Patient cases

Question 1

what problems are associate with chest pain and what other common symptoms arise too?

Answer 1

• Acute coronary syndrome: due to decreased blood flow in the coronary arteries. Pain radiates to the left shoulder or jaw, crushing, central and associated with nausea and sweating.
• Stable angina: lack of blood flow to the heart. Pain is triggered by physical activity or emotional stress.
• Gastrooesopageal reflux disease (GERD): the return if the stomach’s contents back into the esophagus. Burning sensation in your chest usually after eating.
• Pectoral muscle injury: sudden severe pain and tearing sensation in the chest.

Question 2

what are the common symptoms of aortic stenosis?

Answer 2

• Breathlessness
• chest pain
• decreased activity in general
• lethargy ( a lack of energy)
• balance issues

Question 3

what is acute coronary syndrome, stable angina, gastrooesophageal reflux disease, pectoral muscular injury.

Answer 3

Acute coronary syndrome:
Inadequate blood flow to the heart muscle. Includes myocardial infarction and unstable angina.

Stable angina:
Inadequate blood flow to the heart muscle precipitated by exertion and relieved by rest.

Gastrooesophageal reflux disease:
Acidic stomach contents enter lower oesophagus and cause heartburn.

Pectoral muscular injury:
Strained or torn chest muscles that are painful when used.

Question 4

what is associated with sharp and stabbing pain?

Answer 4

Musculo-skeletal problems

Question 5

what is nausea and muscle damage usually associated with?

Answer 5

Heart attack symptoms.

Question 6

what type of pain is associated with cardiac problem?

Answer 6

Dull pain

Question 7

what does abnormal levels of troponin mean?

Answer 7

Irregular levels of troponin is usually related to cardiac muscle damage, it means it is NOT normal.

Question 8

what are the recommendations for diet for someone with cardiac problems and how can you know this?

Answer 8

FATS

• high HDL
• low LDL

Good fats are generally liquid at room temperature.

Question 9

How does salt affect our body?

Answer 9

• Salt associated with increased blood pressure.
• Hypertension is a CVD that can cause other CVDs.

Therefore salt intake should be reduced

Question 10

what is the relationship between mortality and ethanol?

Answer 10

J-shaped curve between mortality and ethanol.

Question 11

what information does an ECG provide?

Answer 11

provides information on conduction system and cardiac morphology; ST segment of particular interest in chest pain

Question 12

how can troponin be measured and when does this spike?

Answer 12

can be measured using a sensitive laboratory test usually low in concentration which spikes 12h after MI