Cardiovascular

Question 1

Coronary artery bypass graft

Answer 1

• redirects blood around a section of a blocked or partially blocked artery in your heart.
• taking a healthy blood vessel from your leg, arm or chest and connecting it below and above the blocked arteries in your heart.

Question 2

Anoxia

Answer 2

No O2

Question 3

Angina

Answer 3

caused by Ischemia (low blood flow) in the coronary arteries, which would then lead to hypoxia

Question 4

Women can also experience “unrelated” symptoms during a heart attack

Answer 4

• nausea
• SOB
• abdominal pain
• stabbing pain

Question 5

Nitroglycerin (can be used for anginal attacks)

Answer 5

• helps relax the blood vessels (vasodilation)
• can have systemic effects
• wear gloves when administering the patches

Question 6

hyperlipidemia

Answer 6

high levels of lipids in the blood

Question 7

causes (hyperlipidemia)

Answer 7

• diet
• drugs
• hereditary

Question 8

dysrhythmias/arrhythmias (diagnostics)

Answer 8

-ECG or EKG: tracks the electrical impulses of the heart

Question 9

etiology (dysrhythmias/arrhythmias)

Answer 9

• angina
• drugs
• impaired CO
• age-related

Question 10

Atrial fibrillation (A. Fib)

Answer 10

• total disorganization of atrial electrical activity due to multiple ectopic foci, resulting in loss of effective atrial contraction
• most common dysrhythmia
• risk increases with age
• can cause blood clots due to inadequate blood flow

Question 11

drugs for HR control

Answer 11

• digoxin
• beta andregenergic blockers
• calcium channel blockers

Question 12

anticoagulatory drugs

Answer 12

warfarin

Question 13

stenosis

Answer 13

narrowed blood vessels and/or structure

Question 14

arterial insufficiency (PAD)

Answer 14

narrowed arteries at the periphery, which can lead to insufficient tissue perfusion

Question 15

venous insufficiency (PVD)

Answer 15

• inadequate return of venous blood from the periphery to the heart
• can lead to blood stasis (blood pooling), which can also lead to blood clotting as well as edema

Question 16

treatment (PVD)

Answer 16

• weight reduction
• reducing fat intake
• lipid reduction
• reverse trendelenburg
• moderate exercise & rest

Question 17

gangrene/phantom pain (amputation)

Answer 17

the feeling of pain & discomfort in the missing limb

Question 18

footcare

Answer 18

-different care for PVD and diabetes

Question 19

Nursing goal (PAD)

Answer 19

adequate peripheral tissue perfusion

• warm, dry intact skin
• good cap refill
• normal peripheral pulses

-color, warmth, movement, sensation (CWMS)
=if u notice redness, press down on it to see if it blanches, if it’s non-blanchable, that’s a concern

-free of pain

Question 20

chronic venous insufficiency d/t faulty valves

Answer 20

• edema with increased venous pressure
• thick brown skin around the ankles (gaiter skin)
• venous stasis ulcers

Question 21

Normal changes with aging

Answer 21

• aorta becomes dilated & elongated
• cardiac output (CO) decreases
• blood vessel elasticity decreases
• BP increases to compensate for the increased peripheral resistance & decreased CO
• Valves become thicker and more rigid
• stroke volume (SV) decreases
• less efficient 02 use of the heart
• slight Left ventricular hypertrophy

the heart muscle (myocardium) loses efficiency & contractile strength=reduced cardiac output (CO)

pacemaker cells in the SA node decrease in the number

cardiac cycle (systolic filling & diastolic emptying) requires more time

tachycardia lasts for a longer time, which can cause the stroke volume to increase in order to compensate, resulting in high BP

fibrosis, calcium & lipid accumulation and cellular proliferation of the vessels (tunica intima)

thinning & calcification of elastin & an increase in the collagen of the vessels (tunica media)

impaired baroreceptors

Question 22

Homan’s sign

Answer 22

pain when the affected leg is dorsiflexed, usually associated with deep phlebitis of the leg

Question 23

Cardiovascular health promotion

Answer 23

-healthy diet: 
  =low fat
  =less salt
  =high fiber intake
  =vegetables
  =whole grains
  =reduce intake of red meat, sugar & highly processed foods
  =limit alcohol

-exercise
=30 mins of moderate physical activity for 5 days OR
=20 mins of vigorous physical activity for 3 days

• avoid smoking & second-hand smoke
• manage stress

Question 24

S&S (general)

Answer 24

dizziness

light-headedness

edema

cold extremities

palpitations

blackouts

breathing difficulties

coughing

hemoptysis (spitting of blood)

chest pain

unusual sensations in the chest, neck, back or jaws

scaling skin

discoloration

Question 25

nursing assessment

Answer 25

ask the pt for any changes in physical or mental function:
-do u have difficulty or have u noticed any changes in ur ability to walk, work or take care of urself?

• do u have periods where ur thinking doesn’t seem clear?
• have u had to restrict activities or change ur lifestyle recently?

assess their lifestyle practices
-how often do u exercise? how long? how intense?

• what is ur pattern of alcohol consumption?
• do u consume drugs? if so what type & how frequent?
• do you take any supplements? if so, what are they?
• do u do anything to promote health such as following a diet?