KCP: Chest pain

Question 1

Myocardial Infarction

Answer 1

A heart attack
This occurs when there is a decrease or complete stoppage of blood flow to a portion of the myocardium (heart muscle)

Question 2

WHat is coronary heart disease and what is it also known as?

Answer 2

A build up of what is usually fat in the cornary artery aka a clot in the coronary artery

Also known as ischaemic heart disease

Question 3

Hazard ratio

Answer 3

The chances of something occuring in those exposed to a certain factor against those not exposed

If this is greater than 1 with statistical significance then this becomes a risk factor

Question 4

What does ECG stand for

Answer 4

Electrocardiogram

Question 5

Where does the T wave occur on an ECG and what does it signify

Answer 5

This occurs due to the ventricles repolarising

Question 6

Where does the QRS complex occur on an ECG and what does it signify

Answer 6

This signifies both the reploarisation of the atriums and the depolarisation of the ventricles

Question 7

Where does the P wave occur on an ECG and what does it signify

Answer 7

This signifies the depolarisation of the atriums

Question 8

What does depolarisation cause mechanically?

Answer 8

Contraction

Question 9

Regarding an ECG what does an elevated ST segment look like and what does it mean?

Answer 9

Myocardial infarction!

The ST segment should normally be flat with no electrical activity as the ventrical should be fully depolarised, the fact it isn’t means that there is a blockage in the main blood supply to the ventricles and the muscle is dying

Question 10

More subtle indication of an issue in an ECG?

Answer 10

An ST depression, this can be really mild and is an indicator of myocardial ischemia. This means an area is not getting enough blood supply and is not quite an infarction but is a warning.

Question 11

How can a blood test help identify ischemia?

Answer 11

It looks for troponin. This is an ezyme that is release from a myocyte as it dies