Cardiovascular System Disorders and Treatments - Coronary Artery Disease

Question 1

Coronary artery disease (CAD)

Answer 1

A condition in which plaque builds up inside the coronary arteries

Question 2

What is CAD also known as?

Answer 2

Atherosclerosis

Question 3

What happens when plaque builds up inside the coronary arteries?

Answer 3

This narrows the arteries and limits the amount of blood and oxygen that the heart can receive

Question 4

The lack of oxygen to the heart is called ____

Answer 4

Ischemia

Question 5

The pain you get when there’s lack of oxygen in the heart is called ____

Answer 5

Angina

Question 6

The most feared outcome of CAD is ____

Answer 6

Myocardial infarction (MI)

Question 7

Myocardial infarction (MI)

Answer 7

Another term for heart attack

Question 8

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS)

Answer 8

The name for a rupture of coronary arteries due to plaque buildup

Question 9

Specifically, MI occurs when ____

Answer 9

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.

Question 10

Thrombus

Answer 10

Blood clot

Question 11

One proven measure to decrease the incidence of CAD and myocardial infarction is controlling ____ levels

Answer 11

Cholesterol

Question 12

Medications commonly used to prevent MI or treat ACS are:

Answer 12

• Aspirin
• Nitroglycerin
• Blood thinners

Question 13

Aspirin reduces the risk of another heart attack by:

Answer 13

Keeping blood thinner

Question 14

Nitroglycerin or other nitrates are used as vasodilators to prevent chest pain by ____

Answer 14

Increasing blood supply to the ischemic arteries

Question 15

Ischemia

Answer 15

Reduced blood flow

Question 16

Blood thinners are used to prevent ____

Answer 16

Clot formation or dissolution of a clot to prevent further damage

Question 17

Clopidogrel (Plavix)

Answer 17

An anticoagulant or blood thinner that prevents platelets from sticking together

Question 18

Platelets

Answer 18

Platelets are tiny blood cells that help your body form clots to stop bleeding

Question 19

Heparin

Answer 19

An intravenous blood thinner, commonly used in the hospital in acute thrombosis

Question 20

Low Molecular Weight Heparins (LMWH)

Answer 20

Alternatives to heparin as anticoagulants

Question 21

Warfarin (Coumadin)

Answer 21

An oral blood thinner, used as maintenance therapy to prevent clot formation

Question 22

Alteplase (TPA)

Answer 22

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.

Question 23

Lysis

Answer 23

The disintegration of a cell by rupture of the cell wall or membrane

Question 24

All blood thinners increase the risk of ____ due to their blood-thinning properties

Answer 24

Bleeding

Question 25

Dysrhythmia

Answer 25

Dysrhythmia is a commonly used term to define disorganized or abnormal heart rhythm

Question 26

Common causes of dysrhythmias include ____, ____, and ____

Answer 26

• Hypertension
• ACS
• Heart failure