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Circulatory System > Heart Diseases > Flashcards

Heart Diseases Flashcards

1
Q

What is tachycardia?

A

Rapid heart rate of more than 100 bpm

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2
Q

What is brachycardia?

A

Slow heart rate of fewer than 60 bpm

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3
Q

What does rhythm refer to in an ECG?

A

Regularity of ECG waves

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4
Q

What is arrhythmia?

A

Any variation from the normal rhythm

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5
Q

Describe atrial flutter.

A

Rapid, regular sequence of atrial depolarization where the AV node responds to one out of 2 or 3 impulses

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6
Q

What is ventricular fibrillation?

A

Very serious condition with uncoordinated, chaotic contractions and erratic impulses in the ventricles

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7
Q

What happens if circulation isn’t restored in less than 4 minutes during ventricular fibrillation?

A

Brain damage sets in

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8
Q

What is congestive heart failure (CHF)?

A

Inability of the heart to adequately meet the needs of organs and tissues for oxygen and nutrients

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9
Q

List symptoms of left-sided heart failure.

A

*fluid back up into lungs
* Shortness of breath
* Cough at night
*Very tired

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10
Q

What are symptoms of right-sided heart failure?

A

*Fluid back up in veins and leaks out into tissues and organs
* spread to lungs, liver, stomach
* edema of feet, legs, ankles(lower body)
*urinate more especially at night
*trouble breathing especially when laying flat
*chest pain, feels like indigestion, skin cold and sweaty, pulse fast and irregular

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11
Q

How is congestive heart failure diagnosed?

A

Presence of edema and shortness of breath, listening for crackling sounds with a stethoscope, x-ray for enlarged heart

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12
Q

List three treatment options for congestive heart failure.

A
  • Lifestyle changes (quit smoking, limit alcohol)
  • Medications (diuretics-promote urination), inotropics (strengthen pumping ability), beta-blockers (slows HR, widens vessels), etc
  • Surgical options: angioplasty, stenting, heart valve repair or replacement, pacemaker insertion, bypass surgery, heat transplantation
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13
Q

What is mitral valve disease?

A

Occurs when heart valves do not work properly, often leading to valvular insufficiency/regurgitation (leaky valves)

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14
Q

What is valvular insufficiency?

A

Also known as regurgitation, occurs when a valve does not close tightly

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15
Q

What can cause mitral valve disease?

A

Endocarditis, which is inflammation of the inner layer of the heart

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16
Q

What are chordae tendineae?

A

Cord-like tendons that connect papillary muscles to the tricuspid and mitral valves

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17
Q

List two symptoms of mitral valve disease.

A
  • Shortness of breath
  • Dizziness or weakness
  • swelling of your ankles, feet or abdomen
    *Rapid weight gain
    *palpitations (heartbeat faster)
    *discomfort in chest
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18
Q

What is a murmur?

A

A swishing sound made by blood flowing through a stenotic or leaky valve

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19
Q

What preventive measures can be taken for heart valve disease?

A
  • Call doctor if symptoms of infection arise
  • Maintain good dental hygiene
  • Take antibiotics before surgery
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20
Q

Term: Tetralogy of Fallot (ToF)
Description: A rare congenital heart defect consisting of four heart abnormalities:

A
  1. Pulmonary stenosis: Narrowing of the pulmonary valve, reducing blood flow to the lungs.
    1. Ventricular septal defect (VSD): A hole between the heart’s two lower chambers (ventricles).
    2. Overriding aorta: The aorta is positioned above both ventricles, allowing oxygen-poor blood to flow into it.
    3. Right ventricular hypertrophy: Thickening of the muscular walls of the right ventricle.
21
Q

Tetralogy of Fallot (ToF) - Symptoms

A

Symptoms:
• Cyanosis (bluish tint to skin, lips, and nails due to lack of oxygen)
• Shortness of breath
• Fainting or fatigue, especially during feeding in infants
• Heart murmur

22
Q

Tetralogy of Fallot (ToF) - Diagnosis

A

Diagnosis Methods:
• Echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart)
• Electrocardiogram (ECG) to measure heart rhythm
• Chest X-ray to observe heart and lung structure
• Cardiac MRI or CT scan for detailed heart imaging

23
Q

Tetralogy of Fallot (ToF) - Treatment

A

Treatment Options:
• Surgery (main treatment): Usually complete repair to correct defects in infancy
• Temporary medications to manage symptoms before surgery
• Ongoing care with a cardiologist

24
Q

Tetralogy of Fallot (ToF) - Prevention

A

Prevention Tips:
• Avoid alcohol and drugs during pregnancy
• Properly manage health conditions like diabetes
• Ensure adequate folic acid intake before and during pregnancy

