Pharmacology of the CVS Flashcards
What is angina?
→ Angina is chest pain or pressure
→ due to not enough blood flow to the heart muscle.
What are the symptoms of angina pectoris?
→crushing chest pain, also in the jaw, shoulders, arms, etc.
→shortness of breath
→sweating
→ nausea
How many people suffer from angina pectoris in the UK?
→2 million sufferers in the UK
What are the symptoms of typical angina?
→ typical angina
→ substernal chest discomfort of characteristic quality + duration
→provoked by exertion or emotional stress
How can typical angina be relieved?
→ rest + medications
Why is stable angina classified as predictable?
→ recurrent episodes have a similar onset pattern, duration + intensity
What does a coronary spasm lead to? (Prinzmetal angina)
→ Caused by drugs like cocaine.
→ Critical reduction in blood flow so oxygen supply is inadequate
What is supply ischaemia?
→ When there is decreased coronary blood flow due to vasospasm or a thrombus / blockage
What is demand ischaemia?
→Increased demand for oxygen in the heart muscle
→ Due to fixed stenosis
What are precipitating factors for angina?
→ Increased sympathetic activity
→ Increased contractility - exercise, emotion or stress
→ Increased vasoconstriction
What are the three ways to treat angina?
→ Improving perfusion
→ Reducing metabolic demand
→ Prevention
How do you improve perfusion with angina?
→ Increase oxygen delivery by improving coronary blood flow
→ coronary vasodilators
How do you reduce metabolic demand with angina?
→ Decrease cardiac work
→ Using vasodilators ( reduce afterload + preload)
→ Using cardiac depressants ( reduce HR + contractility)
How do you prevent angina?
→ Prophylactic to reduce risk of episodes
→ lipid lowering
→ anti-coagulants
→ Fibrinolytic
What does clot formation lead to? (unstable angina)
→ Occludes the artery
→ There is a critical reduction in blood flow so oxygen supply is inadequate even at rest
