đź«€CVS Medicine Flashcards
What are the main components of the cardiovascular system?
Heart
Arteries
Veins
Capillaries
Which system is the cardiovascular system closely associated with?
The respiratory system
What happens when any component of the cardiovascular system is impaired?
It results in cardiovascular system (CVS) disease
What are the two main circulations the heart pumps blood to?
Pulmonary circulation
Systemic circulation
Which side of the heart pumps blood to the lungs, and through which vessel?
The right side of the heart pumps blood to the lungs through the pulmonary artery.
Which side of the heart pumps blood to the systemic circulation, and through which vessel?
The left side of the heart pumps blood to the systemic circulation through the aorta.
What is the myocardium?
Heart muscle
How many chambers does the heart have? Name them.
The heart has 4 chambers:
Right atrium
Right ventricle
Left atrium
Left ventricle
What are the four heart valves and their locations?
Aortic valve: Between the left ventricle (LV) and the aorta.
Pulmonary valve: Between the right ventricle (RV) and pulmonary artery.
Tricuspid valve: Between the right atrium (RA) and RV.
Mitral (bicuspid) valve: Between the left atrium (LA) and LV.
What system regulates the heartbeat and coordinates contractions of the heart?
The electrical conduction system.
Name the key components of the heart’s electrical conduction system.
Sinoatrial (SA) node
Atrioventricular (AV) node
Bundle of His
Purkinje fibers
What type of blood do arteries typically carry, and in which direction?
Arteries carry oxygenated blood away from the heart.
What type of blood do veins typically carry, and in which direction?
Veins carry deoxygenated blood back to the heart.
What happens when blood vessels narrow and what are the consequences?
Narrowing of vessels results in impaired blood flow to and away from tissues.
cons:
Reduced oxygen and nutrient delivery to tissues.
Reduced waste removal from tissues.
What is atherosclerosis?
A condition where fatty deposits (plaques) accumulate in the walls of arteries.
What effect does atherosclerosis have on arteries?
It causes stiffening and narrowing of the arteries, a condition called stenosis.
Name four non-modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD).
Older age
Male
Family history of CVD
Ethnicity
Name at least five modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
Hypertension
Obesity
Diabetes
High lipid levels
Smoking
Alcohol
Stress
Poor sleep
What are the key contributors to the formation of plaques in atherosclerosis?
1.Vessel wall damage
2.High LDL cholesterol levels
3.High circulating glucose (diabetes)
4.Immune cell activity
What are two common causes of vessel wall damage that contribute to atherosclerosis?
1.Hypertension (high blood pressure)
2.Smoking
What is hypertension?
High blood pressure, defined as a reading consistently above 140/90 mmHg.
What are the complications of untreated hypertension?
Atherosclerosis
Chronic kidney disease
Heart failure
Stroke
Retinopathy
Vascular dementia
List non-modifiable risk factors for hypertension.
Age
Gender
Ethnicity (e.g., black African, black Caribbean)
Family history (genetic predisposition)
List modifiable risk factors for hypertension.
Smoking
Alcohol excess
High dietary salt intake
Obesity
Lack of physical exercise
Anxiety
Emotional stress
Caffeine consumption
How is hypertension managed?
-Lifestyle modifications:
Obesity, dietary modifications, smoking, alcohol consumption, caffeine, salt intake, stress management
-Medications:
ACE inhibitors
Angiotensin-II receptor blockers (ARBs)
Beta blockers
Calcium channel blockers
Diuretics
What is coronary artery disease?
A condition where atherosclerosis causes hardening and narrowing of the coronary arteries, leading to ischemic heart disease.
What are the two main manifestations of ischemic heart disease?
Angina
Myocardial infarction (MI)
What is angina, and how is it classified?
Angina is chest pain due to myocardial ischemia:
Stable angina: Occurs only during exertion.
Unstable angina: Occurs at rest.
What are the classic symptoms of angina?
Central crushing chest pain that radiates to the left arm or jaw.
What lifestyle changes can help manage coronary artery disease?
Weight loss.
Healthy diet.
Stop smoking.
Reduce alcohol consumption.
