Cardiovascular Drugs Flashcards
Circulatory system
is made up of blood vessels that carry blood away from and towards the heart. Arteries carry blood away from the heart and veins carry blood back to the heart. The circulatory system carries oxygen, nutrients, and hormones to cells, and removes waste products, like carbon dioxide.
two primary functions of circulatory system
(1) delivery of oxygen, nutrients, hormones, electrolytes, and other essentials to cells and
(2) removal of carbon dioxide and metabolic wastes from cells. In addition, the system helps fight infection.
Aneurysm
A sac-like protrusion from a blood vessel or the heart, resulting from a weakening of the vessel wall or heart muscle.
Anticoagulant
Any drug that keeps blood from clotting; a blood thinner.
Antihypertensive
Any drug or other therapy that lowers blood pressure.
Blood Pressure
The force or pressure exerted by the heart in pumping blood; pressure of the blood in the arteries.
Bradycardia
Abnormally slow heartbeat.
Tachycardia
Accelerated beating of the heart. Paroxysmal tachycardia is a particular form of rapid heart action, occurring in seizures that may last from a few seconds to several days.
Dyspnea
Shortness of breath
Edema
Abnormal fluid accumulation in body tissues.
Flutter
The rapid, ineffective contractions of any heart chamber. A flutter is considered to be more coordinated than fibrillation.
Heart Murmur
An abnormal heart sound caused by turbulent blood flow. The sound may indicate that blood is flowing through a damaged or overworked heart valve, that there may be a hole in one of the heart’s walls or that there is a narrowing in one of the heart’s vessels. Some heart murmurs are a harmless type called innocent heart murmurs, which are common in children and usually do not require treatment.
High Blood Pressure
A chronic increase in blood pressure above the normal range. The increase persists over two or more measurements.
Hypertension
Same as high blood pressure.
Hypoglycemia
Low levels of glucose in the blood.
