Heart Failure Lecture

Flashcards summarizing key concepts related to heart failure from the lecture.

Heart Failure

A condition in which the heart cannot meet the body's metabolic demands due to dysfunction in cardiac pumping mechanisms.

Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction (LVEF)

A measurement that represents the percentage of blood that is pumped out of the left ventricle with each heartbeat; normal range is 60-70%.

Preload

The amount of blood that fills the heart per beat, akin to the end diastolic volume.

Afterload

The resistance the heart must pump against, typically represented by systemic vascular resistance.

Contractility

The strength of heart muscle contraction that influences the amount of blood ejected with each heartbeat.

Cardiac Output

The amount of blood pumped by the heart per minute, calculated as heart rate multiplied by stroke volume.

Frank Starling Mechanism

The principle that an increase in preload improves stroke volume up to a certain point before leading to decreased contractility.

B-type Natriuretic Peptide (BNP)

A hormone released in response to ventricular stretch; used as a clinical marker for heart failure diagnosis.

Starling Forces

The forces that govern fluid movement in and out of capillaries, including hydrostatic and oncotic pressures.

RAAS System

The Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System, a hormonal system that regulates blood pressure and fluid balance; often activated in heart failure.

Positive Chronotropic Agents

Substances that increase heart rate, such as epinephrine and sympathetic activation.

Negative Inotropic Agents

Substances or medications that decrease the strength of cardiac muscle contraction.

Systolic Dysfunction

A condition in which the heart has difficulty contracting and ejecting blood, characterized by low ejection fraction.

Diastolic Dysfunction

A condition where the heart has difficulty relaxing and filling with blood, typically with normal ejection fraction but stiff ventricles.

Pulmonary Edema

Fluid accumulation in the lungs due to left-sided heart failure, leading to breathing difficulties.

Peripheral Edema

Fluid accumulation in the body's extremities due to right-sided heart failure.

Jugular Vein Distension (JVD)

A sign of increased central venous pressure, often seen in right-sided heart failure.

Cardiac Assessment

Nursing evaluations of heart function, including vital signs, heart sounds, and signs of fluid overload.

Lifestyle Modifications

Changes in diet, exercise, and other personal habits aimed at managing heart failure.

Daily Weights

A method used to monitor fluid retention, where significant weight changes indicate worsening heart failure.