Cardiovascular Flashcards
What are the three common items that lead to blood clotting?
Venous stasis, hypercoaguability, and vessel damage
(true/false) Dyspnea is often associated with chronic heart AND lung disease.
True
What are causes of dyspnea?
activity, exertion, or body position
What position is optimal for offloading the pulmonary system?
seated and standing
What position is optimal for offloading the heart?
supine
Why is dyspnea worse at night?
Fluid collection –> indicative of possible CHF
What are causes of coughing?
illness, medication, cardiac disease
A cough becomes chronic if it lasts how long?
> 3 weeks
What is a non-productive cough often associated with?
ACE-inhibitors
If a cough is nocturnal, what should you suspect?
HF
Coughing caused by allergies should have what colored sputum?
clear
Coughing caused by illness will have what colored sputum?
green
Coughing caused by damage to the bronchioles will have what colored sputum?
rust colored
What is peripheral edema commonly associated with?
venous insufficiency, CHF, DVT, pulmonary HTN
Edema measurements should be taken where?
> 1 cm above the ankles
2 cm at the midcalf
Palpitations are associated with what?
arrythmias
What are causes of syncope?
- reduction in blood flow to the brain
- metabolic origins
- psychogenic origins
Does the incidence of syncope trend upward or downward with age?
upward
What is a common finding with acute MI?
pain with sweating
When examining pain with sweating, what should you look for?
Atypical pain patterns and diaphoresis
What are atypical pain patterns with sweating?
tooth
R shoulder
Midthoracic region
Bilateral arm pain
ulnar/T1 distribution
What are red flags for MI?
- chest pain
- PMH of CAD, HTN, Smoking, DM, elevated cholestrol (> 240)
- men over 40
- females over 50
- pressure in the chest
- pain in shoulder, neck, or arms
- lightheadedness/fainting
- SOB
- sweating
- nausea w/o chest discomfort
What are the 3 P’s to rule out MI?
Pleuritic pain worsened with deep breathing
pain with palpation
Pain with changes in posture
What is the cardiac pain pattern for men experiencing an MI?
substernal pressure
(true/false) Women will have subtle s/s of MI
true
Where do most women and elderly people have pain when experiencing an MI?
R biceps pain
Heart attack pain is relieved by what position?
supine
What is the normal presentation of stable angina?
- predictable pattern
- alleviated by rest and/or medications
What is the normal presentation of unstable angina?
- Unpredictable pattern
- Doesn’t respond to nitroglycerin
What s/s of unstable angina warrant immediate transport to the ED?
- substernal squeezing/crushing pressure
- SOB, pallor, or diaphoresis
- angina lasting > 30 mins
What is the typical angina pain pattern?
Unilateral neck and upper trap pain + T1 distribution
What is the atypical angina pattern seen in females?
chest/abdominal pain, sternal pain, middle trap pain