Lecture 3: Coronary Artery Disease and Acute Coronary Syndrome Flashcards
(140 cards)
what is the most common cause of hospitalization in Canada
CAD
When we have someone w irreg rhythm and we are concerned they are deteriorating
we can use electricity. Cardioversion uses less, marking. Pacing using a lot less. Defibrillation
what happens when we cardiovert a pt if there is a delay from the machine
because our heart goes so fast, you wont notice a difference if there’s a delay from machine
we want to avoid over the T wave…???
what is CAD
- progressive atherosclerotic disorder of coronary arteries
- causes narrowing or complete occlusion of one or more arteries
Stops or decreases blood flow
Stops usually = heart attack
Narrowing = muscle hurts, warning sign, stop progression to heart attack
what does Atherosclerosis mean for CAD
affects medium sized arteries that perfuse the heart + other major organs. is the progressive build up of plaque in a person’s arteries.
describe how CAD can appear (3 ways)
- asymptomatic
- stable angina
- acute coronary syndrome
- unstable angina
- MI
- sudden coronary death
*once we have death to cells we cannot do this
give examples (9) on what can happen with decreased O2 supply
- anemia
- CAD
- hypoxia
- COPD, asthma, pneumonia
- arrhythmias
- CHF
- coronary spasm
- thrombosis
- valve disorders
give examples (9) on what can happen with increased O2 demand
- anxiety
- cocaine use
- hyperthermia
- hyperthyroidism
- physical exertion
- aortic stenosis
- arrhythmias - increased rate
- cardiomyopathy
- hypertension
what in our blood holds oxygen
hemoglobin
when in the hospital do we usually give blood
when hemoglobin is 70 or below or symptomatic usually.
Our bodies have a reserve of O2 for when we exercise and whatnot. So not everyone w a low hemoglobin is at risk.
why is taking too much aspirin a risk for anemia
People may take too much aspirin for pain, can cause GI bleeds and whatnot, this is a danger because it causes anemia which can cause a heart attack.
describe to me about the stages of development in atherosclerosis + treatment
Start w lovely vessels, to fatty streak, to fibrous plaque, to complicated lesions. We want to keep peoples arteries open, by interfering and preventing the progression of this disease.
Using pharmaceuticals: cholesterol medications
Diet education: low salt, Mediterranean
Exercise to strengthen CVS - looks different depending on the person.
Treat their comorbidities*** big one like treating HTN, and whatnot.
what does the endothelium reguate
- dilation and constriction of vessels
- thrombosis - formation of blood clots
- transport of substances to and from vascular space
- growth and ‘apoptosis’ of vascular wall
describe endothelial dysfunction
- inadequate vasodilation
- prothrombotic
- altered permeability
- increased secretion of growth factors
- increased oxidation of LDL
We can have inadequate dilation - leads to HTN
Form clots we don’t want
Altered permeability - this is important for electrolytes and O2 so we don’t want to affect this
Increase muscle mass - which can be a good thing to a certain degree, but too much makes contraction and availability decreased
Increased O2 of LDLs, promoting the growth of the plaque which is not great
When you vasodilate - causes HTN. Everything in a balance.
Once there is plaque build up to some degree it is reversible, but once 100% occlusion we need to mechanically open those up. - this is last resort
whats an angiogram
taking a pic of artery and heart to see occlusions. We don’t do this on everyone - but this would be fabulous. Angiogram you usually need to have some type of symptom.
describe collateral circulation
picture the picture involving 3 different pictures of plaque building up in the arteries, and how the body maneuvers to solve this issue
Bodies always doing things to adapt. Can be good and bad.
Collateral circulation is very good that our body does.
A - what vessels look like - vessels feed the tissue, blood flowing thru
B - as we start to have narrowing, our capillaries start to develop collateral so they start to connect to go around the narrowing. So that there isn’t 100% occlusion. “forms new highways.” someone w a unhealthy diet, doesn’t exercise, and whatnot. Women that are postmenopausal*** our estrogen levels help protect us from this until we are postmenopausal. Women less likely to have collateral develop than men bc of changing hormone levels.
hows CAD for women
underdiagnosed and common. bc estrogen levels act as a protector until postmenopause.
s/s of women CAD
more prodromal signs even 2-3 mo prior to actual. Heartburn can mimic heart attack quite regularly.
- absence of cp/or vague
- no radiation of pain
- heaviness of arms
- light-headedness
- epigastric burning
- n/v
- diaphoresis
- feeling flushed
- prodromal symptoms: sleep disturbances, unusual fatigue, SOB, indigestion, anxiety
s/s of CAD in males
- chest pain/aching/tightness/pressure/jaw pain
- SOB
- pain b/w shoulder blades
- headache
- indigestion
- palpation
- cough
- diaphoresis
- fatigue
- n/v
what are challenges of care for CAD
- failure to recognize + difficulty interpreting symptoms
- failure of HCP to recognize prodromal symptoms
- ECG and stress test less sensitive
- plaque tends to be distributed diffusely
- less likely to be evaluated for risk factors or treated aggressively
describe presentation of CAD in the elderly
*atypical
- most frequent s/s of acute MI: SOB, fatigue and weakness, abdominal or epigastric discomfort
- often have preexisting conditions making this an already vulnerable population: HTN, CHF, previous AMI
- likely to delay seeking treatment
how would CAD present in a pt with diabetes
- atypical presentation due to autonomic dysfunction
- common s/s: generalized weakness, generalized feeling of not being well, syncope, lightheadedness, change in mental status
non-modifiable risk factors for CAD
- age
- male>female until 65
- genetics
- ethnicity
major modifiable risk factors for CAD
- tobacco use
- abdominal obesity
- HTN >140-90 mm Hg
- hyperlipidemia
- physical inactivity