electrophysiology Flashcards
what is the P wave?
atrial depolarization
what is the QRS complex?
ventricular depolarization
what is the T wave?
ventricular repolarization (filling stage)
how do we determine HR from ECG?
count large squares between QRS complexes
300 / number or large squares
what BP is considered to be unsafe to workout?
- systolic = >/= 160
- diastolic = >/= 90
what is the equation for age-predicted max heart rate?
220-age
what is the equation for 70-85% of HR max?
70% = 220- age x 0.7
85% = 220 - age x 0.85
what is cardiac electrophysiology?
the science of elucidating, diagnosing, and treating the electrical activities of the heart
what is the electrophysiology procedure?
- insert catheter
- record the hearts electrical signals
- pace the heart
what are premature atrial contractions?
an arrhythmia that occurs when an electrical impulse triggers an extra or early beat in the atria
- detected by ECG
- extra beat happens before the p wave
what are the symptoms of premature atrial contractions?
- flutter in the chest
- fatigue after exercise
- shortness of breath
- chest pain
- light headedness/dizziness
what is atrial flutter?
an electrical issue that originates in the atria
- the right atrium beats extra fast
- AKA supraventricular tachycardia
- can lead to serious health issues since the blood doesn’t pump efficiently = risk of stroke
what are the symptoms of atrial flutter?
- palpitations
- SOB
- dizziness
- a feeling that their heart is pounding
- often arises from cardiovascular diseases
what do you see on an ECG to detect atrial flutter?
positive deflections that occur before the QRS complex that are much more frequent which exemplify the abnormally fast beats originating in the atria
what is atrial fibrillation (AFib)
- the most common cardiac arrhythmia
- the atria beat chaotically and irregularly, out of sync with the ventricles
what are symptoms of AFib?
- general fatigue
- rapid and irregular heartbeat
- fluttering/thumping in the chest
- dizziness
- SOB
what does an ECG look like with someone with AFib?
chaotic and irregular atrial beat
describe premature ventricular contractions (PVC)
- a normal heart beat will occur followed by an extra beat, a pause, then a stronger than normal beat
- during the pause, the heart fills with more blood which creates a more forceful next beat
- can occue at any age in healthy/unhealthy populations
what are symptoms of PVCs?
- palpations or more specific complaints of feeling the heart has skipped a beat
- can cause pain/discomfort in the chest
what does an ECG look like for PVC?
there will be an increased force of the PVC resulting from the higher blood filling that occurs during the pause
what are ways to manage arrythmias?
- medications
- invasive therapies
- electrical devices
- heart surgery
- lifestyle changes
how does medication help manage arrythmias?
- can be used to convert the arrythmia to a normal rhythm or prevent the arrhythmia
- heart rate control drugs and anti coagulants can be used to reduce the risk of blood clots
how does invasive therapies help manage arrhythmias?
- can be used to manage the condition by electrical cardioversion and catheter ablation procedures
- ex: ablation = energy is delivered through the catheter to small areas of the heart where the problem is
describe cardiac ablation
- a procedure that scars tissue in the heart to block abnormal electrical signals = restore normal heart rhythm
- catheters threaded through blood vessels to the heart
describe electrical devices to manage arrhythmias
- permanent pacemaker = send small electrical impulses to the heart to maintain a normal heart rate
- used to prevent heart fron beating too slow
- implantable cardioverter-defibrillatory (ICD) = constantly montiors the patients heart rhythm and when it detects a fast rhythe,, it will deliver energy to the heart to return to normal state
- treat ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation
what are the 3 types of AFib?
- paroxysmal
- persistant
- permanent
what is paroxymal AFib?
the kind of AFib that terminates sponteneuously or with intervention within 7 days of it’s onset
what is persistent AFib?
AFib that is continuously sustained beyond 7 days, including episodes that are terminated by cardioversion after 7 days or more
what is permanent AFib?
no further attempts to restore normal rhythm is undertaken
- refferred to as the acceptance type
what is the FITT principle for AFib?
- F = 3-5 days per week
- I = less than or equal to 95% peak HR
- T = 120-200 minutes per week
- T = combination of aerobic and resistance training
