Cardio

Unit 1: Cardiovascular System Study Guide

Materials to Review:

• Chapter 10: Cardiovascular System in Pharmacology Textbook

• Unit Lecture Materials

• Packets, Assignments, and Activities completed during class

10.1: Anatomy & Physiology of Cardiovascular System

• Knowledge of the following terms:

  • Artery: A blood vessel that carries oxygenated blood away from the heart to the body

  • Systole: When the heart pumps blood

  • Diastole: When the heart relaxes

  • Sinoatrial (SA) Node: generates an electrical signal which causes the atrium to contract

  • Atrioventricular (AV) Node: Electrical relay station between the upper and lower chambers of the heart. 

  • Heart Rate: The number of times the heart beats, usually per minute

  • Blood Pressure: The amount of pressure within your arteries that causes blood to move 

  • Constriction: Getting narrower 

  • Dilation: Getting wider 

  • Systolic Blood Pressure: The first beat you hear

  • Diastolic Blood Pressure: The last beat you hear

10.2 Hypertension & Drug Treatment:

• Knowledge of the following terms:

  • Hypertension: High blood pressure is usually caused by genetics, inactivity, SODIUM!

  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitors:  Helps relax veins and arteries, lowering blood pressure

  • Angiotensin Receptor Blockers (ARBs): Treat high blood pressure and heart failure

  • Calcium Channel Blockers: Stops calcium from entering the heart which helps lower high blood pressure 

  • Beta-Blockers: Medicine that lowers blood pressure by blocking the effect of epinephrine hormones. 

  • Direct Renin Inhibitors: Blocks renin catalytic site and lowers hypertension

  • Alpha-Blockers: Prevents norepinephrine from tightening which reduces high blood pressure

  • Vasodilators: Allows your arteries and veins to widen allowing more blood flow 

• Review the drug names from the table given and the information it contains

10.3 Cardiac Arrhythmia & Drug Treatment:

• Knowledge of the following terms:

  • Cardiac Arrhythmia: The problem with your heart rhythm and the way it beats

  • Tachycardia: When your heart beats too fast

  • Flutter: When your heart beats are irregular and beat in a flutter pattern

  • Fibrillation: Heart condition that causes an irregular and sometimes fast heartbeat 

  • Bradycardia: When your heart beats slowly 

  • Atrial Flutter: This type of arrhythmia causes an irregular heart rhythm 

  • Atrial Fibrillation: Irregular electrical impulses that suddenly start firing in the atria 

  • Ventricular Fibrillation: Type of irregular heart rhythm. 

  • EKG: Electrocardiogram. A test that records the electrical signal in the heart 

  • Membrane-Stabilizing Agents/Sodium Channel Blockers: inhibition of sodium influx 

  • Potassium Channel Blockers: Inhibition of potassium influx 

  • Miscellaneous Agents- Atropine, Digoxin, Isoproterenol: Treat infections

• Review the drug names from the table given and the information it contains

10.4 & 10.5 Angina, Myocardial Infarction, Heart Failure & Drug Treatment:

• Knowledge of the following terms:

  • Angina Pectoris: Chest pain

  • Stable Angina: Chest pain that worsens over a short period of time 

  • Unstable Angina: Exercise caused by things such as sleeping, lying down

  • Variant Angina: Chest comfort or pain at rest 

• Risk factors for Angina: Obesity, inactivity, stress, diabetes, older age, family history 

  • Myocardial Infarction: Heart attack

• Symptoms of Myocardial Infarction (Both Men & Women): Chest pain, discomfort, and sense of doom. However, women will experience jaw, neck, arm, back, and shoulder pain. 

• Lifestyle Modifications to reduce the risk of Myocardial Infarction: eating healthier, reducing stress, exercising more

  • Heart Failure: When your heart starts failing because the muscle isn’t able to pump enough blood 

• Signs & Symptoms of Heart Failure: loss of appetite, fatigue, cough, swollen feet and ankles 

  • Nitrates: causes vasodilation 

  • Metabolic Modifiers: alters metabolism in order to achieve and improve 

  • Angiotensin Receptor-Neprilysin Inhibitors: Made up of two drugs that treat heart failure

  • Aldosterone Antagonists: Diuretics also known as “water pills”

  • Combination Vasodilators: ACE inhibitors 

• Review the drug names from the table given and the information it contains

10.6 Dyslipidemia, Hypercholesterolemia, Hyperlipidemia & Drug Treatment:

• Knowledge of the following terms:

  • Cholesterol: Wax type of substance in blood 

  • Dyslipidemia: Abnormal amount of lipids in your blood 

  • Hypercholesterolemia: High levels of cholesterol in the blood 

  • Hyperlipidemia: Elevated levels of lipids 

  • High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL): Known as good cholesterol. This helps remove other forms of cholesterol in our blood 

  • Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL): Known as bad cholesterol. High LDL can lead to a build-up of cholesterol leading to a heart attack

  • Triglyceride: A type of fat found in blood 

  • Atherosclerosis: Build up of fats, cholesterol, and other substances found in the atrial walls

  • HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitor (Statin): Lowers cholesterol levels

  • Fibric Acid Derivative: lowers lipid levels 

  • Bile Acid Sequestrant: Medicines that help lower your LDL cholesterol

  • ATP Citrate Lyase (ACL) Inhibitor: Lipid metabolism

  • Other Cholesterol-Lowering Agents

    • Zetia

    • Omega-3 Fatty Acids

• Review the drug names from the table given and the information it contains

10.7 Clotting Disorders, Stroke & Drug Treatment:

• Knowledge of the following terms:

  • Thrombin: plays a role in homeostasis and regulating blood 

  • Thrombi: Helps blood clots form

  • Emboli: Blockage of a blood vessel 

  • Pulmonary Embolism (PE): blockage in the lungs arteries 

  • Deep-Vein Thrombosis (DVT): when a blood clot forms in a deep vein in your blood for example your legs

• Risk factors for developing DVT: age, lack of movement, injury/surgery, pregnancy, and being overweight. 

  • Stroke (Cerebrovascular Accident): When blood supply to the brain is blocked or when a blood vessel bursts

• Symptoms of Stroke: Sudden confusion, sudden numbness, severe headache, trouble walking and seeing

• Risk factors of Stroke: Hypertension, high red blood cell count, smoking

  • Ischemic Stroke: Blood clot blocks artery leading to the brain

  • Hemorrhagic Stroke: Weakened blood vessel ruptures 

  • Direct Thrombin Inhibitors: anticoagulants that thin blood

  • Vitamin K Antagonist: Reduces blood clotting by reducing the action of vit K 

  • Antiplatelet Agents: ASA, clopidogrel

  • Glycoprotein Antagonist: a potent inhibitor of platelet aggregation

  • Thrombolytic Agent: Streptokinase, alteplase, reteplase

• Review the drug names from the table given and the information it contains