Cardiovascular Conditions Flashcards
Actute Coronary Syndrome
SYMPTOMS
- Chest pain or discomfort: pressure, tightness , burning.
- pain that radiates to shoulder, arms, upper belly, back, neck and jaw.
- Nausea or Vomiting
- indigestion
- shortness of breath (Dyspnea)
- diaphoresis (sudden onset)
- tachycardia
CAUSES:
1) build up of fatty deposits/plaque (atherosclerosis)
2) fatty deposit ruptures or splits, as a result a blood clot is formed.
3) when supply of oxygen is to low (Ischemia) -> leads to hypoxia
4) when supply of oxygen is too low , cells in the heart muscle can die ~ 1 hour for 50% , 3 hours for 2/3 (heart attack)
ACHRE CORONARY SYNDROME THAT DOESN’T RESULT IN CELL DEATH IS CALLED UNSTABLE ANGINA.
RISK FACTORS:
- hypertension
- high cholesterol
- tobacco
- sedentary lifestyle
- diabetes
Obesity
TREATMENT:
- 300mg ASPIRIN
- Heparin Bolus 60-70 units/kg
- sublingual GTN spray
HEART FAILURE
OVERVIEW:
heart doesn’t pump blood properly —> blood often backs up and fluid can build in lungs —> causing SOB
SYMPTOMS:
- SOB
- fatigue & weakness
Odema (swelling in legs ankles and feet) <— caused by blood pooling in the legs due to blood not pumping blood around body effectively. - Tachycardia and/or Arrhythmia
- wheezing
Persistent cough - Productive cough (white or pink mucus with spots of blood)
- swelling in the belly
- rapid weight gain due to fluid build up
- nausea , lack of appetite
CAUSES:
- Coronary Artery Disease and heart attack (most common causes)
- hypertension
- heart valve disease
- myocarditis (inflammation of heart muscle)
- arrhythmias
TYPES OF HEART FAILURE:
- right sided heart failure = affects right ventricle - > may cause oedema in belly , legs and feet.
- Left Sided Heart Failure = affects the left ventricle. Fluid may back up in lungs causing SOB.
Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction = left ventricle can’t squeeze as strong as it should. Heart isn’t strong enough to pump enough blood to the body (HYPOTENSION COMMON)
- HEART FAILURE WITH PRESERVED EJECTION FRACTION = left ventricle can’t relax or fill fully .
Venous Thrombo Embolism (VTE)
OVERVIEW:
Thrombus = blood clot
embolism = anything that moves through the blood vessels until it reaches a vessel that is to small to let it pass
2 types:
- Pulmonary Embolism ; occurs when a clot from DVT or another source travels to lungs and blocks and artery
- DVT ~ formation of a blood clot (thrombus) in a deep vein, usually caused k the legs.
Risk factors :
Hypercoaguability ; surgery, malignancy , pregnancy , thrombophilia , infection and sepsis
- Circulatory status ; immobility , venous obstruction , varicose veins, AF
Vascular damage ; cellulitis , atherosclerosis , heart valve , physical trauma
- age
- gender ~ more common in males
DVT SYMPTOMS:
- pain or tenderness in affected area
-reddening/discolouration
-Oedema (swelling) focally - Difficulty weight bearing
- Leg tiredness
- discomfort in affected area
Well’s score for DVT :
If -2 - 0 = low probability of DVT
IF 1-2 point MODERATE probability
If 3-8 points HIGH probability
PE SYMPTOMS:
- Dyspnoea
- Pleuritic chest pain (sharp , worse on inhalation, localised)
- substernal chest pain
- apprehension
- cough
-Haemoptysis - Syncope
SINGS OF PE:
RR above 20/min
PR above 100bpm
SP02 below 92%
Signs of DVT , accompanied with signs of PE
- low grade fever (temp)
TREATMENT:
- (C) ABCD
- access if time critical or not
- administer oxygen
- convey to hospital
Most common indicators of Cardiac involvement
- Previous FHx
- OEDEMA in legs and ankles particularly
- weight gain/loss
- ECG changes
- tachycardia
- diaphoresis
