CH 18.1 Intro to Cardiology

What does CVD stand for?

Cardiovascular Disease

What is coronary heart disease (CHD)?

A disease of the coronary arteries.

What is AMI?

Acute Myocardial Infarction, caused by narrowing or blockage of a coronary artery.

How often does someone in the United States experience a heart attack?

Every 40 seconds.

What is cardiac arrest?

The cessation of cardiac mechanical activity.

Where do most out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur?

In a home or residence.

What are the main components of the cardiovascular system?

The heart and blood vessels.

What is the primary function of the cardiovascular system?

To deliver oxygenated blood and nutrients to cells, hormones, and transport waste products.

How many chambers does the heart have?

Four chambers.

What are the names of the heart's chambers?

Right atrium, left atrium, right ventricle, left ventricle.

What does the right atrium do?

Receives blood low in oxygen from the superior vena cava, inferior vena cava, and coronary sinus.

What does the left atrium do?

Receives oxygenated blood from the lungs via the right and left pulmonary veins.

What is the function of the right ventricle?

Pumps deoxygenated blood to the lungs.

What is the function of the left ventricle?

Pumps oxygenated blood throughout the body.

What separates the heart into two functional pumps?

The septa.

What are the two functional systems of the heart?

Right heart (pulmonary circulation) and left heart (systemic circulation).

What is the myocardium?

The middle layer of the heart wall, composed of thick muscle tissue responsible for cardiac contraction.

What do the coronary arteries supply?

The left main coronary artery supplies the left ventricle and interventricular septum; the right coronary artery supplies the right atrium, right ventricle, and part of the left ventricle.

What are the four properties of cardiac cells?

Automaticity, excitability, conductivity, and contractility.

What comprises the cardiac conduction system?

SA node, AV node, bundle of His, right and left bundle branches, and Purkinje fibers.

What effect does sympathetic nerve stimulation have on the heart?

It strengthens the force of contraction and increases the heart rate.

What effect does parasympathetic nerve stimulation have on the heart?

It slows the rate of discharge of the SA node, slows conduction through the AV node, weakens atrial contraction, and can reduce the force of ventricular contraction.

What are the steps in the primary survey for cardiac patients?

Normally ABCDE (Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability, Exposure); changes to CABDE if unresponsive and suspected cardiac arrest.

What does ACS stand for in cardiac conditions?

Acute Coronary Syndromes.

Name three types of Acute Coronary Syndromes.

Unstable angina, NSTEMI, STEMI.

What are common chief complaints in cardiac patients?

Chest pain, dyspnea, fainting, palpitations, fatigue.

What should be determined if a patient faints?

Whether the cause is cardiac or noncardiac.

What are some cardiac causes of fainting?

Dysrhythmias, increased vagal tone, heart lesions.

What are palpitations?

Sensation of an abnormally fast or irregular heartbeat.

What should be inquired about regarding palpitations?

Onset, frequency, duration, and previous episodes.

What additional symptoms may patients report during a cardiac assessment?

Feelings of impending doom, nausea or vomiting, trauma involvement, hypoxia or poor perfusion.

What types of medications should be asked about during history taking?

Prescription drugs (especially cardiac), over-the-counter drugs, herbal supplements, recreational drugs.

What conditions should be assessed in a patient's medical history?

Aneurysm, atherosclerotic heart disease, congenital anomalies, CAD, diabetes, inflammatory cardiac disease, previous cardiac surgery, pulmonary disease, renal disease, valvular disease, vascular disease.

What should the physical exam emphasize in cardiac assessments?

Cardiac issues, including skin color and temperature.

What skin conditions may indicate circulation problems?

Pale, mottled, or cyanotic skin; flushed, warm skin.

What should be inspected during the physical exam?

Neck and tracheal position, jugular pressure, chest for surgical scars, NTG patches, pacemakers, chest enlargement, crepitus.

What does bilateral pitting edema indicate?

Right ventricular failure (RVF).

What does one-sided pitting edema suggest?

Blockage.

What are the normal blood pressure ranges?

Normal SBP: less than 120 mm Hg; Normal DBP: less than 80 mm Hg.

What is considered Stage 2 hypertension?

SBP of 140 mm Hg or higher; DBP of 90 mm Hg.

What is pulsus paradoxus?

A beat-to-beat difference in the strength of a pulse.

What does S1 heart sound indicate?

Closure of the tricuspid and mitral valves.

What can decreased S1 sounds indicate?

Fibrotic or calcified mitral valve, obesity, emphysema, cardiac tamponade.

What does S2 heart sound indicate?

Closure of the pulmonary and aortic valves.

What can a loud S2 indicate?

Chronic high blood pressure or pulmonary hypertension.

What is an abnormal S3 sound associated with?

Heart failure.

What does an S4 sound indicate?

Turbulent filling of a stiff ventricle in hypertrophy, possible myocardial infarction.

What causes a heart murmur?

Turbulent blood flow through the valves.

What should be done during reassessment of a cardiac patient?

Reassess on the way to the hospital and prepare documentation of the call.

What information should be notified to the receiving facility?

History findings, physical exam findings, cardiac monitoring or ECG findings.