Heart Conditions and Medications

Flashcards covering cardiac medications, their mechanisms of action, and relevant lifestyle and dietary guidelines discussed in the lecture.

What is patient adherence in the context of medical treatment?

Adherence is the accuracy and consistency with which a patient executes the physician's plan for treatment.

What is an antihypertensive medication?

An antihypertensive is a medication administered to lower blood pressure.

How do ACE inhibitors (angiotensin converting enzyme) work?

They block the action of the enzyme that causes blood vessels to contract, allowing blood vessels to relax or dilate and reducing blood pressure.

What conditions are ACE inhibitors primarily used to treat?

Hypertension and heart failure.

How does a beta blocker work to reduce the workload of the heart?

It blocks the release of stress hormones, which slows the rate of the heartbeat.

How do calcium channel blockers reduce the workload of the heart?

They decrease the movement of calcium into the cells of the heart and blood vessels, causing them to relax and increasing the supply of blood and oxygen.

How does a diuretic lower blood pressure and treat heart failure?

It increases urine output to rid the body of excess sodium and water, reducing the amount of fluid circulating in the blood.

What is the function of an antiarrhythmic medication?

It stops or prevents irregularities of the heartbeat.

What does an anticoagulant medication do?

It slows clotting and prevents new clots from forming.

What is warfarin?

Warfarin is an anticoagulant (available under the brand name Coumadin) administered to prevent blood clots from forming or growing larger.

How does Heparin differ from Coumadin in administration and onset?

Heparin works more quickly than Coumadin, but it must be administered by injection or in an IV solution.

How does a daily dose of baby aspirin help reduce the risk of a heart attack or stroke?

As an antiplatelet agent, it reduces the ability of the blood to clot.

How do cholesterol lowering drugs combat hyperlipidemia?

They reduce undesirable cholesterol levels in the blood.

What is Digoxin and where is it derived from?

Digoxin is a drug that strengthens heart muscle contractions, slows heart rate, and eliminates fluid from body tissues; it contains extracts from the foxglove plant (genus digitalis).

What is a thrombolytic?

Also known as a clot busting drug, a thrombolytic dissolves or causes a thrombus to break up.

What is tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and when should it be given?

It is a thrombolytic administered to dissolve damaging blood clots in patients having a heart attack or stroke, effective if given within a few hours after symptoms begin.

What is the difference between a vasoconstrictor and a vasodilator?

A vasoconstrictor causes blood vessels to narrow, whereas a vasodilator causes blood vessels to expand.

By what routes can nitroglycerin be administered?

Sublingually, transdermally, or intravenously.

What does the acronym DASH stand for in the DASH diet?

Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension.

Which types of foods contain cholesterol according to the text?

All foods that come from animals, such as dairy, poultry, seafood, meat, and eggs.