Vascular conditions

Question 1

Vascular dementia

Answer 1

• General term describing problems with reasoning, planning, judgement, memory and other thought processes caused by brain damage from impaired blood flow to brain

Question 2

Vascular dementia S+S

Answer 2

• Variable- depends on which part of brain lacks blood flow
• Confusion
• Trouble paying attention or concentrating
• Slow thinking
• Difficulty with organisation
• Memory loss
• Unsteady gait

Question 3

Vascular dementia causes

Answer 3

• Stroke
• Brain haemorrhage
• Narrowed or chronically damaged brain blood vessels

Question 4

Vascular dementia diagnosis/management

Answer 4

• Doctors can nearly always determine that you have dementia
• No specific test to confirm
• Medical Hx is telling- e.g., Hx of stroke/disorder of heart
• Treatment based on managing underlying conditions
• E.g., lowering blood pressure, reducing cholesterol levels, prevent blood clots

Question 5

PAD

Answer 5

• Common condition in which narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to arms or legs
• Legs usually don’t receive enough blood to keep up with demand

Question 6

PAD S+S

Answer 6

• Many people have mild/no symptoms
• Muscle P or cramping in legs or arms that begins during exercise and ends with rest
• P most felt in calf
• Coldness in lower limb
• Leg numbness/weakness
• Skin colour changes in legs
• Painful cramping in one or both hips

Question 7

PAD causes

Answer 7

• Atherosclerosis- reducing blood flow through arteries

Question 8

Diagnosis/management PAD

Answer 8

• Ankle-brachial index- blood pressure taken from arm and ankle, a difference would suggest PAD
• Blood tests- tests for related conditions such as high cholesterol, high triglycerides and diabetes

Question 9

DVT

Answer 9

• Occurs when clot forms in one or more deep veins in body, usually legs

Question 10

DVT S+S

Answer 10

• Leg swelling
• Leg P, cramping or soreness that often starts in calf
• Change in skin colour on leg- red, purple
• Feeling of warmth

Question 11

DVT causes

Answer 11

• Anything that prevents blood from flowing or properly clotting
• Main cause is damage to vein from surgery or inflammation and damage due to infection/injury

Question 12

DVT diagnosis

Answer 12

• Physical exam- check for swelling, tenderness or changes in skin colour
• D-dimer blood test- D dimer is type of protein produced by blood clots, almost all with severe DVT have raised D dimer
• Duplex ultrasound- non-invasive, creates pictures of how blood flows through veins
• MRI- for DVT diagnosis in abdomen

Question 13

Sarcoidosis

Answer 13

• Growth of tiny collections of inflammatory cells in any part of your body- most commonly lungs and lymph nodes

Question 14

Sarcoidosis S+S

Answer 14

• Vary depending on organ
• Can develop gradually with symptoms lasting for years, can be sudden and disappear quickly
• General- fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, weight loss, P and swelling in Jts
• Lungs- persistent dry cough, shortness of breath, wheezing, chest P
• Skin- rash of reddish/purple bumps- usually located on shins/ankles, lesions on nose, areas of skin that are darker or lighter, nodules around scars or tattoos
• Eye- blurred vision, eye P, burning/itching, severe redness, photosensitivity

Question 15

Sarcoidosis causes

Answer 15

• Unknown
• Some people have genetic predisposition- may be triggered by bacteria, viruses, dust or chemicals
• Triggers overreaction of immune system, and immune cells begin to collect in pattern of inflammation called granulomas
• As granulomas build up in an organ, function of that organ can be affected

Question 16

Sarcoidosis diagnosis/management

Answer 16

• Can be difficult to diagnose as it doesn’t produce many symptoms in early stages
• Biopsies- sample tissue taken from part of body believed to be affected
• Treatment- no cure, usually goes away on own
• Corticosteroids
• Immunosuppressants
• Physical therapy to reduce fatigue and improve muscle strength