Drugs Acting On The Heart

Question 1

What are the symptoms of angina ?

Answer 1

Crushing pain in chest, arm, neck jaw

Question 2

What is angina ? And what are the 2 basic solutions

Answer 2

The problem is there is too little oxygen getting to the cardiac muscles
The solution is that they either reduce oxygen demand or increase oxygen supply

Question 3

Name one drug that helps to reduce the cardiac workload and explain how it works?

Answer 3

One drug is GTN, this dilates the peripheral blood vessels so that the heart does not have to push as hard and there is less blood return to heart as there is a lower force of contraction

Question 4

Name another drug that works to reduce the cardiac output of the heart and explain how it does this?

Answer 4

Antenolol which is a beta- blocker
Acts on the B1 adrenoceptors in the heart
Slows heart rate and decreases contractability - 02 demands are reduces

Question 5

Beta-blockers improve because coronary blood supply how do they do this

Answer 5

They do this by prolonging the diastole window

Question 6

Ischaemia is what ? And what does this lead to if this occurs in the heart ?

Answer 6

Inadequate blood supply to the heart which leads to a heart attack and death of the muscles

Question 7

What are the three drugs that can be used to treat a heart attack

Answer 7

Glyceryl trinitrate, propranolol
-reduces workload and oxygen demand, improve blood flow through coronary artery , reduces pain
Tissue plasminogen activator
-is a clot busting drug, but only works if given within a few hours
Angioplasty- vessel reopened using tiny ballon

Question 8

What is heart failure and what are the solutions?

Answer 8

Is when the heart does not pump efficiently enough to supply the body with blood and the solution is to just reduced the blood pressure or to make the heart pump harder

Question 9

Digoxin is a drug used in patient suffering with ________ and __________. Patients in sinus rhythm who remain symptomatic ( despite use of __________ or a diuretic.
This improves ________, excersise tolerance and reduces need for hospitalisation.

Answer 9

Heart failure, atrial fibrillation, ACE inhibitors, symptoms

Question 10

What are the effects of Digoxin on the heart ?

Answer 10

Inhibits the Na+/ k+ ATPase pump, which increased the amount of Ca2+ in stores
This increases the force of contactability, without increasing O2 consumption

Question 11

What is true arrhythmias ?

Answer 11

A very is organised rhythm

Question 12

Who is at high risk of dysrthythmias ?

Answer 12

Coronary artery disease
Heart valve disorder
Blood chemistry disorders
Drugs - B blockers caffeine

Question 13

Explain ventricular fibrillation

Answer 13

Caused by tissue damage meaning action potential travels in circles. Stop beating in a co-ordinated way, ECG shows no QRS waves.
Fatal
dc electrical shock only way to stop

Question 14

Name 3 treatments of dysrthythmias?

Answer 14

Drugs (eg lidocaine, atenolol, amiodarone, verapamil.)electrical, surgical

Question 15

Name 3 ways of preventing coronary artery disease ?

Answer 15

Lifestyle (diet, exercise, stop smoking)
Reduce blood pressure (medication)
Statins to reduce cholesterol