Module 2: Cardiovascular and Hemodynamics Pathology Flashcards
(272 cards)
Define blood pressure
Pressure exerted by the blood on the walls of the blood vessels especially the arteries.
What is the formula for blood pressure?
BP = CO x Peripheral Resistance
What is cardiac output (CO) calculated from?
CO = Stroke Volume x Heart Rate
List the variables that affect peripheral resistance.
- Blood viscosity
- Vessel length
- Vessel diameter
What are the three main factors that influence blood pressure?
- Autoregulatory mechanisms
- Neural
- Hormonal
Name some hormones that influence blood pressure.
- Aldosterone
- Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH)
- Natriuretic Peptides (ANP)
- Epinephrine and Norepinephrine
- Angiotensin II
What is hypertension?
Abnormally high blood pressure, especially arterial blood pressure, above 120 mm Hg / 80 mm Hg.
Approximately what percentage of the population is hypertensive?
About 25%.
What are the complications associated with hypertension?
- Atherosclerotic coronary heart disease
- Cardiac hypertrophy
- Hypertensive heart disease
- Increased risk of stroke
- Aortic dissection
- Renal failure
Differentiate between essential and secondary hypertension.
- Essential (Idiopathic) Hypertension: 90-95% of cases, no known direct cause.
- Secondary Hypertension: Under 10% of cases, due to an underlying condition.
What are the mechanisms of essential hypertension?
- Reduced renal sodium excretion
- Increased vascular resistance
- Chronic vasoconstriction
- Genetic factors
- Environmental factors
What lifestyle changes are recommended for managing hypertension?
- DASH diet or diets less in salt
- Exercise / Weight loss
- Smoking cessation
List some medications used to treat hypertension.
- Thiazide Diuretics
- Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
- Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs)
- Beta blockers
True or False: Secondary hypertension can be due to a renal disorder.
True
Fill in the blank: A complication of hypertension is _______.
cardiac hypertrophy
True or False: Stage 1 hypertension requires both high readings of systolic and diastolic.
False
What percentage of hypertensive patients die of ischemic heart disease or congestive heart failure without appropriate treatment?
Approximately 50%.
Define intimal hyperplasia
Thickening of the intimal layer of the blood vessel due to increased smooth muscle and extracellular matrix components
Occurs between the endothelium and internal elastic membrane
Describe the pathophysiology of intimal hyperplasia
Stimulated by endothelial damage, leading to smooth muscle cell growth and extracellular matrix deposition
Caused by factors such as smoking, infection, inflammation, and physical trauma
Define arteriosclerosis
Chronic disease characterized by abnormal thickening and hardening of the arterial walls with resulting loss of elasticity
Associated with hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and smoking
List the three types of arteriosclerosis
- Atherosclerosis
- Arteriolosclerosis
- Mönckeberg Medial Sclerosis
Compare arteriosclerosis and arteriolosclerosis
Arteriosclerosis involves hardening of arteries due to atheromatous plaque; arteriolosclerosis involves hardening of arterioles
Atherosclerosis is the most common type of arteriosclerosis
Describe the characteristics of atherosclerosis
Involves build-up of fat, cholesterol, and other substances under the endothelium, forming atherosclerotic plaques
Plaques can weaken underlying media tunics and lead to aneurysms
Define the relevance of a plaque with the process of atherosclerosis
Plaques lead to arterial hardening and narrowing of the lumen space, increasing risk for cardiovascular events
Plaque rupture can cause thrombosis, leading to heart attacks or strokes