Cardiovascular Flashcards
What is a Thrombosis?
Blood clot that forms within blood vessels which limit flow of blood.
What is an embolism?
A piece of blood clot or other material which breaks off and travels through bloodstream to another location.
Causes of embolisms and thrombosis
-Blood vessel damage
-Slow blood flow
-Blood clotting conditions (sickle cell)
-Medication (chemo)
Thrombosis symptoms
-Swelling and/or warm to touch in a leg or arm
-Leg pain
-Red or blue discoloration
Embolism symptoms
-Shortness of breath
-Unexplained cough (blood in mucus)
-Tachy
-Shortness of breath
-Sweating and coldness
Treatment for embolisms and thrombosis
-Anticoagulants
-Clot busters (thrombolytics)
-Anti-coags, anti-platelets
What is a heart arrthymia?
When electrical impulses that coordinate heartbeat don’t work properly, causing heart to beat too fast, too slow or irregularly
Atrial fibrillation
Heart condition which causes an irregular and abnormally fast heart rat. Caused by chaotic electrical impulses in atria.
Symptoms of heart arrhythmias
-Irregular heart rate
-Palpitations
-Complications related to heart failure
Causes of heart arrhythmias
-Scarring from heart attack
-Blocked arteries
-Current heart attack
-Diabetes
-Hypothyroidism
Treatments for heart arrhythmias
-Healthy lifestyle
-Limiting stress
-Anticoagulants
-Cardioversion
What is an aneurysm?
Blood vessel dilation in artery or blood vessel which swells to abnormal size (usually in aorta or brain)
Risk factors to an aneurysm
-Smoking
-Family history
-High cholesterol
-High BP
Symptoms of aneurysm
Rarely symptoms, usually picked up through ultrasound. If ruptures will experience; sudden severe pain in abdomen or back, loss of consciousness, sudden headache, stiff neck.
Treatment for aneurysm
Most do not rupture so treatment given only if risk of rupture is high.
-Coiling
-Surgical clipping
What is heart failure?
The heart is not pumping blood around the body effectively. This can either be due to structure of heart or how it works.
Causes of heart disease
-Heart attack which has caused damage to heart
-High blood pressure
-Arrhythmia
-Chemo
-Cardiomyopathy
-Damaged or diseased heart valves
Symptoms of heart failure
-Shortness of breath (fluid backs into lungs)
-Oedema: Fluid retention
-Feeling tired and weak: Heart unable to deliver enough blood and oxygen to muscles
Treatment for heart failure
-Symptom control e.g. Diuretics
-Pacemakers to improve heart pumping
-Surgery: transplant, valve replacement
-Weight: sudden weight gain may indicate too much fluid building up
ICD
Implantable device to perform cardioversion/defib
Cardioversion
Shocks heart into normal rhythm
Ablation
Creates scarring on the heart muscle redirecting electrical signals and restore normal rhythm
Aortic Valve Stenosis (AVS)
Structural defect. Valve does not open and close properly. May lead to leaking blood and build up of pressure.
Complications of heart failure
-Losing weight
-Muscle loss
-Kidney disease
-Arrhythmia
What is a structural defect?
Any abnormality or defect of heart muscle or valve
Arterial Septal Defect (ASD)
Structural defect. Hole in wall that separates 2 chamber in heart. Oxygenated blood mixes with de-oxygenated.
Coarctation of the Aorta (CoA)
Structural defect. Narrowing of aorta.
Pulmonary Valve Stenosis
Structural defect. Thickened or fused heart valve which doesn’t full open.
Symptoms of structural defect
-Shortness of breath
-Stroke
-High BP
Treatment for structural defect
-Surgery
-Symptom management
-Angioplasty
-review of condition
What is Hypercholesterolemia?
Too much cholesterol in your blood.
Causes of hypercholesterolemia?
-Eat less fatty foods
-Exercise at least 2.5 hours a week- helps stimulate enzymes which move LDL from blood to liver
-Stop smoking
-Statins
What is hypertension?
Constant high blood pressure lead them to lose elasticity. This causes arteries to become stiff and narrow making it easier for fatty material to build up.
What is a heart attack
Arteries carrying blood to heart get blocked
Symptoms of severe hypertension
-Kidney disease (damage blood vessels in kidney)
-Stroke
-Heart disease
Treatment for hypertension
-Healthier lifestyle
-ACE inhibitors
-ARG
-CCBs
Acute Coronary Syndrome
A group of conditions that suddenly stop or severely reduce blood from flowing to the heart muscle.
What conditions are included in ACS?
-Angina
-Myocardial infraction
-Atherosclerosis
Angina
Attacks of chest pain caused by reduced blood flow to heart
Myocardial infraction
Heart attack or MI. Blood flow to heart reduced or stopped
Symptoms of ACS
-Chest pain
-Pain in shoulder, arm, neck
-Shortness of breath
-Anxiety
-Tachy
Diagnosing ACS
-ECG
-Blood test (troponin)
-Echocardiogram
-Medication
-Angioplasty
Risk factors ACS
-High BP
-Exercise
-Diabetes
-Obesity
Treatments for ACS
-Acute episodes treated with nitrate ( a vasodilator)
-Angioplasty
-Medications
-healthier lifestyle
What is a STEMI
Significant artery is blocked with thrombosis
NSTEMI
Smaller artery partially blocked
Cardioversion
Low energy shocks which restore regular heart rhythm
Cardiovascular disease (CVD)
General term for conditions affecting heart or blood vessels
CVD increases risk of what?
Fatty deposits inside arteries and blood clots, can affect brain, kidneys and eyes
Examples of CVD
Angina
Heart attack
Heart failure
Symptoms of stroke or TIA
F- Face (droop, changes)
A- Arms (not able to lift, weakness)
S- Speech (slurred, not able to understand)
T- Time (call 999)
Peripheral arterial disease
Blockage in the arteries to the limbs
What can atrial fibrillation increase the risk of?
Blood clots
Risk factors AF
Age
High bp
Overactive thyroid
Alcohol
The heart age test
Aimed at people over 30. Used in annual reviews by hcp
