Term
|
Definition
Thickening and hardening of the arteries and loss of elasticity of the vessel walls.
It's becoming an epidemic in economically developed societies.
Disease that most often leads to illness and death in the western world. |
|
|
Term
| What arteries are most frequently affected by athersclerosis? |
|
Definition
Cerebral and coronary arteries.
Most typically the corotid. |
|
|
Term
| What are predisposing factors for atherosclerosis that an individual can change? |
|
Definition
Hyperlipidemia (eat healthier foods, lower their blood pressure, stop smoking, diabetes, inflammation, physical activity, obesity/pverweight)
Stressful lifestyle, hyperuricemia, high intake of carbohydrates, use of oral contraceptives, and high levels of homocysteine in the blood. |
|
|
Term
| What are predisposing factors for athersclerosis that an indiviudal can not change? |
|
Definition
Age
Gender
Family History
Ethnicity
Locale |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
A low density lipoprotein.
Most strongly correlated with atherosclerosis and has the most cholesterol.
"Bad" Cholesterol
It is possibly to have a low LDL and still be at risk due to low levels of HDL. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
A high density lipoprotein.
Removes cholesterol from the blood and sends it to the liver to be processed and excreted.
It may even remove it from artheromatous plaques.
High levels of HDL lower the risk for heart disease.
Women 3:8:1
Men 4:1 |
|
|
Term
| What is the difference between essential hypertension, secondary and malignant? |
|
Definition
Essential hypertension is idiopathic.
Secondary hypertension is the result of another condition and is identifiable.
Malignant hypertension is a severe form from the blood pressure that rises rapidly. |
|
|
Term
| What are the risk factors for essential hyprtension? |
|
Definition
Race
Stress
Family History
Obesity
High dietary intake of saturated fats or sodium
Use of oral contraceptives
Insufficient physical activity
*Some people may never actually develop hypertension.
*Most of the risk factors can be controlled except for race, family history and age.
*If they are present, the essential hyptertension can be reduced to normal blood pressure and kept there. |
|
|
Term
| Why do people with hypertension often neglect to take their medications? |
|
Definition
| Symptoms are not normally present and are so mild that they often go unnoticed. |
|
|
Term
| What is coronary artery disease caused by? |
|
Definition
an insifficient supply of blood to the heart.
It is typically found more commonly in the elderly, white people and the middle aged after menopause.
*Athersclerosis |
|
|
Term
| What is the main symptom of coronary artery disease? |
|
Definition
Angina Pectoris
Squeezing or crushing tightness in the chest.
Can radiate to the left arm. |
|
|
Term
| What is the difference between angina and a myocardial infarction? |
|
Definition
| The symptoms of angina are temporary whereas a myocardial infarction is permanent. |
|
|
Term
| What are the complications of a thrombophlebitis? |
|
Definition
| When it occurs in a deep vein it has to be monitored very closely. This is because the thrombus can become an embolus and travel to the lungs which can result in a pulmonary embolus, and can be fatal. |
|
|
Term
| What risk factors may lead to thrombophlebitis? |
|
Definition
Surgery
Trauma
Inactivity
Heredity, obesity, age, cardiovascular disease, oral contraceptives and prolonged bed rest. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
A cerebrovasicular accident and a stroke.
It can be caused by a sudden impairment of cerebral circulation in or more of the blood vessels that supply the brain such as a thrombus. The second most common cause is aging. A hemmorhage can occur at any age and is ually a result of chronic hypertension. Most poeple will remain permanently damaged because there is a lack of or no supply of oxygen which can lead to serious damage or death of cells in brain tissue. |
|
|
Term
| What are the risk factors of CVA? |
|
Definition
A history of transient ischemic attacks
postural hypotension
gout |
|
|
Term
| What is a transient ischemic attack? |
|
Definition
It is a significant predisposing factor for a stroke.
It lasts anywhere from a few seconds to hours and is called a "little stroke".
It serves as a warning sign. |
|
|
Term
| What makes up atherosclerotic plaque? |
|
Definition
| It is comprised of fatty substances, cholesterol, calcium, cellular waste products, and other substances that build up in the linking of the medium and large arteries. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| It is a blood clot that obstructs flow. |
|
|
Term
| What predisposes a thrombus to form on atherosclerotic plaque? |
|
Definition
| The outside ring of atherosclerotic plaque is hard and the inside is soft. If it cracks the body thinks it needs to block it up and a thrombus can develop which can eventually plug the entire lumen. |
|
|
Term
| What is the end result regarding blood flow because of a thrombus |
|
Definition
| The end result regarding blood flow would be blood flow simply would not flow and could result in a myocardial infarction. |
|
|
Term
| How does atherscleoris and a thrombus formation lead to a heart attack? |
|
Definition
| As plaque builds up the lumen becomes smaller and smaller. If a thrombus occurs or an embolus develops it cannot pass through the small lumen. the artery then becomes deprived of oxygen. if it is a coronary artery then angina may occur and possibly an MI |
|
|
Term
| What are three medications and 2 surgeries that can interrupt or reverse a heart attack in progress? |
|
Definition
Nitroglycerin
Aspirin
Tissue plasminogen activator
Balloon Angioplasty
Coronary Artery Bypass Graft |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
A medication containing nitrate.
