Hypertension and heart failure Flashcards
Having what blood pressure means you have hypertension?
> 140 systolic, >90 dystolic, checked 3 times
what is white coat syndrome
White coat hypertension, more commonly known as white coat syndrome, is a phenomenon in which people exhibit a blood pressure level above the normal range, in a clinical setting, although they do not exhibit it in other settings. It is believed that the phenomenon is due to anxiety experienced during a clinic visit
What are the risk factors for hypertension
- age
- race
- obesity
- alcohol
- family history
- pregnancy
- stress
- drugs (non-steroidal, corticosteroids, OCP, sympathominmetics)
What are the outcomes of having hypertension
Accelerated atherosclerosis
- myocardial infarction
- stroke
- peripheral vascular disease
Renal failure
What are common triggers of hypertension
none usually found
What are rare triggers of hypertension
- renal artery stenosis
- endocrine tumours (e.g. phaeochromocytoma - adrenaline, Conn’s syndrome - aldosterone, Cushing’s syndrome - cortisol)
Signs and symptoms of hypertension?
usually none
- maybe headache
- maybe transient ischaemic attacks (‘mini strokes’- full neurological return in 24hrs)
What are indications for further investigation
young patient
resistant hypertension
accelerated hypertension
‘unusual history’
What is a phaemochromocytoma
a tumour of the adrenal gland which produces adrenaline (a potential rare cause of hypertension)
What is cushing’s syndrome
a tumour which produces too much cortisol (too much water and salt retained –> hypertension)
Why does renal artery stenosis make hypertension worse
hypertension causes renal disease which makes hypertension worse which makes renal disease worse etc (something to do with vasoconstriction causing kidneys to think there is a drop in blood vol so then replaces ‘lost’ blood vol which then puts extra pressure on heart and makes hypertension worse)
What investigations can you do for hypertension
urinalysis serum biochemistry serum lipids ECG renal ultrasound, renal angiography, hormone estimations
What is the aim of treating hypertension
to get BP < 120/90 mmHg
modify risk factors
How can you treat hypertension
modify risk factors
single daily drug dose
what drugs are used to treat hypertension, what are their side effects
thiazide diuretic (gout) beta blocker (COPD/asthma) calcium channel antagonist ACE inhibitor (PVD)
What is heart failure
output of heart is not meeting tissues demands
In what 2 main ways can the heart fail
- tissues aren’t getting what they need (high output failure e.g. severe anaemia)
- heart isn’t doing enough (low output failure)
what is systolic dysfunction
ventricles are still filling but aren’t pumping enough out of them (about 60% is normal)
what is diastolic dysfunction
problems with filling the ventricles (heart is still able to pump out 60% but there is a lower volume there to pump)
What are signs of left sided heart failure
affects lungs and systolic pressure
patients breathless
high pulse rate but low blood pressure
what are signs of right sided heart failure
affects venous pressure
puffy ankles
pitting oedema
enlarged liver
what causes heart failure
lots of causes
What is the target of treatment for heart failure
improve what they do have reduce compensation (body increasing blood volume due to vasoconstriction but that makes heart failure worse so need to counteract with drugs)
what drugs are used for early heart failure and later heart failure
early: beta blocker
later: beta agonist (need to relax heart)
What different replacement valves can you get
metal
porcine
Main differences between metal and porcine valves
Metal:
- last longer
- on anticoagulants
Porcine:
- shorter life span
- not on anticoagulants
What are the most common valves to be replaced
left ones
Aortic and mitric
what is a very common reason for valve replacement
narrowed valve (stenosis)
what are two ways to develop heart failure
congenital or acquired