| What is the term for cramp-like pains and fatigue in the calves brought on by exercise and relieved by rest? | Intermittent Claudication |
| What does PATCHES stand for? | Pulse, Appearance, Temperature, Capillary refill, Hardness, Edema, Sensation |
| What increases cardiovascular events in people aged 40-70? | Every 20 (systolic)/10 (diastolic) mm-Hg increase in blood pressure |
| How long does one cardiac cycle last? | 0.8 seconds |
| SA node is also know as the.. | Pacemaker; regulates the heartbeat |
| How often should peripheral pulse be checked after cardiac catheterization? | Every 15 minutes for one hour, and then with decreasing frequency |
| Cardiac catheterization/angiography requires a check for which allergy? | Iodine |
| Following cardiac catheterization, the patient is required to lie.. | Supine, with compression device over insertion site (to prevent hemorrhage) |
| List the entire blood circulation pattern | Superior or inferior vena cava- Right atrium- Tricuspid valve- Right ventricle- Pulmonary semilunar valve- pulmonary artery- Capillaries in the lungs- Pulmonary veins- Left atrium- Mitral (bicuspid) valve- Left ventricle- Aortic semilunar valve- Aorta |
| How long can ambulatory ECG's monitor the heart? | 12, 24, 48 hours |
| What can PET detect in an asymptomatic patient? | Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) |
| What is the desirable total cholesterol level? | Less than 200 (borderline is 200-239, high is greater than 240) |
| Which lab value is used to monitor/rule out inflammatory and infective conditions including MI, endocarditis, and rheumatic fever? | Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) |
| Sinus tachycardia is a rapid regular rhythm of.. | 100-150 bpm or more |
| Sinus bradycardia is a heart rate of.. | less than 60 bpm |
| Supraventricular tachycardia is characterized by the sudden onset of pulse rate of.. | 150-250 bpm |
| Define Atrial fibrillation | Disorganized electrical activity in the atria causing it to quiver and beat chaotically; 350-600 bpm |
| What is the ventricular response rate to atrial fibrillation if left untreated? | 100-180 bpm |
| What is the goal of anticoagulation therapy? | To maintain INR between 2 and 3 |
| What is TEE (Transesophageal echocardiography) used for? | To detect a thrombus in the atria before proceeding with cardioversion |
| What are the symptoms of first degree heart block? | Is often asymptomatic |
| What are the symptoms of second degree heart block? | Vertigo, weakness and irregular pulse |
| What are the signs/symptoms of third degree heart block? | Hypotension, angina, bradycardia; heart rate is 30-40 bpm |
| What is atrioventricular block? | A defect in the AV junction slows or impairs conduction of impulses from SA node to ventricles |
| What are early (right or left) ventricular beats that occur in conjunction with the underlying rhythm? | Premature Ventricular Contractions (PVC) |
| Ventricular tachycardia occurs when.. | 3 or more successive PVC's occur |
| The quivering of the ventricular musculature of the heart is known as.. | Ventricular fibrillation |
| What is usually the cause of ventricular fibrillation? | Myocardial or ischemic infarction |
| Which is the most serious type of arrhythmia? | Ventricular fibrillation |
| What is the most effective way of ending ventricular fibrillation? | Defibrillation |
| Where is a Pacemaker placed? | In the right atrium, right ventricle, or both |
| Where is a permanent pacemaker power source placed? | Subcutaneously over pectoral muscle on nondominant side |
| What is the aim of CPR? | To establish circulation and ventilation; prevention of damage to brain, heart, liver and kidneys . |
| What is CAB? | Circulation, restore Airway, restore Breathing |
| Symptoms of pacemaker failure: | weakness, vertigo, chest pain, pulse changes |
| What is angina pectoris? | Paroxysmal thoracic pain and choking feeling caused by decreased oxygen flow to the myocardium. |
| What is the number one killer in the US? | Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) |
| What kind of angina is an unpredictable, transient episode of prolonged discomfort that appears at rest, has never been experienced before, or is worse than previous episodes? | Unstable angina |
| Angina pectoris commonly feels like.. | a heaviness of tightness of the chest; sometimes thought to be indigestion. |
| What is not usually described as a sharp pain? | Angina pectoris |
| What is the first-line treatment of angina pectoris? | Antiplatelet aggregation therapy |
| Internal mammary arteries are the preferred blood vessels for.. | Bypass surgery (artery bypass graft) |
| Angioplasty allows widening of the coronary artery without: | Open heart surgery |
| How long should a patient receive anticoagulation therapy after a stent placement? | 3 months |
| What causes a myocardial infarction? | Obstruction of a major coronary artery or one of its branches by atherosclerotic plaque or an embolus; leading to necrosis of the heart muscle |
| How long does a myocardial infarction last? | 30 minutes to several hours (or longer) |
| What kind of MI causes more deaths? | STEMI (ST elevation) |
| How long does it take for myocardial cells to die? | 4 to 6 hours |
| Mortality and (MI) infarction size can be reduced significantly if thrombolytic therapy starts within.. | 30-60 minutes of symptom onset |