Helps to relieve and prevent angina.
Vasodilator.
Workload on heart is reduced and flow to heart is improved.
At first sign the person should sit and place tablet in mouth to dissolve.
Helps to reduce spasms. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Can significantly improve the chance of survival.
Makes blood less likely to clot and can reduce the chance of blood vessel blockages. |
|
|
Term
| What is a Tissue Plasminogen Activator? |
|
Definition
It can burst and dissolve the clot.
It can help reduce the amount of damage to the heart muscle.
Must be given within a few hours after symptoms begin.
It has to be administered through an IV in the arm. |
|
|
Term
| What is a balloon angioplasty/stent? |
|
Definition
Mechanically widens the narrowed or obstructed blood vessel.
A small incision is made near the groin and a catheter is inserted through an incision into an artery.
The patient is usually awake but sedated.
The surgeon usually used live x-ray pictures in order to guide the catheter into the heart and through the arteries. A wire is then inserted into the blockage and then the balloon is inflated to help restore blood flow to the heart. A stent can then be placed into the blocked area and then left there to keep the artery open. |
|
|
Term
| What is a coronary artery bypass graft? |
|
Definition
| It is done to reroute or bypass around clogged arteries in order to improve blood flow and oxygen. You can take a piece of long vein from the leg. |
|
|
Term
| What are the different waves on an EKG? |
|
Definition
P wave: the first wave, represents the sinoatrial node
QRS: Shows the contraction of the ventricles
T wave: Shows the resting heart in diastole
It is designed to measure any possible damage to the heart, wether it is beating normally and measures the effects of drugs or devices that are used to control the heart. |
|
|
Term
| What is congestive heart failure? |
|
Definition
The heart is unable to pump blood to the lungs and the left ventricle is damaged.
Right sided failure is usally a result of right ventricular strain often caused by lung disease or pulmonary arteries. It can cause enlargement of the liver and edema of the legs. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Body Mass Index
Normal Weight: 18.5-24.9
Overweight: 25-29.9
Obese: 30+ |
|
|
Term
| What is Metabolic Syndrome? |
|
Definition
A term used to describe a group of symtpoms that occur together.
Type 2 diabetes, coronary artery disease and stroke.
-high blood pressure
-insulin resistant
-extra weight around the waist
-high triglycerides
-low HDL |
|
|
Term
| Describe the three types of strokes and their causes? |
|
Definition
Ischemic stroke: a major artery such as carotid and is a major supplier of blood to the brain. Can lead to temporary loss. If blood flow cannot be restored then an ischemic stroke can result.
Embolic stroke: A piece of plaque breaks loose from the left side and travels through the arteries but becomes lodged in an artery of the brain and reduces the flow of blood.
Cerebral Hemorrhage: a blood vessel in the brain ruptures and bleeds into the surrounding brain tissue. Uncontrolled high blood pressure is the most common reason for bleeding in the brain. |
|
|
Term
| Why are a CT or an MRI of the brain necessary before starting immediate TX for a stroke but not for an MI? |
|
Definition
| To ensure that there is no internal bleeding, because immediate TX is used to dissolve blood clots and if it is a hemorrhagic stroke it will cause more bleeding. |
|
|
Term
| How can you confirm the suspicions of a possible stroke? |
|
Definition
Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale
Smile
Speak a simple sentence
Raise both arms |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Soft fat-like material manufactured by the liver and small intestine
Necessary for the formation of sex hormones, cell membranes, bile salts and nerve fibers. |
|
|
Term
| What is the route of blood through the heart? |
|
Definition
- Deoxygenated blood returns to the heart from the body via the superior and inferior vena cava
- Blood enters the right atrium, passes to the right ventricle
- Blood is pumped out to the lungs via the pulmonary artery, branching into right and left pulmonary arteries, one to each lung
- Blood is oxygenated in the lungs
- Blood returns to the heart via four pulmonary veins which drain into the left atrium
- Blood passes to the left ventricle and is pumped out to the body via the aorta
- The first vessels coming off the aorta (at its root) are the coronary arteries
- Three large arteries then come off the aortic arch to supply the head (brain) and neck |
|
|
Term
| Explain the electrical conduction system of the heart |
|
Definition
- firing of the nerves of the heart keeps its pace
- Sinoatrial node initiates a wave contraction that spreads through both atria
- The wave hesitates at the atrioventricular node to allow contraction of the atria
- the wave then progresses to both ventricles, stimulating their contraction
- The pacemaker of the heart is influenced by nerves, hormones, stress, body temperature and exercise.
- Abnormal rhythms are called arrythmias or dysrythmias
- An occasional irregular beat is not uncommon and is not problematic
- A sustained irregular beat pattern can impair the heart's ability to efficiently pump blood to the body and can lead to heart failure or sudden death |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
A heart rate faster than 100 beats/minute.
Increased heart rate is a normal response to physical exercise or emotional stress. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
A combination of symptoms which will permit a diagnosis of rheumatic fever.
Fever
painful, tender, red swollen joitns
pain in one joint that migrates to another one
heart palpitations
chest pain
shortness of breath
skin rashes
fatigue
small painless nodules under the skin |
|
|
