Heart Failure Flashcards
In heart failure more common in men or women?
Men
How does heart failure incidence change as you age?
Between the ages and 40 and 80, incidence doubles with each decade
2 widely accepted definitions of heart failure
1) A cardiac disorder that prohibits delivery of sufficient output to meet perfusion requirements of metabolising tissues
2) A clinical syndrome caused by abnormality o the heart and recognised by characteristic pattern of haemodynamic and hormonal responses
4 main causes of heart failure
- Coronary artery diseases
- Hypertension
- Cardiomyopathy
- Valvular heart disease
4 aggravating factors of heart failure
- Cardiac arrhythmias
- Hypertension
- Anaemia
- Infections
What main 3 physiological changes cause the majority of signs and symptoms in heart failure?
Reduced cardiac output (peripheral hypoperfusion)
Fluid retention (congestions)
Increased sympathetic activity
What symptoms and signs result from reduced cardiac output
Symptoms= fatigue Signs= cool skin, peripheral cyanosis
What signs and symptoms result from fluid retention
Symptoms= dyspnoea, oedema Signs= Basal crackles, raised JVP, ankle swelling, ascites
What are ascites
abnormal fluid collection in perineal cavity
Distended stomach
What signs result from increased sympathetic activity
Tachycardia
Sweating
How might the pulse appear in somebody with heart failure
Alternating pulse
Name 6 complications that can result from heart failure
Intravascular thrombosis Infection Functional valvular dysfunction Multi organ failure Cardiac arrhythmias Sudden death
What examples of intravascular thrombosis can result from heart failure
Pulmonary embolism
Systemic embolism
What infections most commonly result from heart failure
Chest infection
Ulcerated cellulitic legs
What functional valvular dynsfunctions can occur from heart failure?
Mitral regurgitation
Tricuspid regurgitation
Which organs are most likely to fail as a result of heart failure
Renal failure
Liver failure
What cardiac arrhythmias are most commonly detected in heart failure?
Atrial fibrillation
Ventricular fibrillation
Ventricular tachycardia
How may an ECG of somebody with heart failure appear
- Inferior Q waves
- Anterior T waves and ectopics
- Left bundle branch block
What may a chest x-ray of somebody with heart failure show?
- Pulmonary congestion
- Pulmonary oedema
Where in BNP secreted from? In response to what?
Secreted by myocardial cells in response to raised left atrial pressure
4 changes that occur when BNP levels increase
- Promotes natriuresis
- Promotes vasodilation
- Inhibits ADH release
- Inhibits aldosterone release