CV Pathology

Question 1

non-modifiable causes of cv diseases

Answer 1

increasing age, male gender (until female menopause), genetics, race, congenital conditions

Question 2

modifiable causes of CV disease

Answer 2

diet, lack of exercise, obesity, type 2 diabetes, smoking, stress, excess alcohol and drug use, hypertension

Question 3

what is an atheroma

Answer 3

plaque that builds up in the endothelium of arteries

Question 4

causes of atheroma

Answer 4

atherosclerosis is main cause

Question 5

effects of atheroma

Answer 5

can partially or completely block an artery, blockage may be complicated by clot formation

Question 6

complications of atheroma

Answer 6

thrombosis and infarction, haemorrhage, aneurysm

Question 7

what is atherosclerosis

Answer 7

a progressive, degenerative disease of the coronary arterial system

Question 8

what happens in atherosclerosis

Answer 8

atheromas protrude into the lumen of the artery, therefore reducing blood flow

Question 9

what is ischaemic heart disease

Answer 9

damage to the heart caused by poor blood flow to the heart, usually because of coronary artery disease

Question 10

how does ischaemic heart disease present

Answer 10

main symptoms are chest pain (angina) and breathlessness, can also be the cause of MI and heart failure

Question 11

what causes ischaemic heart disease?

Answer 11

atheromas narrowing or blocking one or more branches of the coronary arteries

Question 12

effects of ischaemic heart disease on the body

Answer 12

narrowing of an artery causes angina pectoris, and complete blockage causes myocardial infarction

Question 13

what is a myocardial infarction

Answer 13

heart attack

Question 14

how does an MI present?

Answer 14

severe crushing chest pain behind the sternum, continues even when the person is at rest

Question 15

what causes an MI?

Answer 15

when a branch of a coronary artery is blocked, usually by an atheroma, complicated by thrombosis. prolonged loss of blood supply causes permanent damage because cardiac muscle cannot regenerate and the dead muscle is replaced with non-functional fibrous tissue

Question 16

effects of an MI on the body

Answer 16

arrhythmias, acute heart failure, rupture of ventricle wall, pulmonary or cerebral embolism, pericarditis, angina pectoris, recurrence, cardiac arrest

Question 17

what is an aneurysm

Answer 17

an abnormal localised dilation of a blood vessel

Question 18

what are the 3 types of aneurysms

Answer 18

fusiform, saccular, dissecting

Question 19

fusiform aneurysm

Answer 19

wall of an artery expands until it bursts, usually associated with an atheroma

Question 20

dissecting aneurysm

Answer 20

mainly occur in the arch of the aorta, caused when blood is forced between the endothelium and tunica media, beginning at a site of endothelial damage. particularly associated with hypertension, which weakens and tears arterial wall

Question 21

saccular aneurysm

Answer 21

particular part of the artery wall fails, and it forms a berry shape. occur in the brain

Question 22

complications/manifestations of aneurysm

Answer 22

thromboembolism, stroke, severe back/chest pain, angina, sudden extreme headache, pain, low BP, tachycardia and light headedness

Question 23

abdominal aortic aneurysm

Answer 23

bulge in aorta in the abdomen

Question 24

clinical signs of abdominal aortic aneurysm

Answer 24

pulsating mass, mid abdo or lumbar pain, may extend to renal, iliac, mesenteric or vertebral arteries and arterial insufficiency

Question 25

what is aortic dissection

Answer 25

haemorrhage into vessel wall with longitudinal tearing, most common in ascending aorta

Question 26

clinical signs of aortic dissection

Answer 26

pain in anterior chest and back, tearing or ripping sensation, blood pressure may be elevated, syncope and transient LOC, hemiplegia

Question 27

what is congestive cardiac failure

Answer 27

right-sided heart failure, inability or failure of the heart to adequately meet the needs of organs and tissues for oxygen and nutrients. RS failure occurs when the right ventricle cannot adequately pump blood to the lungs

Question 28

how does congestive cardiac failure present

Answer 28

fatigue, weakness, tachycardia, engorged liver or spleen, peripheral oedema, weight gain, nausea, vomiting, bloating, arrhythmias, hypotension

Question 29

what causes congestive cardiac failure

Answer 29

failure of the right ventricle to generate enough force to pump blood through the lungs. when ventricles no longer empty adequately, the right atrium and vena cava become congested with blood and eventually congestion backs up through the venous system. may be caused by increased vascular resistance in the lungs or weakness of the myocardium

Question 30

effects of congestive cardiac failure on the body

Answer 30

congestion of GI tract may compromise digestion. liver, spleen and kidneys affected first, oedema of the limbs and ascites usually follow

Question 31

what is left ventricular failure

Answer 31

failure of the left ventricle to adequately pump blood around the body

Question 32

how does left ventricular failure present

Answer 32

cyanosis, severe respiratory distress, coughing up white, frothy sputum, JVD, chest pain, tachycardia, chronic coughing, fatigue, lack of appetite and nausea, sudden weight gain

Question 33

what causes left ventricular failure

Answer 33

ischaemic heart disease, hypertension, disease of the mitral or aortic valves. all of these impair the left ventricle which means it cannot pump blood around the body

Question 34

effects of left ventricular failure on the body

Answer 34

as blood isn't being pumped efficiently, blood engorges causing a rise in pressure in the left atrium and pulmonary veins, pulmonary veins become engorged forcing plasma serum out of the capillaries, oxygenation becomes impaired

Question 35

what is angina

Answer 35

chest pain caused by reduced blood flow to the heart

Question 36

how does angina present?

Answer 36

chest pain, radiating into the arms neck and jaw, triggered by exercise

Question 37

what causes angina

Answer 37

age, hypertension, high cholesterol, cold weather, emotional states

Question 38

effects of angina on the body

Answer 38

increased cardiac output required during exercise causes myocardial ischaemia. narrowed coronary artery cannot supply enough blood when undertaking exercise. artery wall is unable to dilate as it is atheromatous so cannot accommodate increased blood flow