Cardiovascular System Disorders and Treatments - Coronary Artery Disease Flashcards
Coronary artery disease (CAD)
A condition in which plaque builds up inside the coronary arteries
What is CAD also known as?
Atherosclerosis
What happens when plaque builds up inside the coronary arteries?
This narrows the arteries and limits the amount of blood and oxygen that the heart can receive
The lack of oxygen to the heart is called ____
Ischemia
The pain you get when there’s lack of oxygen in the heart is called ____
Angina
The most feared outcome of CAD is ____
Myocardial infarction (MI)
Myocardial infarction (MI)
Another term for heart attack
Acute coronary syndrome (ACS)
The name for a rupture of coronary arteries due to plaque buildup
Specifically, MI occurs when ____
A thrombus (blood clot) develops in a coronary artery that’s already narrowed by atherosclerosis. The complete blockage of blood flow through the coronary artery prevents the surrounding heart muscle from receiving any blood and oxygen.
Thrombus
Blood clot
One proven measure to decrease the incidence of CAD and myocardial infarction is controlling ____ levels
Cholesterol
Medications commonly used to prevent MI or treat ACS are:
- Aspirin
- Nitroglycerin
- Blood thinners
Aspirin reduces the risk of another heart attack by:
Keeping blood thinner
Nitroglycerin or other nitrates are used as vasodilators to prevent chest pain by ____
Increasing blood supply to the ischemic arteries
Ischemia
Reduced blood flow
Blood thinners are used to prevent ____
Clot formation or dissolution of a clot to prevent further damage
Clopidogrel (Plavix)
An anticoagulant or blood thinner that prevents platelets from sticking together
Platelets
Platelets are tiny blood cells that help your body form clots to stop bleeding
Heparin
An intravenous blood thinner, commonly used in the hospital in acute thrombosis
Low Molecular Weight Heparins (LMWH)
Alternatives to heparin as anticoagulants
Warfarin (Coumadin)
An oral blood thinner, used as maintenance therapy to prevent clot formation
Alteplase (TPA)
A thrombolytic that causes lysis, or disintegration of the cells, of the clot. Risks and benefits need to be compared and evaluated before using this potent agent.
Lysis
The disintegration of a cell by rupture of the cell wall or membrane
All blood thinners increase the risk of ____ due to their blood-thinning properties
Bleeding
Dysrhythmia
Dysrhythmia is a commonly used term to define disorganized or abnormal heart rhythm
Common causes of dysrhythmias include ____, ____, and ____
- Hypertension
- ACS
- Heart failure
