Cardiovascular Disease

Question 1

What two factors are calculated to find blood pressure?

Answer 1

Cardiac output and peripheral vascular resistance

Question 2

What is the difference in the tissue make-up of veins and arteries?

Answer 2

Arteries have elastic fibers interconnected with smooth muscle tissue

Question 3

What two mechanisms do veins utilize when “pumping” blood to the heart?

Answer 3

Muscular contractions to assist in the movement of blood flow and “one-way” valves to prevent back-flow

Question 4

What endocrine system is responsible for regulating blood pressure within the body?

Answer 4

Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system

Question 5

How is sodium responsible for decreased blood pressure?

Answer 5

Low sodium results in low fluid (“water”) which decreases blood pressure

Question 6

How does the release of aldosterone from the adrenal glands in response to A2 formed via angiotensin (liver), lenin (kidney), and ACE (lungs) affect blood pressure?

Answer 6

It increases the re-absorption of sodium

Question 7

What hormone is responsible for vasoconstriction on the level of the kidneys in the RAA system?

Answer 7

Angiotensin II

Question 8

What is a desirable total cholesterol level?

Answer 8

> 200 mg/dL

Question 9

Which type of cholesterol is the “good” kind?

Answer 9

HDL

Question 10

What substances form the atheroma (plaque) associated with atherosclerosis (i.e. coronary artery disease)?

Answer 10

Fat, cholesterol, and other substances in the arteries

Question 11

What ailments can result from atherosclerosis?

Answer 11

Heart attacks or strokes caused by the blocked blood flow from the narrowed artery

Question 12

What is thrombosis?

Answer 12

Blood coagulation within an artery blocking blood flow

Question 13

What type of artery supplies blood to the heart?

Answer 13

A coronary artery

Question 14

What is an appropriate blood pressure reading indicating good health?

Answer 14

> 120/80

Question 15

Which type of hypertension (high BP) is 90% common and yet the cause remains unknown?

Answer 15

Essential hypertension

Question 16

What causes secondary hypertension?

Answer 16

Kidney disease

Question 17

What causes hypertension physiologically?

Answer 17

An imbalance in cardiac output and peripheral vascular resistance

Question 18

How are hypertension and atherosclerosis interrelated?

Answer 18

Hypertension can lead to or worsen atherosclerosis

Question 19

Why might hypertension become a significant issue if you don’t see a doctor for an annual check-up?

Answer 19

Hypertension shows no symptoms

Question 20

In an aneurysm, if the weakened, bulging artery bursts and releases blood into the skull, what can happen?

Answer 20

A stroke

Question 21

What can potentially occur during a vascular dissection when the blood begins to pool between the layers of tissues near the torn artery?

Answer 21

As blood pools, it clots and slows blood flow within said artery

Question 22

Words ending in -itis are generally associated with inflammation: what is vasculitis?

Answer 22

The inflammation of blood vessels

Question 23

Why do the extremities (specifically the fingertips) appear white in raynaud phenomenon?

Answer 23

Vasoconstriction (as a result of cold or stress) decreases blood supply

Question 24

What are “varicose” veins?

Answer 24

Damaged veins (primarily in the legs) that induce blood back-flow and appear abnormally dilated on the outer layer of skin

Question 25

What is the leading cause of cardiovascular disease death?

Answer 25

Coronary artery disease

Question 26

What node is responsible for triggering the heartbeat?

Answer 26

The sinoatrial node

Question 27

How does blood flow through the RIGHT side of the heart?

Answer 27

Blood enters the heart through the vena cava from the body into the right atrium, traveling to the right ventricle, and enters the lungs via the pulmonary artery

Question 28

How does blood flow through the LEFT side of the heart?

Answer 28

Blood enters the heart from the lungs via the pulmonary vein where it enters the left atrium, then the left ventricle, and finally exists the heart into the body by way of the aorta

Question 29

How fast would the heart have to beat to consider tachycardia?

Answer 29

> 100 bpm

Question 30

What is it called when your heart beats slower than 60 beats per minute?

Answer 30

Bradycardia

Question 31

What can contribute to an arrhythmia?

Answer 31

Lack of oxygen to the heart (myocardial ischemia) or a small localized area of dead tissue resulting form a lack of oxygen (infarct)

Question 32

What is the “ending point” in most, if not all, heart diseases that results in life-threatening conditions if not treated?

Answer 32

Congestive heart failure

Question 33

What is the basic principle of the Frank-Starling curve?

Answer 33

The stroke volume increases in response to an increase in the volume of blood filling the heart and vice versa

Question 34

If left heart failure is caused by various heart and/or blood vessel related diseases such as atherosclerosis and hypertension, then what is RIGHT heart failure most commonly caused by?

Answer 34

Left heart failure

Question 35

What are the four symptoms of coronary heart disease?

Answer 35

Chest pain, heart attack, sudden cardiac death, or coronary artery disease

Question 36

What is the single most common cause of death in the US?

Answer 36

Myocardial infarction (heart attack)

Question 37

What is the most common form of valve disease and who experiences the most issues with this disease due to it’s age-related symptoms?

Answer 37

Aortic stenosis; the elderly