cardiovascular disorders

Question 1

What are cardiac arrhythmias?

Answer 1

Abnormalities in heart rate or rhythm.

Question 2

What is atrial fibrillation?

Answer 2

Atria quiver instead of contracting normally, leading to irregular, rapid ventricular rate.

Question 3

What is ventricular fibrillation?

Answer 3

Chaotic electrical activity in ventricles; incompatible with life.

Question 4

What is heart block?

Answer 4

Delay or interruption in impulse transmission from atria to ventricles.

Question 5

What is congenital heart disease?

Answer 5

Structural abnormalities of the heart present at birth.

Question 6

What are common causes of congenital heart disease?

Answer 6

German measles, Down syndrome, drugs, genetic factors.

Question 7

What is patent ductus arteriosus?

Answer 7

A fetal vessel that fails to close after birth.

Question 8

What is tetralogy of Fallot?

Answer 8

A congenital defect with four abnormalities, including pulmonary stenosis and ventricular septal defect.

Question 9

What is rheumatic fever?

Answer 9

An immunologic reaction following strep infection, affecting heart and joints.

Question 10

What is rheumatic heart disease?

Answer 10

Scarring of heart valves after rheumatic fever; primarily mitral and aortic valves.

Question 11

What is calcific aortic stenosis?

Answer 11

Aortic valve degeneration with age causing narrowing and strain on the heart.

Question 12

What is infective endocarditis?

Answer 12

Infection of heart valves; may be subacute (low virulence) or acute (highly pathogenic like staph).

Question 13

What is myocarditis?

Answer 13

Inflammation of the heart muscle due to infection.

Question 14

What is cardiomyopathy?

Answer 14

Disease of heart muscle not caused by inflammation; may be genetic or toxic.

Question 15

What is dilated cardiomyopathy?

Answer 15

Enlarged heart with thin walls and poor function; often genetic.

Question 16

What is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?

Answer 16

Hereditary thickening of heart muscle that impedes filling and outflow.

Question 17

What causes myocardial ischemia?

Answer 17

Reduced blood flow through coronary arteries (e.g., atherosclerosis).

Question 18

What is angina pectoris?

Answer 18

Chest pain due to temporary ischemia.

Question 19

What is myocardial infarction (MI)?

Answer 19

Death of heart muscle due to prolonged lack of blood supply.

Question 20

What causes myocardial infarction?

Answer 20

Thrombus, plaque rupture, spasm, or increased oxygen demand.

Question 21

What are symptoms of a heart attack?

Answer 21

Chest pain, shortness of breath, sweating, nausea; or may be silent.

Question 22

How is MI diagnosed?

Answer 22

EKG, blood markers (enzymes and proteins), physical exam.

Question 23

How is MI treated?

Answer 23

Nitroglycerin, beta-blockers, fibrinolytics, angioplasty, antiplatelet drugs.

Question 24

What is cardiac arrest?

Answer 24

Cessation of normal heart contractions; often due to ventricular fibrillation or asystole.

Question 25

What is atherosclerosis?

Answer 25

Accumulation of plaque in arterial walls due to endothelial injury.

Question 26

What are unstable plaques?

Answer 26

Plaques with thin fibrous caps prone to rupture and clot formation.

Question 27

What are risk factors for coronary artery disease?

Answer 27

High LDL, low HDL, high CRP, homocysteine, smoking, poor diet, inactivity.

Question 28

What are common diagnostic tools for coronary artery disease?

Answer 28

Coronary angiogram, echocardiogram, stress tests.

Question 29

What is angioplasty?

Answer 29

A procedure to reopen narrowed coronary arteries using a balloon and stent.

Question 30

What is primary hypertension?

Answer 30

High blood pressure without a known cause; associated with age, genetics, and lifestyle.

Question 31

What are the effects of hypertension?

Answer 31

Heart failure, vascular damage, kidney failure, stroke.

Question 32

What is secondary hypertension?

Answer 32

High blood pressure due to another disease (e.g., kidney or endocrine disorders).

Question 33

What is heart failure?

Answer 33

Inability of the heart to pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs.

Question 34

What is left-sided heart failure?

Answer 34

Causes fluid backup into lungs, shortness of breath, and fatigue.

Question 35

What is right-sided heart failure?

Answer 35

Results in peripheral edema and congestion in systemic veins.

Question 36

What is an aneurysm?

Answer 36

Outpouching or dilation of an arterial wall due to weakening.

Question 37

What can cause an aneurysm?

Answer 37

Arteriosclerosis, hypertension, congenital defects.

Question 38

What are dangers of an aortic aneurysm?

Answer 38

May rupture, causing massive internal bleeding and death.

Question 39

What is the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease?

Answer 39

Endothelial injury → inflammation → lipid accumulation → plaque formation.

Question 40

How does the heart compensate in hypertension?

Answer 40

Increases muscle mass (hypertrophy), which eventually leads to failure.