heart disease

Question 1

how does atheroscleosis develop

Answer 1

fatty streak in artery builds up
overtime the material becomes a plaque that may become a thrombosis or clot
the clot can cause a potential blockage in the artery
detailed - lipoproteins enter the vessel walls and become oxidised - this leads to immune response and macrophage take up lipids
this forms the lipid core which can rupture

Question 2

what is angina pectoris

Answer 2

a clinical syndrome due to myocardial ischemia characterised discomfort, or pressure - relieved by nitroglycerin - expansion of blood vessels to relieve temp ischemia

Question 3

what is percutaneous cardiac intervention

Answer 3

use of a stent in the artery to open blood vessel

Question 4

what is a coronary bypass graft

Answer 4

surgery which uses an autogenous vein and attaches it to the heart, bypassing the clotted/affected area

Question 5

describe a myocardial infarction

Answer 5

sudden reduced flow to the cardiac muscle resulting in ischemia of the affected tissues

Question 6

what are the two main complications of MI

Answer 6

arrhythmia and HF

Question 7

what is an arrhythmia?

Answer 7

irregular heart beat patterns - atrial fibrillation usually not too bad, ventricular fibrillation usually results in an almost 0 cardiac output

Question 8

what is heart failure

Answer 8

cardiac muscle fails to adequately produce a sufficient cardiac output to maintain metabolic requirements and venous return

Question 9

what type of heart failure is characteristic of MI and other CVD

Answer 9

LV failure