CV Flashcards
primary function
bringing O2 and nutrients to organs and transporting CO2 and other waste products for removal
myocardium + age-related changes
- scaffolding of the heart chambers
- decreasing cardiac contractility
- more time for diastolic filling and systolic emptying
- less responsive to SNS
> > fight, flight, freeze
myocardium + age-related changes
–electrophysiology decline
- less pacemaker cells
- irregularity in shape of pacemaker cells
- increased deposits of fats, collagen, and elastic fibers around SA node
vasculature: age-related changes
- changed in tunica intima and media
> > endothelial cells become - irregular in size/shape - diameter of lumen of aorta increases to compensate for arterial stiffening
- veins become thicker, more dilated, less elastic
- increased vascular resistance > > increase in systolic BP
vasculature: age-related changes
- increased peripheral resistance diminishes ability to increase blood flow to vital organs
- due to peripheral resistance the LV is
forced to work harder and becomes larger and
thicker - valves of large leg veins become less efficient in
returning blood to heart
Baroreflex Mechanism
receptors in aortic arch and carotid artery
physiologic process that regulates BP
- BP high, baroreceptor send signal to brain
- brain sends cardiac inhibitory signal to heart or blood vessel to decrease
sympathetic response (ie. lower the HR, lower the CO and decrease resistance) and lower the BP
Baroreflex Mechanism-Age
Related Changes
- decreased compensatory responses in both hyper/hypo stimuli
- Baroreceptors in large arteries less effective in controlling BP
> > postural changes
Consequences of Age-Related Changes
- decreased adaptive response to exercise
- slightly lower HR
^ susceptibility to hyper AND hypo
^ susceptibility to arrythmias (i.e., atrial fib) - decreased cerebral blood flow
Pathological Risk Factors Affecting CV Function
- Arrhythmias
- Heart Failure
- Myocardial Infarction (MI)
- Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD)
- Venous Thromboembolism (DVT or PE)
- Stroke (aka CVA)
- Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)
- Atherosclerosis
NOTE: Most CV disease is preventable through
interventions to reduce risk factor
atherosclerosis
def: disorder of the medium and small arteries in which deposits of lipids and atherosclerotic plaques reduce or obstruct blood flow
- atherosclerotic changes begin in childhood and can progress to plaque formation
- plaque lesions can rupture (causing acute
events) OR remain stable and continue to grow (causing chronic disease
modifiable risk factors
– physical inactivity
def: <30 mins of moderate physical activity 5x/ wk or <20 mins of vigorous physical activity 3x/ wk
- older adults often have compounding conditions making reaching these goals difficult
- any physical activity reduces the CV disease risk
modifiable risk factors
– smoking + 2nd-hand smoke
- all exposure to smoking increases risk of CV disease
and mortality - on avg. both M and F smokers reduce their life expectancy by 13-15 years
- non-smokers exposed to second-hand smoke ^ their risk for developing Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) by 25-30%
modifiable risk factors
– dietary habits
- high intake of saturated fats increases risk of CV
disease - intake of 2.5 servings of whole grains/ day associated with 21% reduction in CV disease
- intake of 1-2 servings of oily fish/ week lowered risk of CV disease by 36%
- each daily serving of fruit/ veg associated with 4%
reduction in CAD and 5% reduction in stroke - low sodium intake associated with at 25% reduction in CV disease after 10-15 yrs follow-up
obesity
BMI 30 kg/m2 <
hypertension (HTN)
risk factors:
- age
- ethnicity
- heredity
- weight
- physical inactivity
- psychosocial stressors
- sleep apnea
- low education
- low socioeconomic factors
dyslipidemia
broad term of lipoprotein metabolism
- statin and other cholesterol-lowering meds can be prescribes
HDL cholesterol
good cholesterol
- high number = good
LDL cholesterol
bad cholesterol
- low number = good
non-HDL cholesterol
total cholesterol - HDL cholesterol
- low number = good
triglycerides
high reading = bad
metabolic syndrome
- a group of clinically identifiable conditions that double the risk of CV disease and ^ the risk of NIDDM by five times.
** chronic, unmanaged
the existence of 3 of 5 constitutes a dx of “Metabolic Syndrome”:
1 ) abdominal obesity
2 ) BP = / > 130/85
3 ) HDL cholesterol levels <1.03 OR on treatment for a lipid disorder
4 )Triglyceride levels higher than 1.7 mmol/L or on treatment for hypertriglyceridemia
5 ) Fasting blood glucose levels (FBG) level > 5.6 OR on pharmacologic treatment for ^ glucose level
NIDDM
non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus
Psychosocial Factors
- anxiety
- depression
- social isolation
- poor social supports
- specific personality traits
> > high anger and hostility
major life events (stressors)
Heredity, Gender, Race
Heredity: inherited conditions cannot be changed, but people who are aware of genetic risks can be more motivated to address modifiable risk factors.
Socioeconomic status: low income and lack of education can influence the use of preventive and interventional health care, leading to poorer CV outcomes.
Gender: symptoms of heart disease differ in women and men, and are often not recognized (atypical) in women and older adults
orthostatic hypotension
- reduction in systolic/diastolic BP of at least 20 or 10 mmHg within 1-3 min of standing
symptoms: - fatigue
- blurred vision
- lightheadedness
- syncope upon standing
postprandial hypotension
reduction in systolic BP of 20 mmHg < within 2 hrs of eating a meal
causes: impaired autonomic function
contributing factors:
- GI vasoactive peptides
- impaired glucose metabolism/diabetes
S&S of CV disease
atypical symptoms
- fatigue
- nausea
- anxiety
- headache
- cough
- visual change
- SOB
- pain in arm, jaw, neck or throat
nursing assessment of CV function
- H2T
- determining baseline ‘normal’ = important
- self-measurement of BP by capable older adults or caregivers
- assess modifiable risks
- determine if they know when to initiate immediate help-seeking actions
- assess OAs knowledge of what they would do
health promotion
detection of risks for CV diseases
reduction of risks
summary
CV system
- structure and age-related changes
- risk factors
> disease
> modifiable risk factors
> non-modifiable risk factor
- pathological conditions
- nursing assessment/ intervention