| What are the 2 major parts of cardiac rehabilitation? | 1. Exercise training 2. Education to understand and reduce risk of future heart conditions |
| What is heart failure? | Circulatory congestion caused by the heart's inability to pump effectively |
| What is the most common diagnosis for the hospitalized patient over 65? | Heart failure |
| Where does heart failure usually begin? | The left ventricle |
| One liter of fluid is equal to: | 1Kg (2.2lbs) |
| One liter of fluid is equal to : | 1Kg (2.2 lbs) |
| Patients with stage III and IV heart failure are at high risk for: | Major depression |
| What is the most noninvasive diagnostic test used to detect heart failure? | Echocardiogram |
| What are the most effective drugs for managing heart failure? | Beta blockers |
| How should a patient with pulmonary edema sit? | Upright, with legs in dependent position |
| What is valvular stenosis? | Thickening of the valve tissue, causing the valve to narrow |
| What is valvular insufficiency? | The heart valve is unable to close completely |
| What disease occurs when valves are damaged and cannot open and close properly? | Valvular heart disease |
| What is a prominent factor in development of valvular heart disease? | Rheumatic fever; usually 10-40 years after an episode |
| Valvular heart disease requires regular visits to: | The dentist; good oral hygiene is important |
| Which are the two medications approved by the FDA to treat heart failure? | Carvedilol and metoprolol |
| Which 2 positions lower the oxygen requirements in someone with heart failure? | 1. Elevating head of the bed to 45 degrees 2. Have patient sit at the edge of the bed with arms resting on overbed table |
| Which antibiotic is responsible for the decline in rheumatic fever? | Penicillin |
| How does rheumatic heart disease affect the heart? | The affected tissue develops areas of necrosis, which leaves scar tissue when it heals.; usually resulting in thickened and deformed valves |
| What sounds can be auscultated in a patient with rheumatic heart disease? | Murmurs of friction rub |
| Small erythematous circles and wavy lines on trunk or abdomen are skin manifestations of: | Rheumatic heart disease |
| Rheumatic fever is caused by: | Untreated childhood pharyngeal or upper respiratory tract infection; group A beta-hemolytic streptococci |
| When can a patient without carditis be ambulatory? | As soon as acute symptoms subside |
| Patients with deformed heart valves should be given what kind of treatment before surgery and dental work? | Antibiotics |
| How much fluid is normally found in the pericardial sac? | 15 to 50 mL |
| How much fluid develops in the pericardial sac in pericarditis? | 150- 200 mL |
| What can alleviate pain due to pericarditis? | Sitting up and leaning forward; aggravated by lying supine, deep breathing, coughing, swallowing, moving the trunk |
| What kind of pain does pericarditis cause? | Debilitating pain, much like a myocardial infarction |
| What is the infection or inflammation of the inner membranous lining of the heart, particularly the heart valves? | Endocarditis |
| People using illegal IV drugs are at high risk for what kind of infection of the heart? | Endocarditis |
| What is the most common symptom of cardiomyopathy? | Severe exercise intolerance |
| How long does antibiotic therapy last for a patient with pericarditis? | 1-2 months |
| Which drug is most commonly associated with cardiomyopathy? | Cocaine; intense vasoconstriction of the coronary arteries |
| Which term describes a group of heart muscle diseases that primarily affect the structural or functional ability of the myocardium? | Myocarditis |
| What kind of heart inflammation is relatively rare? | Myocarditis |
| What is the most common type of primary cardiomyopathy? | Dilated cardiomyopathy |
| A heart transplant is preferred for patients who ae unlikely to survive more than how many months? | 12 months |
| What are some contraindications for heart transplant? | Active infection, active or recent malignancy, severe obesity, active peptic ulcer disease, type 1 diabetes mellitus with end organ damage |
| The maximum acceptable ischemic time for cardiac transplant is: | 4 to 6 hours |
| What type of therapy begins in the operating room of a patient receiving a heart transplant? | Immunosuppressive therapy |
| The peripheral vascular system consists of what? | Arteries, capillaries, and veins |
| Stage 1 hypertension is defined as: | Blood pressure 140-159/90-99 mm-hg |
| A blood pressure of 160/100mm/hg is defined as: | Stage 2 hypertension |
| What is a hypertensive crisis? | A blood pressure of 180/110mm-hg or greater |
| What is malignant hypertension? | Severe, rapid elevation in blood pressure that damages the small arterioles in major organs |
| Malignant hypertension is most common in which individul? | African-American men under 40 years of age |
| Which organs does malignant hypertension most commonly damage? | Heart, kidneys, brain, eyes |
| Which primary dysfunction of the heart is not associated with CAD, hypertension, vascular or pulmonary disease? | Cardiomyopathy |
| What are the classic five P's of arterial occlusion? | Pain, Pulselessness, Pallor, Paresthesia, Paralysis |
| What is an arterial emboli? | Blood clots in the arterial blood stream |
| What kind of medications dissolve an existing blood clot? | Thrombolytics and fibrinolytics |
