Heart Failure Lecture Flashcards
(178 cards)
What is heart failure (HF)?
A condition in which the heart is unable to pump or fill effectively
HF affects both systolic and diastolic functions and can involve one or both sides of the heart.
What are the two main functions affected by heart failure?
- Systolic function (pumping)
- Diastolic function (filling)
These functions are crucial for effective heart operation.
What happens to oxygen delivery in heart failure?
Decreased oxygen delivery to tissues and organs
This can lead to various symptoms and complications.
What are common underlying cardiovascular conditions that can cause heart failure?
- Uncontrolled hypertension
- Coronary artery disease (CAD)
- Myocardial infarction (MI)
- Valvular heart disease
These conditions can lead to structural and functional heart changes.
What is a current trend regarding heart failure in older adults?
Increasing prevalence in older adults
This trend is partly due to more MI survivors developing heart failure.
What is one of the leading causes of hospitalization among adults over 65?
Heart failure
It is a significant health concern in this age group.
What factors related to cardiac output are associated with heart failure?
- Preload – volume of blood in ventricles at end of diastole
- Afterload – peripheral resistance
- Contractility – strength of ventricular contraction
- Heart Rate
These factors influence the heart’s ability to pump effectively.
What are precipitating causes of heart failure?
Causes that increase ventricular workload, leading to acute conditions and decreased cardiac function
These can exacerbate existing heart failure.
Which demographic has a higher prevalence of heart failure before age 50?
African American individuals
This contrasts with Euro-Americans in the same age group.
Fill in the blank: Heart failure can involve the _____ side of the heart.
both
Heart failure can affect the left, right, or both sides of the heart.
What is the most common type of heart failure?
Left-sided heart failure
Left-sided heart failure is primarily caused by left ventricular dysfunction.
What results from left ventricular dysfunction in left-sided heart failure?
Prevents forward blood flow and backs up blood into left atrium and pulmonary veins
This leads to pulmonary congestion/edema.
What is the former name for left-sided heart failure?
Congestive heart failure
This term is still commonly used, though not all types involve pulmonary edema.
What is a hallmark sign of systolic heart failure?
Decreased ejection fraction (EF)
Normal EF is 50-70%; EF <40% indicates systolic heart failure.
What are common causes of systolic heart failure?
- Myocardial infarction (MI)
- Uncontrolled hypertension (HTN)
- Cardiomyopathy
- Valvular disease
These conditions impair the heart’s ability to pump effectively.
What defines diastolic heart failure?
Inability of ventricles to relax and fill during diastole
EF is normal in diastolic heart failure.
What usually causes diastolic heart failure?
- Left ventricular hypertrophy
- Myocardial infarction (MI)
- Valve disease
- Cardiomyopathy
Hypertension is the most common cause of left ventricular hypertrophy.
What are the key symptoms of left-sided heart failure?
- Dyspnea (shortness of breath)
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Chest pain or palpitations
Dyspnea may present as exertional or paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea.
What is the relationship between left-sided heart failure and right-sided heart failure?
Left ventricular failure (LVF) leads to increased pulmonary pressure, causing right-sided heart failure (RHF)
LVF is the most common cause of RHF.
What is the ejection fraction (EF) threshold indicating high risk for cardiac death in systolic heart failure?
<30%
Patients with EF <30% require close monitoring.
Fill in the blank: Systolic heart failure is also called ______ due to decreased cardiac output.
forward failure
This term highlights the issue with effective pumping.
What are some common symptoms of pulmonary congestion in left-sided heart failure?
- Crackles in lungs
- Pink, frothy sputum
These symptoms are indicative of fluid leakage into the alveoli.
What is the effect of decreased filling in diastolic heart failure?
Decreased stroke volume (SV) and cardiac output (CO)
This condition often results from left ventricular hypertrophy.
True or False: Diastolic heart failure is more common in older adults, females, and the obese.
True
These demographics are at higher risk for diastolic heart failure.