Cardiovascular Flashcards
Why does a heart attack cause pain?
the resulting ischaemia is painful
a completely irregular heartbeat is often what diagnosis?
atrial fibrillation
what is angina?
reversible, temporary coronary ischemia due to narrowing of vessels - the pain occurs during stress
How does angina differ from a heart attack?
usually with an MI they will tell you that they weren’t exerting themselves at all when it occurred.
what sort of rhythmic patters can you observe?
irregular-regularly
regular
or completely irregular
how does cocaine use influence coronary health?
cocaine use greatly accelerates plaque formation and deposition in the coronary arteries
how does oestrogen effect coronary health?
oestrogen is a protector of the coronary arteries - hormone replacement therapy does the same after menopause
what is the widow maker vessel of the heart?
left anterior descending - lesions in this vessel are particularly dangerous
how might caffeine effect heart function?
Can cause an increased heart beat- potentially effect proper profusion to the brain; cause fainting
what is it called when a patient wakes up in the night gasping for air?
Paroxysmal Noctural Dyspnoea - where the liquid in their lungs distributes throughout the lungs when they lie flat - they are literally drowning in their own fluids and wake up gasping for air - this is made better if you sleep sitting up/standing
how do we measure the severity of paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnoea?
“Orthopnoea” - which is the number of pillows you sleep proped up with
What is a TIA?
transcient ischemic attack - these are mini strokes where there are small blood clots in the carotid arteries leading to a temporary ischaemia of the brain (like angina of the brain)
how does heart failure effect your weight?
extravascular water in your tissues leads to weight gain (you drink more to replace what is lost in extracellular space) - this is a way we measure your cardiac failure and ensure you’re getting the correct amount of diuretics
why do you ask patients with an MI - “ what were you thinking when this occurred?”
b/c some patients have “impending demise” where they honestly feel like “this is it” more so than “ I worry that I could die from this”
pressure in the chest is associated with cardiac - but stabbing like pain is commonly what…?
respiratory
glycerol nitrate spray has what effect?
it’s a cardiac dilator
How do women present with an MI?
can present like a male - or they get weird throat issues, pain in the neck or on the jaw line - these sort of things are odd symptoms of heart attack that are more commonly shown in women
what is the most common reason for acute chest pain that is due to respiratory issue?
pulmonary embolism - presents similarly to MI in the sense of acute onset/difficulty breathing etc.
what are some risk factors for PE
travel, use of contraceptives, immobility, atrial fibrillation, malignancy, recent surgery etc
what type of contraceptive is most associated with PE ?
the combined pill - progesterone/estrogen
what does cocaine do to the vessels?
vasoconstricts
how does a cocaine overdose present?
similar to a heart attack, but no arm pain - tachycardia etc.
what is the difference between infective endocarditis and infective myocarditis and pericarditis ?
endocarditis = inflammation/infection of heart valves- not necessarily painful, but would present with fever
myocarditis = inflammation/infection of the heart muscle
pericarditis= inflammation of the pericardium-
what is cardiac tamponade?
accumulation of pericardial fluid around the heart which is causing back pressure problems
