cardio

Assessment Overview

  • Importance of Grades

    • Aim for above 77% to avoid issues.

    • Room for improvement is essential for mastery.

Announcements

  • Professor Garth will take over discussions from next week.

  • Continuity in grading will be maintained.

  • Next assessment topic will be cardiac-related.

  • Prepare cardiac materials before lab sessions.

Lab Preparation

  • Ensure all students understand the due date for assignments.

  • Emphasize the ease of the upcoming assessments.

  • Vital signs and head-to-toe assessments are essential.

Vital Sign Assessment

  • Practice taking vital signs thoroughly.

  • Use the OPQRST method for pain assessment management.

    • OPQRST: Onset, Provocation, Quality, Radiation, Severity, Timing

  • Recognize that chest pain is a primary indicator for cardiac issues.

  • Check for obvious signs of cardiovascular issues:

    • Peripheral edema, color change, cap refill time, etc.

Cardiovascular Inspection Techniques

  • Look for observable vascular issues (e.g., pitting edema, jugular vein distension [JVD]).

  • Check for pulse strength, rhythm, and cap refill in less than three seconds.

  • Assess level of consciousness related to oxygenation issues.

Key Signs of Cardiovascular Issues

  • Common symptoms: pallor, redness, and cyanosis.

  • Capillary refill: should be less than three seconds.

  • Abnormalities in JVD (check at a 45-degree angle).

  • Observe for bruits during auscultation which may signify blockages.

Palpation and Auscultation Techniques

  • Carotid pulse assessment with fingers (do not use thumbs).

  • Palpate pulses carefully to assess rhythm and strength (should be +2).

  • Use a bell for low sounds and diaphragm for high sounds during auscultation.

  • Identify abnormalities (heightened sounds might indicate healthcare issues).

Cardiac Anatomy Review

  • Understand basic anatomy: four heart chambers, and valve functions.

  • Semilunar valves: Aortic and Pulmonic valves control outflow.

  • Atrioventricular (AV) valves: Tricuspid and Mitral valves prevent backflow.

Heart Sounds

  • Normal heart sounds: S1 (loud) and S2 (quiet).

  • Abnormal sounds can include S3 and S4 which can indicate issues:

    • S3 might indicate heart failure.

    • S4 due to hypertension or hypertrophy.

Heart Failure Assessment

  • Differences between right-sided and left-sided heart failure:

    • Right-sided: focuses on systemic circulation issues (deoxygenated blood backs up leading to edema, JVD).

    • Left-sided: results in pulmonary congestion (crackles, orthopnea due to back up into lungs).

Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease

  • Non-modifiable factors: family history, age.

  • Modifiable factors include: BMI, cholesterol (LDL vs HDL), hypertension, and diabetes.

  • Lifestyle impacts due to diet (high sugar and fat) crucial for heart health.

Patient Interaction and Communication

  • Accurate assessment through effective communication.

  • Family history and patient lifestyle should guide the inquiry into heart health.

  • Patients might be unfamiliar with specific medical terms; rephrase as needed.

  • Be prepared to educate on risks and preventative health measures.