EKG Ch 4

Common Cardiovascular Diseases and Disorders

EKG Technician's Role

  • Technicians Do Not Diagnose:

    • EKG technicians do not diagnose or treat illnesses.

    • They work with patients experiencing cardiovascular diseases or disorders.

    • Knowledge of causes, signs, and symptoms helps EKG technicians perform their jobs effectively.

    • Concerns about patient symptoms during EKG testing should be immediately reported to a supervisor.

    • For emergencies, refer to Chapter 10 for detailed information.

1. Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)

  • Definition:

    • CAD is the narrowing, thickening, and hardening of coronary arteries due to plaque buildup.

    • This plaque damages the inner lining of blood vessels, leading to arteriosclerosis.

  • Effects of CAD:

    • Increased blood pressure and decreased blood flow to the heart muscle.

    • Can lead to total artery blockage and myocardial infarction (heart attack).

    • Affects other arteries in the body, including those in the brain and limbs.

  • Plaque Components:

    • Dislodged plaque or blood clot leads to thrombus formation (stationary) or embolus (moving). An embolus can block blood flow to critical body areas.

2. Ischemia and Myocardial Infarction (MI)

  • Ischemia:

    • Condition resulting from insufficient oxygen to the heart muscle due to arterial blockage.

  • Myocardial Infarction (Heart Attack):

    • Occurs when ischemia leads to cell death from blocked coronary arteries.

    • Symptoms of MI:

    • Shortness of breath, nausea, lightheadedness, stomach pain, sweating, and back, neck, or jaw pain.

    • Women may experience more flu-like symptoms and often deny having a heart attack.

    • Immediate notification to healthcare providers is critical for suspected MI cases.

3. Angina

  • Angina Definition:

    • Chest pain caused by ischemia, particularly during exertion or stress when blood flow is insufficient.

    • Types of Angina:

    • Stable Angina: Occurs predictably with exertion.

    • Unstable Angina: Occurs at rest or with minimal exertion; indicates worsening arteriosclerosis potentially leading to MI.

4. Cardiomyopathy

  • Definition:

    • Changes in the muscular layer of the heart that impede effective pumping.

  • Causes:

    • Advanced age, alcoholism, heredity.

  • Consequences:

    • Enlarged heart causes blood backup and valve damage, leading to pulmonary and peripheral edema.

    • Common symptoms include:

    • Fatigue, lower extremity edema, dyspnea, orthopnea, and weakness.

5. Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)

  • Definition:

    • Condition where the heart cannot pump effectively, leading to systemic and pulmonary congestion.

  • Right-sided Heart Failure Symptoms:

    • Blood backs up into veins, causing liver and spleen congestion; symptoms include abdominal swelling, cough, weight gain, and lower extremity edema.

  • Left-sided Heart Failure Symptoms:

    • Blood backs up into pulmonary veins, leading to fluid in lungs, resulting in dyspnea, orthopnea, and cough with frothy sputum.

6. Heart Valve Disease

  • Function:

    • Heart valves prevent blood regurgitation during heart pumping.

  • Conditions:

    • Valve damage can occur due to infections (like strep throat) or congenital defects.

    • Mitral Valve Prolapse: One or both flaps do not close properly, leading to increased workload and risk of blood clots.

  • Symptoms:

    • Lower extremity edema, weakness, chest pain, and palpitations.

7. Blood Clots and Complications

  • Causes of Clots:

    • Occur in damaged arteries, plaque breaks, or blood pooling in veins or heart.

  • Types of Clots:

    • Thrombus: Clot that occludes where it forms.

    • Embolus: Clot that moves and can occlude vessels elsewhere (e.g., heart, lungs, brain).

  • Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT):

    • Clot typically remains in lower leg veins; signs include pain, swelling, and warmth.

  • Pulmonary Embolism (PE):

    • Potentially lethal condition when clots travel to lungs; symptoms include dyspnea, chest pain, cyanosis, and sense of unease.

  • Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA):

    • Stroke caused by clots in cerebral arteries; symptoms include aphasia, confusion, weakness or paralysis on one side of the body, and sudden severe headache.

8. Hypertension

  • Definition:

    • Chronic high blood pressure, defined as systolic pressure ≥ 130 mmHg or diastolic pressure ≥ 80 mmHg.

  • Risk Factors:

    • Smoking, obesity, high-fat/salt diet, stress, and hereditary factors. Higher risk in Black patients.

  • Symptoms:

    • Often asymptomatic but may include headache, blurred vision, dizziness, fatigue, nausea, and nosebleeds.

9. COVID-19 Implications on Heart Disease Risk

  • Key Findings:

    • Even mild COVID-19 cases may increase heart problems or stroke risk for up to one year post-recovery, notably for MI, heart failure, and strokes.

    • Patients should be screened for past COVID-19 infections as part of their cardiovascular risk assessment.

Conclusion

  • Understanding cardiovascular diseases is essential for EKG technicians.

  • Immediate recognition of crucial symptoms (e.g., from MI or blood clots) can prevent serious harm.

  • Comprehensive monitoring and treatment by healthcare providers are critical for managing cardiovascular conditions effectively.

  • Many systemic bodies may be impacted by cardiovascular disorders, emphasizing their significance in overall health.