symptoms and disease profiles Flashcards
orthopnea
the sensation of breathlessness in the recumbent position, relieved by issuing or standing
dyspnoea
shortness of breathe
3 causes of dyspnoea
cardiac causes = cardiac failure, associated with angina
respiratory = asthma, COPD
other causes = anaemia
paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea?
sensation of shortness of breathe that awakens the patients, often after 1 or 2 hrs of sleep and is usually relieved by sitting up
this is an indication of left sided heart failure.
palpitations
unexpected awareness of the heart beating in chest.
what are causes of dizziness and syncope ?
- postural hypotension
- neurocardiogenic
- micturition syncope
- cardiac arythias
what causes oedema?
- develops secondary to increased venous pressure but it can also result from reduced oncotic pressure or it be may idiopathic
- build up of fluid in the body which causes the effected tissue to become swollen
cyanosis
blue/purple skin
what is cyanosis is sign of?
decreased oxygen attached to red blood cells in the blood stream.
malar flush?
a high colour over the cheekbones with a bluish tinge caused by reduced oxygen concentration in the blood.
what is malar flush a sign of?
mitral valve disease which follows rheumatic fever.
butterfly rash?
characteristic skin lesion of systemic lupus erthematosus (SLE)
where would a butterfly rash typically occur?
cheeks of face and across the bridge of the nose.
koilonychia?
spoon shaped nails
presentation of anaemia.
what is koilonychia a sign of?
manifestation of chronic iron deficiency which may result from a variety of causes like malnutrition, gi blood loss, worms ect…
clubbing?
describes changes in the area under and around the finger nails and toe nails that occur with some disorders
the nail beds will soften instead of being firmly attached
what are the 3 cardiovascular causes of clubbing?
- lung cancer
- congenital cyanotic heart disease
- chronic lung infections that occur in people with bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis or lung abscesses.
- interstitial lung disease
what are non cardiovascular causes of clubbing?
- coeliac disease
- cirrhosis of the liver
- overactive thyroid gland
- cancer
infective endocarditis
infective endocarditis?
an infection on the valve of the heart that causes vegetation to that heart valve.
parts of the valve may break of when blood flows causes chromatic and clotting effects.
what are signs of infective endocarditis?
- fever
- heart murmurs
- petechiae (rash non blanching)
- splinter hemorrhages (linear lesions under the nail)
- osler nodes (tender subcutaneous nodules usually found on the distal pads of digits)
- janeway lesions (tender maculae on the palm and soles)
- Roth spots. (retinal haemorrhages with small, clear centres)
describe Roth’s spots?
- most commonly seen in acute bacterial endocarditis with a pale white centre.
- the white centre is fibrin plataet plug
- can be seen in leukaemia, diabetes
- need a microscope for eyes to see this.
- white entered retinal haemorrhages
xanthelasma?
this Is yellow plaques on upper and lower eyelids.
- a marker for atherosclerosis
- increased levels of serum cholesterol and LDL cholesterol.
thoracic outlet syndrome?
- actually happens in the thoracic inlet
- the brachial plexus, subclavian artery and the subclavian vein are closely related to the upper surface of the first rib and the inferior surface of the clavicle as they enter the upper lim.
- compression to any of these blood vessels or nerves
symptoms of thoracic outlet syndrome?
- pain and paraethesia
- grip weakening
- discolouration
- throbbing near clavicle
- cold hands
- Raynaud’s phenomenon (decreased blood flow to fingers)
coarctation of the aorta?
narrowing of the aorta - heart must pump more forcefully
Non closure of the foramen ovale?
- PFO (patent foramen ovale)
- usually asymptomatic
- may cause paradoxical emboli (a clot causes goes into systemic circulation)
- causing oxygenated blood to mix with deoxygenated blood
What happens if the ductus arteriosus doesn’t close?
Patent ductus arteriosus
- postnatally the aortic pressure is greater than in the pulmonary trunk
- causing blood flowing from systemic circulation back into pulmonary circulation through ductus arteriosus
- pulmonary hypertension
- too much blood will flow into the lungs causing pulmonary oedema and possibly congestive heart failure (right ventricle needs to work harder)
How to treat patent ductus arteriosus?
NSAID’s like ibuprofen will act as prostaglandin inhibitors
Marfan syndrome?
common disorder of connective tissue that effects the eyes, skeleton, lungs, heart and blood vessels and it may be life threatening.
it is genetic
what are cardiovascular complications of Marfan’s syndrome?
- dilation of ascending and sometimes descending aorta
- incompetence of aortic and mitral valves
- aneurysm
- dissection of aorta.
management of Marfan’s syndrome?
regular clinical review
- echo
- additional imaging
- Beta blockers
- surgical referral if the aortic root at sinus of valsalva exceeds 5.5cm or 5% growth per year
keto-acidosis?
- when there is a severe lack of insulin in the body
- sugar is not used for energy, instead fat will be
- ketones are released
kussmaul breathing?
- abnormal breathing
- rapid, deep breathing
- related to ketoacidosis
portal hypertension
can’t get blood into liver due to high blood pressure in this system and it flows back due to the fact that there are no valves = portosystemic shunt.
what can cirrhotic liver disease cause?
portal hypertension-> oesophageal varices
thoracic outlet syndrome?
when the vessels that run from the thorax to the upper limb become compressed (brachial plexus and subclavian artery/vein)
- this compression can happen between:
- the scalene muscles
- rib 1 and the clavicle
- coracoid process of the scapula and pec minor.
coarctation?
birth defect where part of the aorta is narrower than usual
what are the reasons why someone is not put in a cast when they break a rib?
1- haemothorax (blood collects between chest wall and lungs in pleural cavity)
2- pneumothorax (collapsed lung)
3- splenic injury
pericarditis?
- inflammation of the pericardium
- appears as acute onset of chest pain
angina pectoris?
chest pain that is due to inadequate supply of O2 to the heart, typically severe and crushing
prinzemetal angina (variant)
- caused by coronary artery vasospasm
- uncommon
red man syndrome?
hypersensitivity reaction to histamine release
vancomycin
- will cause an erythematous rash on the face, neck and upper torso, burning, itching
