heart and blood vessels Flashcards
define atheroma
The build up of fatty material on the inside wall of an artery
define atherosclerosis
progressive narrowing and hardening within an artery potentially resulting in a complete blockage
where does atheroma usually affect?
lower abdominal aorta, coronary arteries, popliteral arteries, internal carotid arteries, vessels of circles of willis
causes of endothelium injury?
hyperlipidaemia, disturbed flow, smoking and hypertension
causes of atherosclerosis?
when excess plasma lipids accumulate in arterial walls, causing the formation of lipid-rich plaques
stages of plaque formation?
activated platelets, deposition of chemokines on endothelial cells, adhesion of monocytes, monoctyes migrate and transform into macrophages, macrophages ingest LDLs, plaque formation
a plaque in the coronary artery may lead too….
heart attack, angina
a plaque in the aorta may lead too…
aneurysm due to weakening of the wall
a plaque in the carotid artery may lead too…
narrowing of the artery causing stroke
what causes ischaemic heart disease?
an imbalance between the supply and demand of the heart for oxygenated blood
risk factors for ischaemic heart disease?
family history, make sex, age, genetic factors, ACE gene mutation, hyperlipidaemia, cigarette smoking, hypertension, diabetes, lack of exercise, obesity, heavy alcohol consumption
signs and symptoms of Ischaemic heart disease?
chest pain, SOB, palpitations, syncope, nauseas, sweating, pale
what are LDL’s
low density lipoproteins - bad cholesterol delivered to peripheral tissues
what are HDL’s
high density lipoproteins - good cholesterol that gets transported to the liver to be excreted in bile
what is heart failure?
when the heart is unable to pump blood at the rate required for normal functioning. this causes the heart to compensate leading to cardiac hypertrophy and dilation
equation for cardiac output
heart rate X stroke volume
causes of heart failure?
IHD, hypertension, arrhythmias, valvular heart disease, cardiomyopathy, congenital heart disease
signs and symptoms of heart failure on left side?
SOB, fatigue, raised JVP, pulmonary oedema, cardiomegaly, pleural effusions, pitting oedema
signs and symptoms of heart failure on right side?
raised JVP, hepatomegaly, ascites, peripheral pitting / oedema,
function of the heart valves?
regulate blood flow in one direction
what are the four valves of the heart?
mitral, aortic, pulmonary, tricuspid
what is stenosis?
occurs when the valves are narrowed, it impedes forward flow
describe regurgitation
a leaky valve tat allows reverse flow
what is a vegetation?
abnormal tissue growth on valve (clot or bacteria) leading to stenosis or regurgitation
signs & symptoms of valvular heart disease?
same as for heart failure, as well as syncope, stroke, systemic emboli, arrhythmias, cardiac murmur
triad of symptoms of aortic stenosis?
angina, SOB, syncope
causes of mitral stenosis? clinical features?
rheumatic fever. features; pulmonary hypertension, L atrial and R ventricular hypertrophy, murmur
clinical features of mitral incompetence?
murmur, haemodynamic effect
clinical features of aortic stenosis?
murmur, left ventricular hypertrophy or failure, angina, syncope, sudden death
clinical features of aortic incompetence?
murmur, collapsing pulse, angina, left ventricular failure
pathological cause of endocarditis?
rheumatic disease, bacteria, prosthetic heart valves, calcific heart disease, IV drug use
clinical features of endocarditis? (signs and symptoms)
malaise, clubbing, cardiac murmur, arthralgia, pyrexia, skin lesions, splenomegaly, haematuria, glomerulonephritis
common cause of endocarditis infections on left and right side?
left side; streptococci infection affecting abnormal valves. right side; staph aureus affecting normal valves.
symptoms of endocarditis?
fever, weight loss, malaise, SOB, leg swelling, orthopnoea, sepsis, emboli
what is cardiomyopathy?
disease of the heart muscle. 3 types; dilated, hypertrophic or restrictive.
which organs may be affected by hypertension?
blood vessels, heart, kidney, eyes (retina), brain
what is an aneurysm?
a localised abnormal dilation of a blood vessel
types of aneurysm?
atherosclerotic, aortic, berry, micro-aneurysm, syphilitic, mycotic (infective)
symptoms of pulmonary embolism?
pleuritic chest pain, breathlessness, calf swelling, syncope/collapse, sudden death
describe septal defect in congenital heart disease?
a hole between the right and left sides of the heart, commonly atrial but can be ventricular.
why does septal defect cause a problem?
because pressure in the right side of the heart increases until blood moves to the left side- this means blood is not oxygenated before it gets sent around the body.
