Chronic Heart Failure Practice Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering clinical definitions, classification systems (NYHA and ACCF/AHA), and pharmacological treatments for Chronic Heart Failure.

Chronic heart failure (CHF)

A condition in which the heart is unable to pump sufficient blood to the tissues of the body, leading to blood build-up and overflow into the lungs.

Pulmonary edema

An accumulation of fluid in the lungs resulting from the heart's inability to pump blood efficiently.

Peripheral edema

Fluid build-up in the body, often occurring in the lower extremities.

Ejection Fraction

The proportion of blood that is ejected during each contraction of the heart compared with the total volume of blood within the ventricle of the heart.

Left ventricular end diastolic volume

The total amount of blood in the ventricle right before it contracts; also known as the preload.

New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class I

Classification where there are no limitations on physical activity, and normal physical activity does not cause symptoms.

New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class II

Classification with slight limitations on physical activity; the patient is comfortable at rest, but ordinary activity causes symptoms.

New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class III

Classification with marked limitation of physical activity; the patient is comfortable at rest, but less than ordinary activity causes symptoms.

New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class IV

Classification where the patient is unable to have physical activity without symptoms, or symptoms are present at rest.

ACCF/AHA Stage A

A stage of heart failure where the patient is at high risk but has no symptoms or structural heart disease.

ACCF/AHA Stage B

A stage where structural heart disease is present but there are no signs or symptoms.

ACCF/AHA Stage C

A stage characterized by structural heart disease with past or current symptoms.

ACCF/AHA Stage D

Refractory heart failure requiring interventions.

Positive inotrope

A clinical effect that increases the force of the heart's contraction.

Digoxin

A drug in the cardiac glycoside class, originally obtained from the digitalis plant (or foxglove), used as a positive inotrope.

Tachycardic

A condition characterized by an increased heart rate.

Preferred Beta blockers for CHF

Specific medications including Metoprolol, bisoprolol, nebivolol, and carvedilol.

Digoxin Toxicity

A condition caused by digoxin's low therapeutic index; symptoms include low heart rate, headache, dizziness, confusion, nausea, and visual disturbances like blurred or yellow vision.