25
Heart Attack (Myocardial Infarction)
Description: Occurs when blood flow to a part of the heart muscle is blocked, often by a clot in a coronary artery, leading to heart tissue damage or death. Typically caused by plaque buildup in coronary arteries.
26
Heart Attack - Symptoms
Symptoms: • Chest pain or discomfort (pressure, squeezing, or fullness) • Pain radiating to arms, back, neck, jaw, or stomach • Shortness of breath • Cold sweats, nausea, or lightheadedness
27
Heart Attack - Diagnosis
Diagnosis Methods: • Electrocardiogram (ECG): Records electrical activity to detect damage • Blood tests: Measures cardiac enzymes (like troponin) • Echocardiogram: Creates heart images to show blood flow issues • Coronary angiography: Uses dye and X-rays to find blockages • Cardiac MRI: Provides detailed heart images
28
Heart Attack - Treatment
Treatment Options: • Medications: Blood thinners, clot-dissolvers, pain relievers • Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI): Balloon and stent to open blocked artery • Coronary artery bypass surgery: Reroutes blood around a blocked artery
29
Heart Attack - Prevention
Prevention Tips: • Healthy diet, lifestyle changes, regular exercise • Avoid smoking and limit alcohol • Manage stress, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels
30
Aortic Aneurysm
Description: A bulge in the aorta that can occur anywhere along it. Types include: • Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: In the belly area • Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm: In the chest cavity • Cerebral Aortic Aneurysm: In brain vessels
31
Aortic Aneurysm - Symptoms
Symptoms by Type: • Cerebral: Severe headache, paralysis on one side of the face, stiff neck, pain above eye • Thoracic: Difficulty swallowing, chest or upper back pain, rapid heart rate
32
Aortic Aneurysm - Diagnosis
Diagnosis Methods: • Ultrasound • MRI • CT scan
33
Aortic Aneurysm - Treatment
Treatment Options: • Surgery to replace the damaged part of the aorta with a graft
34
Aortic Aneurysm - Prevention
Prevention Tips: • Regular screening for at-risk individuals, especially men aged 65-75 who smoke or have a family history
35
Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) / Atherosclerosis
Description: Buildup of fats and cholesterol in blood vessel walls (plaque), narrowing vessels, increasing the risk of blood clots and reducing blood flow.
36
Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) - Symptoms
Symptoms: Common symptoms include chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, and in severe cases, heart attack symptoms like intense chest pain, sweating, and nausea.
37
Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) - Diagnosis
Diagnosis Methods: • Blood tests • ECG • Echocardiogram • Ultrasound
38
Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) - Treatment
Treatment Options: • Lifestyle changes (healthy diet) • Medications (aspirin for blood thinning, BP medications) • Surgery (angioplasty with stent)
39
Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) - Prevention
Prevention Tips: • Regular exercise, healthy weight, no smoking, stress management
40
High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)
Description: Chronic condition where blood pressure is consistently too high, typically at or above 130/80 mm Hg.
41
High Blood Pressure - Symptoms
Symptoms: • Often asymptomatic (“silent killer”) • Severe cases: Headaches, shortness of breath, nosebleeds, chest pain, vision changes, dizziness
42
High Blood Pressure - Diagnosis
Diagnosis Methods: • Blood pressure readings over several visits • Additional tests (blood and urine tests, ECG, echocardiogram)
43
High Blood Pressure - Treatment
Treatment Options: • Lifestyle changes: Low-sodium diet, regular exercise, weight management, reduced alcohol intake, stress management • Medications: Diuretics, ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers
44
High Blood Pressure - Prevention
Prevention Tips: • Healthy diet, regular exercise, healthy weight, avoid smoking, manage stress
45
Holes in Heart (ASD & VSD)
Description: • Atrial Septal Defect (ASD): Hole in septum between upper chambers (atria), allowing blood mixing that increases heart/lung workload. • Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD): Hole in septum between lower chambers (ventricles), causing blood flow increase to lungs.
46
Holes in Heart (ASD & VSD) - Symptoms
Symptoms: • ASD: Often asymptomatic; can include breathlessness, fatigue, swelling, palpitations, respiratory infections • VSD: Small VSDs often asymptomatic; larger VSDs may cause breathlessness, fatigue, poor weight gain in infants, heart murmur
47
Holes in Heart (ASD & VSD) - Diagnosis
Diagnosis Methods: • Physical exam with heart murmur detection • Imaging (echocardiogram, X-ray, MRI, ECG)
48
Holes in Heart (ASD & VSD) - Treatment
Treatment Options: • ASD: Small ASD may close naturally; larger ASD may require surgery or catheter procedure • VSD: Small VSD may close on its own; large VSD may need surgical repair
49
Holes in Heart (ASD & VSD) - Prevention
Prevention Tips: • Avoid smoking, alcohol, certain medications during pregnancy • Maintain prenatal care and healthy lifestyle • Genetic counseling if family history of heart defects

Circulatory System (6 decks)

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