Cardiac Med-Surg: Myocardial Infarction, Angina, and Pharmacology

This set of vocabulary flashcards summarizes the key diagnostic findings, pharmacology, patient education, and nursing priorities for Myocardial Infarction and related cardiac disorders based on the lecture notes.

Myocardial Infarction (MI)

A condition where heart muscles die (necrosis) from a lack of oxygen caused by a blockage in the coronary arteries.

SODDA

An acronym for MI causes: Stress/Smoking/Stimulants, Obesity (BMI > 25), Diabetes & HTN (> 140/90\,mmHg), Diet (high cholesterol/animal fats), and African American males & Age (> 50).

Dyspnea

Shortness of breath or labored breathing, a sign of MI often labeled as SOB.

Diaphoresis

Profuse sweating, a key sign and symptom of Myocardial Infarction.

DRESS

Patient education for MI discharge: Diet (low sodium/fluids $2\,g/2\,L$ per day), Reduce stress/alcohol/caffeine/cholesterol, Exercise ($30\,min \times 5\,days/wk$), Smoking Cessation, and Sex (safe if patient can climb $2$ flights of stairs without SOB).

Troponin

The primary lab indicator of MI/trauma, with a level over $0.5\,ng/mL$ indicating an issue.

Antiplatelets

Medications such as ASA and Clopidogrel that must be held if the platelet count is $50,000\,mm^{-3}$ ($50k$) or less.

Statins

Cholesterol-lowering medications (e.g., Lovastatin) that are liver toxic, can cause rhabdomyolysis (muscle pain), and should not be taken with grapefruit.

Cholesterol Panel Targets

Total Cholesterol: $\leq 200\,mg/dL$; Triglycerides: $\leq 150\,mg/dL$; LDL: $\leq 100\,mg/dL$; HDL: $\geq 40\,mg/dL$.

Stable Angina

Chest pain that is relieved with rest and considered "safer" compared to unstable angina.

Unstable Angina

Chest pain that is unrelieved by rest and considered "unsafe."

OANM

Treatment protocol for chest pain during an MI: Oxygen, ASA, Nitro (max $3$ doses under the tongue), and Morphine (if pain persists after Nitro).

ACE Inhibitors

Antihypertensive drugs ending in "-pril" (e.g., Lisinopril) that lower BP; precautions include angioedema, dry cough, elevated creatinine ($0.9 - 1.2\,mg/dL$), and elevated $K^{+}$.

Angioedema

A potential side effect of ACE inhibitors characterized by a "thick tongue" and classified as an airway risk.

Hyperkalemia Management (Cardiac)

Monitoring for muscle cramps, peaked T waves, and ST changes when potassium is above the normal range of $3.5 - 5.0\,mEq/L$.

Heparin

An anticoagulant that prevents clot growth (does not dissolve them) and is monitored via PTT with a therapeutic range of $46 - 70$ seconds.

Protamine Sulfate

The pharmacological antidote used for Heparin.

Beta Blockers

Medications ending in "-lol" (e.g., Atenolol) that lower both BP and HR; contraindicated for bradycardia ($HR \leq 60$), wheezing/COPD/Asthma, and can mask low blood sugar signs in diabetics.

Calcium Channel Blockers

Medications like Nifedipine, Diltiazem, and Verapamil that lower both BP and HR; -dipine "declines BP/HR," -zem is "zen yoga," and -amil "chills" the heart.

Vasodilators

Drugs like Isosorbide and Nitroprusside (for HTN crisis) that provide $O_2$ to the heart; they must never be taken with "-afil" drugs (e.g., Sildenafil) due to death risk.