60-80% of people with FH have a mutation found in one of these three genes.
Giant Cell Arteritis
- Temporal Arteritis
Inflammation of the lining of your arteries. Most often, it affects the arteries in your head, especially those in your temples. For this reason, giant cell arteritis is sometimes called temporal arteritis
SYMPTOMS: Persistent, severe head pain, usually in your temple area.
Scalp tenderness.
Jaw pain when you chew or open your mouth wide.
Fever.
Fatigue.
Unintended weight loss.
Vision loss or double vision, particularly in people who also have jaw pain.
Sudden, permanent loss of vision in one eye.
CAUSE: The cause of giant cell arteritis is still unknown but is thought to be from the immune system causing damage to the body’s own blood vessels. Polymyalgia rheumatica is an inflammatory disorder that is closely related to giant cell arteritis and occurs in 40% to 60% of patients with giant call arteritis.
Temporal arteritis (giant cell arteritis) is where the arteries, particularly those at the side of the head (the temples), become inflamed. It’s serious and needs urgent treatment.
Deep Vein Thrombosis
Deep vein thrombosis is a blood clot in a vein located deep within your body, usually in your leg. Get treatment right away so you can prevent serious complications. Treatments include medicines, compression stockings and surgery. Be patient. You may need to take medicine for a few months and wear compression stockings for two years. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT, also called venous thrombosis) occurs when a thrombus (blood clot) develops in veins deep in your body because your veins are injured or the blood flowing through them is too sluggish. The blood clots may partially or completely block blood flow through your vein. Most DVTs happen in your lower leg, thigh or pelvis, but they also can occur in other parts of your body including your arm, brain, intestines, liver or kidney.
SYMPTOMS: Swelling of your leg or arm (sometimes this happens suddenly).
Pain or tenderness in your leg or arm (may only happen when standing or walking).
The area of your leg or arm that’s swollen or hurts may be warmer than usual.
Skin that’s red or discolored.
The veins near your skin’s surface may be larger than normal.
Abdominal pain or flank pain (when blood clots affect the veins deep inside your abdomen).
Severe headache (usually of sudden onset) and/or seizures (when blood clots affect the veins of your brain).
CAUSE: These conditions can increase your risk of a deep vein thrombosis:
Having an inherited (genetic) condition increases your risk of blood clots.
Having cancer and some of its treatments (chemotherapy).
Having a history of deep vein thrombosis in yourself or your family.
Having limited blood flow in a deep vein because of an injury, surgery or immobilization.
Not moving for long periods of time, like sitting for a long time on trips in a car, truck, bus, train or airplane or being immobile after surgery or a serious injury.
Being pregnant or having recently delivered a baby.
Being older than 40 (although a DVT can affect people of any age).
Having overweight/obesity.
Having an autoimmune disease, like lupus, vasculitis or inflammatory bowel disease.
Using tobacco products.
Having varicose veins.
Taking birth control pills or hormone therapy.
Having a central venous catheter or pacemaker.
Having COVID-19.
Varicose Veins
Twisted, enlarged veins. Any vein that is close to the skin’s surface (superficial) can become varicosed. Varicose veins most commonly affect the veins in the legs. That’s because standing and walking increase the pressure in the veins of the lower body.
SYMPTOMS: aching, heavy and uncomfortable legs.
swollen feet and ankles.
burning or throbbing in your legs.
muscle cramp in your legs, particularly at night.
dry, itchy and thin skin over the affected vein.
CAUSE: Varicose veins may be caused by weakened valves (incompetent valves) within the veins that allow blood to pool in the veins instead of traveling to the heart. Varicose veins are twisted, enlarged veins. Any vein that is close to the skin’s surface (superficial) can become varicosed.
Raynaud’s Disease
- Primary Raynaud’s Phenomenon
Causes some areas of the body — such as fingers and toes — to feel numb and cold in response to cold temperatures or stress. In Raynaud’s disease, smaller arteries that supply blood to the skin narrow. This limits blood flow to affected areas, which is called vasospasm.
SYMPTOMS: Cold fingers or toes.
Areas of skin that turn white then blue. Depending on your skin color, these color changes may be harder or easier to see.
Numb, prickly feeling or stinging pain upon warming or stress relief.
CAUSE: Raynaud’s is usually triggered by cold temperatures, anxiety or stress. The condition occurs because your blood vessels go into a temporary spasm, which blocks the flow of blood. This causes the affected area to change colour to white, then blue and then red, as the bloodflow returns.