What medication is used for immediate symptom relief in coronary artery disease?
GTN (glyceryl trinitrate) spray.
What are the key components of long-term secondary prevention for coronary artery disease?
Managing hypertension.
Controlling lipid levels.
Using aspirin as antiplatelet therapy.
What is percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)?
A minimally invasive procedure that uses a balloon to widen diseased coronary arteries, often followed by stent insertion to maintain artery patency.
Through which arteries is percutaneous coronary intervention typically performed?
Via the radial or femoral artery.
What is a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG)?
A surgical procedure that bypasses narrowed or blocked coronary arteries using a harvested vessel from another part of the body (commonly the leg).
What is the purpose of a stent in PCI?
To maintain the widened artery and prevent it from narrowing again.
What is heart failure?
A condition where the heart fails to pump blood effectively.
What are the types of heart failure?
-Left-sided heart failure: Blood backs up into the lungs, causing pulmonary edema.
-Right-sided heart failure: Blood backs up into systemic circulation, causing peripheral edema.
What are common causes of heart failure?
Hypertension
Coronary artery disease (e.g., previous MI)
Valvular heart disease
Arrhythmias
Congenital heart defects
What are the symptoms of heart failure?
Shortness of breath (SoB)
Cough (frothy sputum)
Orthopnoea – SoB when lying flat
Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnoea –suddenly waking at night with SoB
Peripheral oedema – fluid in the legs, abdomen, sacrum
Fatigue
How is heart failure managed?
-Lifestyle modifications:
Diet, exercise, smoking cessation.
-Medical management:
Control hypertension.
Off-load fluid with diuretics.
Improve heart function with beta blockers or digoxin.
-Devices:
Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT).
-Surgery:
Heart transplant for suitable patients.
What is an arrhythmia?
An abnormal heart rhythm caused by interrupted electrical signals that coordinate heart muscle contraction.
What is atrial fibrillation (AF)?
A common arrhythmia where disorganized electrical activity in the atria causes fibrillation (random muscle twitching) and an irregular pulse.
Why does atrial fibrillation increase the risk of stroke?
Uncoordinated heart activity in AF disrupts smooth blood flow, increasing the likelihood of blood clot formation that can travel to the brain.
How is atrial fibrillation managed?
Anticoagulants (e.g., DOACs) to prevent clot formation.
Rate-controlling medications (e.g., bisoprolol).
What is the function of pacemakers in managing arrhythmias?
Pacemakers deliver controlled electrical impulses to restore and maintain a normal heart rhythm.
What are the two main types of valvular dysfunction?
Stenosis: Valve becomes stiff and doesn’t fully open.
Regurgitation: Valve doesn’t fully close, causing leaks.
What causes valvular disease?
Aging (e.g., aortic stenosis due to calcification).
Congenital defects (e.g., bicuspid aortic valve).
Damage from myocardial infarction (e.g., papillary muscle rupture).
Rheumatic heart disease.
Infective endocarditis.
How does rheumatic heart disease cause valvular damage?
The immune system attacks heart valves following an untreated Group A streptococcal throat infection, mistaking valve proteins for the bacteria’s M protein.
What are the types of valve replacements?
Bioprosthetic valves: Made from pig tissue, lower clot risk, but shorter lifespan.
Metallic valves: Longer lifespan, higher clot risk, require anticoagulation therapy (e.g., warfarin).
What is infective endocarditis?
A life-threatening infection of the heart lining (endocardium), particularly affecting heart valves.
How is infective endocarditis related to dental procedures?
Bacteria from invasive dental procedures can enter the bloodstream and infect damaged heart valves, especially in predisposed individuals.
What are the three main consequences of infective endocarditis?
Impaired heart valve function, leading to heart failure.
Focus of infection, causing sepsis.
Source of emboli, leading to strokes.
How is infective endocarditis managed?
4–6 weeks of IV antibiotics.
Surgery may be required to replace damaged valves.
What are the current guidelines for antibiotic prophylaxis in UK dentistry?
Antibiotic prophylaxis is not routinely recommended for dental procedures but may be considered for high-risk patients after consulting with their cardiologist.