Cardiovascular Diseases Flashcards
Functions of the heart muscle
It is self-stimulated, beats on its own.
Elastic cardiac muscle
What is the importance of the cardiovascular muscle
It is needed to sustain life, and be able to react to normal and emergency situations.
What is a CVD?
It is the leading cause of death in canada, death rate is declining because of new health care
CVD results in a less efficient system
Can interfere with normal day to day activities
What is atherosclerosis?
hardening of the arteries - blood can’t flow through
Plaque or thrombus builds up from cholesterol blockage.
happens over time
embolus: when plaque shifts around
What causes a heart attack?
lack of blood to the heart due to blockages
Collateral circulation - people with stronger hearts are less at risk
Survival depends on what is done in the first hour
Symptoms: shortness of breath, shoulder neck and arm pain, lightheaddedness, chest preasure, sweating
What is Angia Pectoris?
Pain felt from not getting enough blood to your heart
Treatment: strengthen the heart, increase blood supply, resting
what is arrhythmias?
Irregular beating of the heart
- tachycardia - too fast
- bradycardia - too slow
- fibrillation - irregular
can be caused by caffine, smoking, panic
Treatment: you may need a pacemaker - an external stimulus to control your heart’s pace
What is congestive heart failure?
overcrowding of blood in the heart
caused by poor blood flow and valve failure
Treatment: reduce demands of the heart by resting
What is congenital disease?
heart abnormalities during birth
1% of newborns have this
Rheumatic Heart disease
Caused by infection
age 5-15
What is a stroke?
not enough blood to the brain
- common stroke
- ischemic - blockage and high blood-preasure - hemorrhagic stroke
- bleeding in the brain due to accidents or genetics
Risk and warning signs of a stroke
Risk: more common in men, High blood preasure, Diabetes, CVD, race, gender, age 55 above, risk doubles every decade
Warning signs: numbness, impaired body functions, and coordination
TIA’s Transient Ischemic attacks
mini strokes
caused by minimal damage
but can cause transient monocular blindness and transient hemispheral attack
Cardio risk factors
Controlable: life choices, diet, hypertention, exercise, how we respond to stress
uncontrolable: genetics, race, age, gender
How can a Cardiac rehab program help?
exercise and education (personal choices)
Exercise perscription to avoid CVD
warm up- aerobic exercise
cool down
strength training
look for warning signs to stop: shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness, signs of decomposition.
