Heart & Blood Vessel Disorders (Part 2)

Endocarditis

Inflammation of the inner lining of the heart.

Bacterial Endocarditis

Infection of the heart lining that can damage heart valves.

Vegetations

Lesions on heart valves caused by bacterial endocarditis.

Emboli

Material that breaks off and travels through the bloodstream.

Petechiae

Small pinpoint hemorrhages in the skin caused by emboli.

Treatment for Endocarditis

Antibiotics.

Hypertensive Heart Disease

Heart disease caused by high blood pressure.

Cause of Hypertensive Heart Disease

Narrowing of arterioles increases resistance and workload on the heart.

Left Ventricular Hypertrophy

Enlargement of the left ventricle caused by increased workload.

Mitral Valve Prolapse (MVP)

Improper closure of the mitral valve.

What Happens in MVP

The mitral valve bulges into the left atrium during systole.

Mitral Regurgitation

Backflow of blood into the left atrium.

Midsystolic Click

Characteristic sound heard with mitral valve prolapse.

Murmur

Extra heart sound heard between normal heartbeats.

Cause of a Murmur

Disrupted blood flow due to valve or septal defects.

Functional Murmur

Murmur not caused by structural heart disease.

Bruit

Turbulent blood flow heard through a blood vessel.

Thrill

Vibration felt on the chest that may accompany a murmur.

Pericarditis

Inflammation of the pericardium surrounding the heart.

Symptoms of Pericarditis

Malaise, fever, and chest pain.

Pericardial Friction Rub

Scraping or grating sound heard in pericarditis.

Cardiac Tamponade

Compression of the heart caused by fluid accumulation in the pericardial cavity.

Treatment for Pericarditis

Anti-inflammatory drugs and pain management.

Rheumatic Heart Disease

Heart disease caused by rheumatic fever.

Cause of Rheumatic Fever

Complication of streptococcal throat infection.

Effect of Rheumatic Heart Disease

Damaged and scarred heart valves.

Aneurysm

Local widening or dilation of an arterial wall.

Causes of Aneurysm

Atherosclerosis, hypertension, or congenital weakness.

Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)

Blood clot in a deep vein, usually in the leg.

Complication of DVT

Pulmonary embolism.

Pulmonary Embolism

Blockage of a lung artery by a traveling blood clot.

Treatment for DVT

Anticoagulants such as warfarin and DOACs.

Hypertension (HTN)

High blood pressure.

Essential Hypertension

High blood pressure with no identifiable cause.

Treatment for Hypertension

Diuretics, ACE inhibitors, calcium channel blockers, beta-blockers, lifestyle changes.

Secondary Hypertension

High blood pressure caused by another disease or condition.

Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD)

Blockage of arteries supplying the limbs and organs.

Intermittent Claudication

Leg pain that occurs during walking and improves with rest.

Treatment for PAD

Exercise, smoking cessation, and control of risk factors.

Raynaud's Disease

Disorder causing reduced blood flow to fingers and toes.

Symptoms of Raynaud's Disease

Pallor and cyanosis of fingers and toes.

Management of Raynaud's Disease

Avoid cold exposure and other triggers.

Varicose Veins

Swollen and twisted veins, usually in the legs.

Cause of Varicose Veins

Damaged valves causing backflow of blood.

Hemorrhoids (Piles)

Varicose veins near the anus.