Cardiovascular

Question 0

Ace inhibitors are used to treat

Answer 0

Hypertension- lower bp.

Heart Failure- reduce the strain on the heart by decreasing the blood pumped around the heart. It also relaxes blood vessels and reduces the amount of force needed to eject blood from the heart.

Diabetic nephropathy(diabetic disease)- can maintain good kidney function.

Chronic kidney disease- slow the process of kidney disease.

After a myocardial infarction.

Question 1

What are ace inhibitors(angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors)

Answer 1

It is medication that inhibits(slows) the production of a hormone angiotensin II. As a result the blood vessels dilate(relax) and blood resistance is lower, hence bp reduced.
When the blood vessels constrict(tighten) resistance increases. i.e water hose being squeezed.

Question 2

What are the 2 main elements of maintaining blood pressure that are targeted by ace inhibitors.

Answer 2

1. Cardiac output- the amount of blood that enters and leaves your heart and the heart rate(pulse).
2. Vessel resistance- Blood vessels dilate(relax) and blood resistance is lower, hence bp reduced.
   When the blood vessels constrict(tighten) resistance increases. i.e water hose being squeezed.

Question 3

What are the 3 effects the hormone angiotensin II do to the body

Answer 3

1. Constriction of blood vessels.
2. Re-absorption of water by the kidneys.
3. Release of the hormone aldosterone which also causes water re-absorption by the kidneys.

Question 4

What is an angiotensin II receptor antagonist

Answer 4

Works similar way to an ace inhibitor usually used if there’s problems or side effects from ace inhibitor i.e persistent cough.
Types:
Candesartan
Losartan

Question 5

Angiotensin II process

Answer 5

A chemical called renin is released in to the blood stream when the kidneys sense a drop in blood pressure.
Renin forms angiotensin which changes to the hormone angiotensin II.
Beware increasing fluid intake when vessels are constricted increases blood pressure, heart rate
Ace inhibitors prevents angiotensin becoming angiotensin II. This reduces amount of angiotensin which causes vessels to dilate and the amount of water put back into the blood by the kidneys, hence reducing blood pressure.

Question 6

Pathophysiology of Heart Failure

Answer 6

Either one or both ventricles in the heart have weakened due to hypertension(fluid overload) or coronary artery disease(clogged arteries) resulting in:
Decreased stroke volume(blood pumped each beat)
Decreased cardiac output(blood pumped per min)
Increased heart rate(reduced filling time)

Question 7

Heart Failure Symptoms

Answer 7

Tachycardia

Left side heart- back up of fluid in lungs(pulmonary oedema), breathlessness, cough, not enough blood throughout body causing weakness throughout body

Right side heart- jugular distension(due to blood coming from head), back up fluid build in body causing peripheral oedema, abdomen oedema(Ascites) tiredness