Heart attack

Question 1

What are the main cardiovascular risk factors?

Answer 1

Obesity
Smoking
Alcohol
Drug abuse 
High salt/cholesterol/fatty diet 
Lack of exercise 
Hypertension 
Age 
Gender 
Family history

Question 2

What is chronic stable angina?

Answer 2

Fixed stenosis
Demand led ischaemia
Predictable
Safe

Question 3

What three things should a patient do when they suffer from an angina event?

Answer 3

Stop
Sit
Spray
(GTN spray)

Question 4

Describe the pain for chronic stable angina

Answer 4

Heavy feeling
Weight on chest
Pressure
Classically radiating down the left arm

Question 5

What is acute coronary syndrome?

Answer 5

Acute presentation of coronary heart disease

Provisional diagnosis that covers a spectrum of conditions

Question 6

What are the two types of myocardial infarction?

Answer 6

ST elevation MI (STEMI)

Non ST elevation MI (NSTEMI)

Question 7

How do fatty streaks become fibrous?

Answer 7

Through the production of collagen

Question 8

What are the characteristics of a vulnerable plaque?

Answer 8

High lipid content and thin fibrous cap with a more stenotic shape

Question 9

What may cause a coronary plaque to rupture?

Answer 9

Sudden changes in intraluminal pressure/tone
Bending and twisting of an artery during each heart contraction
Mechanical injury