Cardiovascular Pathologies Flashcards
What is anaemia?
Why is it not strictly accurate to speak of a ‘diagnosis’ of anaemia?
2 marks
Anaemia is a shortage of RBCs or haemaglobin resulting in reduced O2 carrying capacity.
Anaemia is a description not a diagnosis - the diagnosis is made when the reason why there is a shortage of RBCs is found.
List signs & symptoms commonly associated with anaemia
2 marks
Fatigue, pallor, rapid breathing & heart rate (tachycardia), cold intolerance, heart problems.
What is the difference between an Embolus and a Thrombus?
1 mark
An embolism is a travelling blood clot, a thrombus is a lodged blood clot.
Explain how emboli & thrombi form
5 marks
Platelets move through blood vessels looking for rough spots indicating injury or disruption.
If they find one they develop spikes and stick to the spot. They then release chemicals which cause blood proteins to form a net of fibres which catch other blood cells, this forms a clot.
Clots can form anywhere that blood doesn’t flow quickly as clotting factors thicken non moving blood even without an injury. Tiny clots are being formed and dissolved constantly esp. on the venous side of circulation. But sometimes clotting mechanisms out work clot melting mechanisms.
What is Pulmonary Embolism PE and what signs and symptoms might you expect in a person with PE? Name some risk factors for PE
8 marks?
Clots or debris on the venous side of system can go through the heart and end up in the lungs. May be both sides simultaneously.
Damage caused varies greatly from temporary loss of function in a tiny area of lung to complete circulatory collapse.
S&S: can be none until considerable damage is done. But often there will be difficulty breathing, & chest pain. SoB, light headedness, faintness, dizziness, rapid HR, sweating, back, shoulder or abdo pain.
Risk factors: other CV disease, recent trauma or surgery, extended bed rest, pregnancy or recent childbirth, overweight, smoking, birth control pills.
If embolism in Kidney = kidney failure.
If in legs = sharp pain followed by numbness, coldness, weakness, blueness.
If in brain = TIA or stroke. If in heart = MI
What is haemophilia and how can you recognise it?
2 marks
A collection of genetic disorders where certain clotting factors in the blood are missing or insufficient. Can cause superficial but persistent bleeding or internal bleeding into joint cavities.
What is leukaemia?
1 mark
It is a collection of blood disorders characterised by over production of non functioning white blood cells in the bone marrow.
Distinguish between Thrombophlebitis and DVT
4 marks
Both refer to veins that have become obstructed and probably inflamed because of blood clots. These are usually in the calf, thigh or pelvis.
Thrombophlebitis are clots in superficial leg veins whilst DVT are in deeper leg veins.
What is atherosclerosis & what may contribute to it?
4 marks
Atherosclerosis is a type of hardening of the arteries where deposits of cholesterol, calcium & other substances infiltrate & weaken large & medium arteries - particularly the aorta & coronary arteries.
Blood clots form at these deposits and contribute to the narrowing of the lumen of the arteries.
Name 4 modifiable risk factors for atherosclerosis
2 marks
Smoking, high cholesterol, HBP, sedentary lifestyle, diabetes.
What is Hypertension? Explain its complications.
8 marks
HBP persistently above 140/90.
HBP quietly and persistently corrodes the major arteries leading to vicious cycles that create threatening complications.
Oedema - High pressure in capillaries forces fluid out into the surrounding tissues making them swell - this external force on the BV further raises BP.
Atherosclerosis - High pressure against the walls of arteries wears them out & begins the process of atherosclerosis - narrowing arteries make BP even higher!
Enlarged heart - HBP causes the left ventricle to pump harder and so the muscle gets larger. But the coronary arteries don’t grow proportionately so not enough O2 is delivered to the muscle, it grows fibrous so contractions become weaker - this may cause angina!
Aneurism - increased BP causes a bulge in an artery wall.
Kidney disease & failure - increased BP causes atherosclerosis in renal arteries which raises BP further in the kidneys causing damage and reducing their function which leads to oedema - raises BP even more!
Retinopathy - chronic HBP damages BV that supply the eyes, they become thickened and inelastic, reducing blood flow to the eyes causing permanent damage.
What signs and symptoms may indicate hypertension?
4 marks
There are few recognisable symptoms - it’s known as the ‘silent killer’.
Subtle signs may include SoB after mild exercise, headaches, dizziness, swelling of ankles, XS sweating, anxiety, occasional nosebleeds.
Why is hypertension sometimes referred to as ‘The Silent Killer’?
What are the signs & symptoms of hypertension?
There may not be any recognisable symptoms - may have it without knowing it and it may be causing damage without you realising it and getting treatment for it.
Subtle signs may include SoB after mild exercise, dizziness, headaches, swelling of ankles, XS sweating, anxiety, nosebleeds occasionally.
What is Reynaud’s Syndrome?
4 marks
A condition of arterioles often in the hands & feet but also affects the lips, ears & nose.
Arterioles develop vasospasm followed by vasodilation. It occurs in temporary episodes initially but vasoconstriction may become long lasting.
Patches of skin go through cycles of colour - white as blood is shunted away, blue as cells are starved of O2 then red as arterioles re open and blood returns.
Usually affects distal fingers and toes, not thumbs, sometimes only 1 or 2 digits are affected. Attacks usually short, minutes - hours.
What is a heart attack?
4 marks
Ischaemia or lack of blood flow and O2 supply to an area of cardiac muscle, causing damage to the affected area.
Coronary artery disease (atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries) is usually the cause but extreme vasospasm can also damage the heart.
Starved cells do not grow back but are replaced with inelastic non-contractile scar tissue.
The damaged area is known as an infarct = myocardial infarction.
