Management of Stable Angina with Drugs Flashcards
When is the myocardium perfused with oxygenated blood
During diastole (as the coronary vessels are squished during systole)
What is myocardial oxygen demand a function of
How hard the heart is having to work (heart rate increases) and ventricular wall tension (determined by the pressure, chamber volume and wall thickness)
Describe the vasculature of the heart
Aorta, anterior surface: left coronary artery (LCA) initially branches to yield the left anterior descending (LAD) or anterior interventricular artery, the LCA then progresses to become he left marginal artery (LMA) and left circumflex artery (Cx- left posterior surface). Right coronary artery (RCA) comes from the aorta and branches to form the right marginal artery (RMA) anf the posterior interventricular artery (Plc) posteriorly (right posterior surface)
What is coronary blood flow determined by
Myocardial oxygen demand
What is resting coronary blood flow
c.224 ml/min
What can vigorous exercise flow be
c.800+ ml/min
Why is there a factor 4 increase in coronary blood flow during vigorous exercise
The heart requires a lot of oxygen
What does compromised coronary artery flow have major implications for
The myocardium
What are risk factors for coronary artery disease
Obesity, hypercholesterolaemia, family history of CAD, hypertension, smoking, diabetes, kidney disease (>men, >65 women), physical inactivity and psychosocial stress
What does the fact that many of the risk factors for coronary artery are lifestyle related mean
There is need for primary intervention and empowering patients to take care of their own health
What does normal blood flow rely on
Vessels elastically expanding after pulsatile ejections
What can make artery walls less elastic and more rigid and what impact does this have
Age and risk factors make artery walls less elastic and more rigid, increasing cardiac inotropy to compensate
What can increasing cardiac inotropy lead to
Ventricle hypertrophy and increased myocardial oxygen demand
What does the fact that you have a pulse wave mean
That vessels dilate after each heart beat which males the job of the heart less hard which reduces afterload
What happens if the vessels are stiffer and more rigid
They can’t accommodate meaning that the heart has to work harder which increases the amount of muscle resulting in left ventricular hypertrophy which is pathological
What are the main features of atherosclerosis
The growth of LDL-cholesterol laden plaques in the sub-endothelium
Describe the process of atherosclerosis and what it leads to
The process is multi-factorial and leads to tissue ischaemia
What effects do the plauques have on the vessel
The plaques narrow the bore of the vessel resulting in a lack of oxygenated blood that can pass as the vessels are partially occluded
When is ischaemia inevitable
If oxygenated blood cannot meet the myocardial demand
What happens in myocardial anaerobic glycolysis
Large quantities of lactate are generated from pyruvate
When does myocardial ischaemia occur
When the vessel bore id reduced
Why is it formed and what does lactate trigger
Lactate is produced during ischaemia as there is a lack of oxygenated blood and this can trigger pain
What are the signs and symptoms of angina
Crushing, burning or ‘tight’ chest pain often accompanied by shortness of breath, nausea and sweating
What determines the nature/ severity of angina symptoms
Which coronary arteries and how narrowed they are
What are angina symptoms precipitated by
Physical exertion or emotional stress
What are angina symptoms relieved by
By rest (relieved within minutes)
What are examples of physical exertion that can bring on angina pain
Gardening, walking for the bus and lifting shopping
When is transient ischaemia resolved
When you stop exertion and rest
What do angina symptoms warrant
Further investigation and conformation that it is stable angina
When do acute coronary symptoms appear
At rest, although may be due to vasospasm
What does ACS usually indicate
Unstable (vulnerable) plaque ruture (whcih coronary arteries and how long determine the nature of the nature of the symptoms and severity) with thrombus fragments adding to the narrowing of the coronary vessels