Cardiovascular

Question 1

What is a Thrombosis?

Answer 1

Blood clot that forms within blood vessels which limit flow of blood.

Question 2

What is an embolism?

Answer 2

A piece of blood clot or other material which breaks off and travels through bloodstream to another location.

Question 3

Causes of embolisms and thrombosis

Answer 3

-Blood vessel damage
-Slow blood flow
-Blood clotting conditions (sickle cell)
-Medication (chemo)

Question 4

Thrombosis symptoms

Answer 4

-Swelling and/or war to touch in a leg or arm
-Leg pain
-Red or blue discoloration

Question 5

Embolism symptoms

Answer 5

-Shortness of breath
-Unexplained cough (blood in mucus)
-Tachy
-Shortness of breath
-Sweating and coldness

Question 6

Treatment for embolisms and thrombosis

Answer 6

-Anticoagulants
-Clot busters (thrombolytics)
-Anti-coags, anti-platelets

Question 7

What is a heart arrthymia?

Answer 7

When electrical impulses that coordinate heartbeat don’t work properly, causing heart to beat too fast, too slow or irregularly

Question 8

Atrial fibrillation

Answer 8

Heart condition which causes an irregular and abnormally fast heart rat. Caused by chaotic electrical impulses in atria.

Question 9

Symptoms of heart arrhythmias

Answer 9

-Irregular heart rate
-Palpitations
-Complications related to heart failure

Question 10

Causes of heart arrhythmias

Answer 10

-Scarring from heart attack
-Blocked arteries
-Current heart attack
-Diabetes
-Hypothyroidism

Question 11

Treatments for heart arrhythmias

Answer 11

-Healthy lifestyle
-Limiting stress
-Anticoagulants
-Cardioversion

Question 12

What is an aneurysm?

Answer 12

Blood vessel dilation in artery or blood vessel which swells to abnormal size (usually in aorta or brain)

Question 13

Risk factors to an aneurysm

Answer 13

-Smoking
-Family history
-High cholesterol
-High BP

Question 13

Symptoms of aneurysm

Answer 13

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.

Question 14

Treatment for aneurysm

Answer 14

Most do not rupture so treatment given only if risk of rupture is high.
-Coiling
-Surgical clipping

Question 15

What is heart failure?

Answer 15

The heart is not pumping blood around the body effectively. This can either be due to structure of heart or how it works.

Question 16

Causes of heart disease

Answer 16

-Heart attack which has caused damage to heart
-High blood pressure
-Arrhythmia
-Chemo
-Cardiomyopathy
-Damaged or diseased heart valves

Question 17

Symptoms of heart failure

Answer 17

-Shortness of breath (fluid backs into lungs)
-Oedema: Fluid retention
-Feeling tired and weak: Heart unable to deliver enough blood and oxygen to muscles

Question 18

Treatment for heart failure

Answer 18

-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

Question 19

ICD

Answer 19

Implantable device to perform cardioversion/defib

Question 20

Cardioversion

Answer 20

Shocks heart into normal rhythm

Question 20

Ablation

Answer 20

Creates scarring on the heart muscle redirecting electrical signals and restore normal rhythm

Question 21

Aortic Valve Stenosis (AVS)

Answer 21

Structural defect. Valve does not open and close properly. May lead to leaking blood and build up of pressure.

Question 21

Complications of heart failure

Answer 21

-Losing weight
-Muscle loss
-Kidney disease
-Arrhythmia

Question 21

What is a structural defect?

Answer 21

Any abnormality or defect of heart muscle or valve

Question 22

Arterial Septal Defect (ASD)

Answer 22

Structural defect. Hole in wall that separates 2 chamber in heart. Oxygenated blood mixes with de-oxygenated.

Question 23

Coarctation of the Aorta (CoA)

Answer 23

Structural defect. Narrowing of aorta.

Question 24

Pulmonary Valve Stenosis

Answer 24

Structural defect. Thickened or fused heart valve which doesn’t full open.

Question 25

Symptoms of structural defect

Answer 25

-Shortness of breath
-Stroke
-High BP

Question 26

Treatment for structural defect

Answer 26

-Surgery
-Symptom management
-Angioplasty
-review of condition

Question 27

What is Hypercholesterolemia?

Answer 27

Too much cholesterol in your blood.

Question 28

Causes of hypercholesterolemia?

Answer 28

-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

Question 29

What is hypertension?

Answer 29

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.

Question 30

What is a heart attack

Answer 30

Arteries carrying blood to heart get blocked

Question 31

Symptoms of severe hypertension

Answer 31

-Kidney disease (damage blood vessels in kidney)
-Stroke
-Heart disease

Question 32

Treatment for hypertension

Answer 32

-Healthier lifestyle
-ACE inhibitors
-ARG
-CCBs

Question 33

Acute Coronary Syndrome

Answer 33

A group of conditions that suddenly stop or severely reduce blood from flowing to the heart muscle.

Question 34

What conditions are included in ACS?

Answer 34

-Angina
-Myocardial infraction
-Atherosclerosis

Question 35

Angina

Answer 35

Attacks of chest pain caused by reduced blood flow to heart

Question 36

Myocardial infraction

Answer 36

Heart attack or MI. Blood flow to heart reduced or stopped

Question 37

Symptoms of ACS

Answer 37

-Chest pain
-Pain in shoulder, arm, neck
-Shortness of breath
-Anxiety
-Tachy

Question 38

Diagnosing ACS

Answer 38

-ECG
-Blood test (troponin)
-Echocardiogram
-Medication
-Angioplasty

Question 39

Risk factors ACS

Answer 39

-High BP
-Exercise
-Diabetes
-Obesity

Question 40

Treatments for ACS

Answer 40

-Acute episodes treated with nitrate ( a vasodilator)
-Angioplasty
-Medications
-healthier lifestyle