Heart and Circulatory Issues Flashcards
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
A bulge in the lower part of the aorta (aorta goes from heart through chest and abdomen). If ruptured, presents as severe back, abdominal, and groin pain, tachycardia, hypotension, and altered mental state. Diagnosed w/ imaging and treated w/ emergency surgery if ruptured.
Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm
A bulge in the upper part of the aorta (aorta goes from heart through chest and abdomen). If ruptured, presents as severe back, abdominal, and chest pain, hematemesis (vomit blood), tachycardia, hypotension, and altered mental state. Diagnosed w/ imaging and treated w/ emergency surgery if ruptured.
Peripheral Arterial Aneurysm
A bulge usually in the Popliteal Artery (goes from heart to thigh and leg). If ruptured, presents as severe back, leg, and groin pain, hypotension, painful sores on fingers/toes, and limb numbness. Diagnosed w/ imaging and treated w/ emergency surgery if ruptured.
Emobolus
Clot or undissolved mass carried through circulatory vessels by blood or lymph flow. An embolus may be a blood clot, piece of tissue, fat globule, or air bubble. Main point is that it is a clot that travels.
Thrombus
Blood clot formed along wall of a blood vessel or in a cavity of heart. It may be of sufficient size to obstruct blood flow; or all, or a portion, of it may break off to become an embolus. Main point is that it is a clot that is stationary and causes a blockage.
Essential Hypertension
Persistently elevated blood pressure that develops without apparent cause and often progresses over a number of years- blood pressure > 140/90mmHg. Diagnosed via blood pressure reading at exam. Treated w/ reduced salt intake, increased exercise and if needed blood pressure medication.
Malignant Hypertension
Extremely high blood pressure-develops rapidly and causes organ damage. “Normal” blood pressure is below 140/90- Malignant blood pressure above 180/120. Immediately treated w/ blood pressure medication, low sodium diet, and increased exercise.
Arteriosclerosis
Widespread thickening of walls of small arteries and arterioles - loss of elasticity. Presents as chest pain/pressure, pain in limbs, fatigue. Dx w/ blood tests, ECG, imaging. Treated w/ change in diet, exercise, medication for blood pressure and cholesterol, in extreme cases surgeries/stints placed in heart.
Artherosclerosis
A type of Arteriosclerosis caused by plaque accumulation in arteries. Presents as headache, dizziness, memory loss, muscle cramping, changes in skin temp. and color. Dx w/ Ultrasound, ECG, and CT. Treated w/ exercise, change in diet, and in severe cases surgery.
Angina Pectoris
Uncomfortable squeezing, pressure, fullness, pain in chest resulting from ischemia (poor blood supply) to part of myocardium. Stable angina is from exercise, unstable occurs at rest and usually signals a bloodclot. Treated w/ healthy lifestyle, in severe cases beta blockers and calcium channel blockers.
Myocardial Infarction (Heart Attack)
Blood flow to section of heart muscle is blocked, usually by a clot. A section of heart is damaged. Presents as crushing chest pain that radiates to left arm, neck, jaw. Fatigue, nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath. Treated w/ nitroglycerin while awaiting ambulance. Patient is given analgesics and put into a coma at a reduced temp to slow metabolism & allow the body to restore blood flow.
Cardiac Dysrhythmia
Abnormal heartbeat or heartrate. Feeling of heart beating too fast, too slow, or skipping a beat. Treatment is usually for fast heartbeat. Medication will be given, calcium channel blockers.
Congestive Heart Failure
Pumping ability of heart no longer meets bodily needs, causing reduced blood flow, and congestion of blood when returning. Presents as tachypnea (rapid breathing), edema (swelling), palpitations, hemoptysis (coughing blood). Treated w/ diuretics for swelling, ACE inhibitors, reduced salt intake, weight loss.
Valvular Heart Disease
Valves are either too tight impeding blood flow or do not close all the way, allowing blood to leaks back through leading to heart failure. Diagnosed w/ ECG, treated w/ medication and in severe cases surgery to repair heart valves.
Mitral Insufficiency
Blood from left ventricle flows back into left atrium. Presents as dyspnea (shortness of breath), fatigue, pulmonary hypertension.
