Common Heart Conditions Flashcards
What are the signs and symptoms of heart failure? What are the potential complications?
Signs and symptoms
* Shortness of breath at rest and exertion
* Fatigue
* Rapid/irregular heartbeat
* Persistent cough/wheezing with white/ pink blood-tinged mucus
* Abdominal swelling
* Swelling in the legs, ankles and feet
* Nausea and anorexia
* Decreased alertness
What likely causes heart failure?
Can be classified into
* Underlying structural abnormalities
* Mechanisms which reduce oxygen delivery or increase workload on the myocardium
* Precipitating causes such as underlying heart disease and other underlying conditions (e.g. anaemia)
* Genetic causes
What is the pathophysiology of heart failure?
Pathophysiology - body is fighting to compensate
* This consists of a complex pathway of compensatory mechanisms initiated as heart function is increasingly challenged and impaired.
* As the heart tries to compensate for impairment, hypertrophy, vasoconstriction and increased calcium load are all deployed
* Vasoconstriction increases blood pressure and potential vessel and organ damage and
* Increased calcium may cause arrhythmia
What are the signs and symptoms of Ischaemic Heart Disease (Coronary
Artery Disease)? What are the potential complications?
Signs and symptoms
* Chest pain
* Breathlessness
* Nausea
* Indigestion-like discomfort
* Fatigue
These symptoms are typical of angina but illustrative of coronary artery disease more broadly
Complications:
* Unstable angina
* Myocardial infarction
* Death
Impact on future wellbeing:
* Risk of heart attack may elevate anxiety levels
* Broad combination of medication may bring undesirable side effects
* Limitations to physical activity may impact mood and lifestyle
What likely causes Ischaemic Heart Disease (Coronary
Artery Disease)?
Angina pectoris is the key clinical presentation you may encounter, but this disease grouping encompasses myocardial infarction
Aetiology
Ischaemia describes lack of oxygen to a tissue, and coronary artery disease such as angina is caused by reduced blood flow to the heart muscle thus depriving the heart of oxygen.
Narrowing of arteries due to atherosclerosis contributes to a reduction in blood flow, while left ventricular hypertrophy and reduced oxygen carrying capacity of the blood (for example in anaemia) add to pressures on coronary circulation so increasing the chance of angina.
What is the pathophysiology of Ischaemic Heart Disease (Coronary
Artery Disease)?
Pathophysiology
* Myocardial ischaemia causes myocardial cells to switch from aerobic to anaerobic metabolism in order to compensate for reduced blood flow and oxygenation of coronary tissue.
* This causes impairment of connected functions in the heart, including the mechanical and electrical
What are the key diagnostic tests for Ischaemic Heart Disease (Coronary
Artery Disease)?
Diagnosis/investigations
* ECG
* Coronary angiography
* Blood tests
What are the convential treatments for Ischaemic Heart Disease (Coronary
Artery Disease)?? How can herbs help?
Conventional treatment
* Glyceryl trinitrate
* Beta blockers
* Calcium channel blockers
* Aspirin
* Statins
* ACE inhibitors
What are the signs and symptoms of Pre-eclampsia? What are the potential complications?
Signs and symptoms
* High blood pressure
* Excess protein in urine (proteinuria)
* Decreased levels of platelets in blood
* (thrombocytopenia)
* Shortness of breath
* Upper abdominal pain
* Severe headaches - red flag
* Changes in vision
* Nausea or vomiting
What likely causes Pre-eclampsia?
Preeclampsia is a complication of pregnancy
* Usually begins after 20 weeks of pregnancy in women whose blood pressure had previously been in the standard range
* Left untreated it can lead to serious and possibly fatal complications for both the mother and baby.
What is the pathophysiology of Pre-eclampsia?
Key elements of pathophysiology
* Complex pathophysiology of preeclampsia starts with abnormal placental development, immunologic aberrations and endothelial dysfunction, potentially related to genetic predisposition
* Foetal growth restriction occurs frequently in pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia. Several mechanisms of uterine and placental dysfunction contribute to intrauterine growth restriction
What are the signs and symptoms of Peripheral Vascular Disease? What are the potential complications?
Signs and symptoms
* Unusual coldness in the lower leg or foot
* Leg numbness or weakness
* Absent or weak pulse in the legs or feet
* Painful cramping in one or both of the calf muscles after walking
* Shiny skin, skin colour changes and loss of hair on the legs
* Poor healing sores on the toes, feet or legs
* Aching and cramping in the arms when doing manual tasks
* Erectile dysfunction
What likely causes Peripheral Vascular Disease?
Otherwise called arteriosclerosis obliterans
* A reduction in blood flow to arms or legs - mainly to legs
* If causing pain in the legs it is named claudication
What is the pathophysiology of Peripheral Vascular Disease?
Key elements of pathophysiology
* Primarily the result of atherosclerosis
* Atherosclerotic process may eventually completely occlude medium and large arteries typically segmental, varying across patient populations
* Atheromatous thromboses occur in the lower extremities more frequently than in the upper
* Predisposing factors include sepsis, hypotension, low cardiac output and aneurysms.
