Cardiovascular Flashcards
(55 cards)
What is a Thrombosis?
Blood clot that forms within blood vessels which limit flow of blood.
What is an embolism?
A piece of blood clot or other material which breaks off and travels through bloodstream to another location.
Causes of embolisms and thrombosis
-Blood vessel damage
-Slow blood flow
-Blood clotting conditions (sickle cell)
-Medication (chemo)
Thrombosis symptoms
-Swelling and/or warm to touch in a leg or arm
-Leg pain
-Red or blue discoloration
Embolism symptoms
-Shortness of breath
-Unexplained cough (blood in mucus)
-Tachy
-Shortness of breath
-Sweating and coldness
Treatment for embolisms and thrombosis
-Anticoagulants
-Clot busters (thrombolytics)
-Anti-coags, anti-platelets
What is a heart arrthymia?
When electrical impulses that coordinate heartbeat don’t work properly, causing heart to beat too fast, too slow or irregularly
Atrial fibrillation
Heart condition which causes an irregular and abnormally fast heart rat. Caused by chaotic electrical impulses in atria.
Symptoms of heart arrhythmias
-Irregular heart rate
-Palpitations
-Complications related to heart failure
Causes of heart arrhythmias
-Scarring from heart attack
-Blocked arteries
-Current heart attack
-Diabetes
-Hypothyroidism
Treatments for heart arrhythmias
-Healthy lifestyle
-Limiting stress
-Anticoagulants
-Cardioversion
What is an aneurysm?
Blood vessel dilation in artery or blood vessel which swells to abnormal size (usually in aorta or brain)
Risk factors to an aneurysm
-Smoking
-Family history
-High cholesterol
-High BP
Symptoms of aneurysm
Rarely symptoms, usually picked up through ultrasound. If ruptures will experience; sudden severe pain in abdomen or back, loss of consciousness, sudden headache, stiff neck.
Treatment for aneurysm
Most do not rupture so treatment given only if risk of rupture is high.
-Coiling
-Surgical clipping
What is heart failure?
The heart is not pumping blood around the body effectively. This can either be due to structure of heart or how it works.
Causes of heart disease
-Heart attack which has caused damage to heart
-High blood pressure
-Arrhythmia
-Chemo
-Cardiomyopathy
-Damaged or diseased heart valves
Symptoms of heart failure
-Shortness of breath (fluid backs into lungs)
-Oedema: Fluid retention
-Feeling tired and weak: Heart unable to deliver enough blood and oxygen to muscles
Treatment for heart failure
-Symptom control e.g. Diuretics
-Pacemakers to improve heart pumping
-Surgery: transplant, valve replacement
-Weight: sudden weight gain may indicate too much fluid building up
ICD
Implantable device to perform cardioversion/defib
Cardioversion
Shocks heart into normal rhythm
Ablation
Creates scarring on the heart muscle redirecting electrical signals and restore normal rhythm
Aortic Valve Stenosis (AVS)
Structural defect. Valve does not open and close properly. May lead to leaking blood and build up of pressure.
Complications of heart failure
-Losing weight
-Muscle loss
-Kidney disease
-Arrhythmia
