Cardiovascular Drugs Flashcards
What is the primary function of the cardiovascular system?
Maintains adequate pressure to circulate blood and everything it carries to all body tissues via the vasculature.
What are the main components of the cardiovascular system?
- Heart
- Blood vessels
- Blood
What is the significance of drug therapy knowledge for vet techs?
Essential for patient outcome and welfare of cardiac disease patients.
What supports the metabolic requirements of all cells?
Proper perfusion to all body tissues.
What are the two stages of heart function?
- Systole (contraction)
- Diastole (relaxation)
Define preload in the context of heart function.
Stretching of ventricles prior to contraction (filling pressure).
Define afterload.
Force needed to push blood out of ventricles with systole.
What is stroke volume (SV)?
Amount of blood ejected by the left ventricle with each beat.
What does the sino-atrial node (SA node) do?
Coordinates the electrical activity that causes heart contraction.
What is cardiac arrhythmia?
Sudden depolarization of cardiac muscle or abnormalities of conduction.
What are clinical signs of cardiac disease?
- Pulmonary edema
- Ascites
- Coughing
- Syncope
- Weight loss
- Cyanosis
- Lethargy
- Dyspnea
- Exercise intolerance
What color do pale mucous membranes indicate?
Shock, anemia, dehydration.
What does a blue color of mucous membranes indicate?
Hypoxia.
What is the definition of diastole?
Relaxation of muscle, heart chambers fill with blood.
What is the definition of systole?
Contraction of heart chambers pumps blood.
What is the role of the autonomic nervous system in heart control?
Regulates heart function via receptors in cardiac cells.
What happens during sympathetic stimulation?
Increases heart rate and causes peripheral vasoconstriction to increase blood pressure.
What is congestive heart failure (CHF)?
Failure of one side of the heart to pump effectively results in a backup of blood.
What are conditions that may lead to CHF?
- Cardiomyopathy
- Hypertension
- Valvular disease
What is the primary action of positive inotropic drugs?
Stimulate the heart and increase the strength of cardiac muscle contractions.
What are cardiac glycosides used for?
Treatment for heart failure.
What are signs of toxicity from digitalis compounds?
- Anorexia
- Vomiting/diarrhea
- Muscle weakness
- CNS depression/confusion
- Cardiac arrhythmia
What is the role of catecholamines in cardiac treatment?
Increase heart rate, blood pressure, and strength of contractions.
What is the common vet drug in the benzimidazole pyridazinones class?
Pimobendan (vetmedin).
