Cardiovascular Pathologies

Cardiovascular Pathologies

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Disorders of blood & circulation

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Anemia

Very Common

Anemia results from a lack of red blood cells or dysfunctional red blood cells in the body. This leads to reduced oxygen flow to the body's organs.

Symptoms may include fatigue, skin paleness, shortness of breath, lightheadedness, dizziness, or a fast heartbeat.

Treatment depends on the underlying diagnosis. Iron supplements may be used for iron deficiency. Vitamin B supplements maybe used for low vitamin levels. Blood transfusions may be used for blood loss.

Leukemia

Many patients with slow-growing types of leukemias don't have symptoms. Rapidly growing types of leukemia may cause symptoms that include fatigue, weight loss, frequent infections, and easy bleeding or bruising. For slow-growing leukemias, treatment may include monitoring. For aggressive leukemias, treatment includes chemotherapy

Blood Clots

A blood clot is a clump of blood that has changed from a liquid to a gel-like or semisolid state.When a blood clot occurs in an artery, it’s called an arterial clot. This type of clot causes symptoms immediately and requires emergency treatment. The symptoms of an arterial clot include severe pain, paralysis of parts of the body, or both. It can lead to a heart attack or stroke.

A blood clot that occurs in a vein is called a venous clot. These types of clots may build up more slowly over time, but they can still be life-threatening. The most serious type of venous clot is called deep vein thrombosis.

Multiple Choice

The most common place for a blood clot to occur is in your...

• Lower Legs

• Lungs

• Upper Arm

• Heart

Embolism

An embolism is a blockage in one of the arteries of the body due to a blood clot that has broken off from another location in the body and traveled through the bloodstream to lodge in a small blood vessel. The blockage may limit or stop blood flow. An embolism may be serious and life threatening.

Deep vein thrombosis is the primary cause of embolism. In deep vein thrombosis, blood clots form in the large veins of the legs. Sometimes a blood clot breaks free and is carried through the bloodstream. It may then cause an embolism by blocking an artery in the lungs, brain, or other organs

Shock

Shock is a life-threatening condition that occurs when the body is not getting enough blood flow. Lack of blood flow means the cells and organs do not get enough oxygen and nutrients to function properly. Many organs can be damaged as a result. Shock requires immediate treatment and can get worse very rapidly. Shock may result from trauma, heatstroke, blood loss, an allergic reaction, severe infection, poisoning, severe burns or other causes.

Multiple Choice

If you suspect a person is in shock, call 911 . Then immediately take the following steps:

1.Lay the person down and elevate the legs and feet . unless this may further injury. 2. Keep the person still and don't move them. 3.Begin CPR if the person shows no signs of life. 4. Loosen tight clothing , if needed, cover the person with a blanket to prevent chilling. 5. If the person vomits or begins bleeding from the mouth, and no spinal injury is suspected, turn him or her onto a side to prevent choking.

and 6....

• Tell the person to take deep breaths.

• Don't let the person eat or drink anything.

Disorders of the heart

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Arrhythmia

Very Common

Improper beating of the heart, whether irregular, too fast, or too slow.

Cardiac arrhythmia occurs when electrical impulses in the heart don't work properly.

There may be no symptoms. Or, symptoms may include a fluttering in the chest, chest pain, fainting, or dizziness.

If needed, treatment includes anti-arrhythmic drugs, medical procedures, implantable devices, and surgery.

Angina Pectoris

Although the symptoms of angina is not the same as a heart attack they are often mistaken as such. Angina is a type of chest pain caused by reduced blood flow to the heart.

Angina is a symptom of coronary artery disease.

Angina feels like squeezing, pressure, heaviness, tightness, or pain in the chest. It can be sudden or recur over time.

Depending on severity, it can be treated by lifestyle changes, medication, angioplasty, or surgery.

Myocardial Infraction

A blockage of blood flow to the heart muscle.

A heart attack is a medical emergency. A heart attack usually occurs when a blood clot blocks blood flow to the heart. Without blood, tissue loses oxygen and dies.

Symptoms include tightness or pain in the chest, neck, back, or arms, as well as fatigue, lightheadedness, abnormal heartbeat, and anxiety.

Treatment ranges from lifestyle changes and cardiac rehabilitation to medications, stents, and bypass surgery.

Multiple Choice

In the first year after a heart attack, one sex is 50% more likely to die from it and 6 years after a heart attack, are almost twice as likely to have a second heart attack.

• men

• women

Congestive Heart Failure

Heart failure can occur if the heart cannot pump (systolic) or fill (diastolic) adequately.

Symptoms include shortness of breath, fatigue, swollen legs, and rapid heartbeat.

Treatments can include eating less salt, limiting fluid intake, and taking prescription medications. In some cases a defibrillator or pacemaker may be implanted.

Cardiomyopathy

An acquired or hereditary disease of heart muscle, this condition makes it hard for the heart to deliver blood to the body, and can lead to heart failure.

 Cardiomyopathy causes the heart muscle to become enlarged, thick or rigid. In rare instances, diseased heart muscle tissue is replaced with scar tissue

Symptoms include breathlessness, swollen legs and feet, and a bloated belly.

Drugs, implanted devices, surgery, and in severe cases, transplant, are treatments.

Rheumatic Fever & Heart Disease.

Rheumatic fever is a disease that can result from inadequately treated strep throat or scarlet fever.

Rheumatic fever causes inflammation, especially of the heart, blood vessels, and joints.

Symptoms include fever and painful, tender joints.

Treatment involves medication, sometimes for life.

Rheumatic heart disease is a condition in which the heart valves have been permanently damaged by rheumatic fever

Multiple Choice

In the 1930's and 40's Rheumatic fever was effecting children between the ages of 6 to 16 at an alarming rate ,leading to juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, also known as Still’s disease, heart complications and death. What 1950's discovery was used to treat rheumatic fever before it could lead to more serious complications?

• penicillin

• vaccine

MYOCARDITIS, PERICARDITIS, AND ENDOCARDITIS

Pericardium: The outermost layer of the heart, is a sac of connective tissue membranes surrounding the heart. It cushions the heart and protects it from friction and enlargement. The pericardium is also where nerves and blood vessels lie that supply and support the heart.

Myocardium: is middle layer is the muscle of the heart. By expanding and contracting, the myocardium enables the heart to pump blood Endocardium: The innermost layer of the heart . It is a layer of connective tissues and organ lining that coats the inner surfaces of the heart chambers, including several valves.

The main difference between pericarditis, myocarditis, and endocarditis is the inflammation of the layer affected.

Diseases of the arteries

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Arteriosclerosis and Atherosclerosis

Arteriosclerosis is a general term for the hardening of arteries and a loss of elasticity in arterial walls. Atherosclerosis is specifically a condition where arteries harden as a result of plaque buildup on artery walls. This build up leads to Coronary artery disease and in the limbs, Peripheral artery disease

Multiple Choice

Saturated fat is a main dietary culprit in the buildup of plaque in the arteries. As a result, experts suggest trying to keep saturated fat to less than 7% of total daily calories( 16 grams of saturated fat total in a day). What would you guess is the amount of saturated fat in a McDonald's Quarter Pounder with cheese?

• 1 grams

• 7 grams

• 16 grams

Add fries and you have 11 grams of saturated fats.

Giving you nearly all the saturated fats recommended in a day and 1050 calories of the 2,000 you are suppose to consume in a day. (I'm sill eating them)

Aneurysm

A ballooning and weakened area in an artery.

Aneurysms often occur in the aorta, brain, back of the knee, intestine, or spleen. A ruptured aneurysm can result in internal bleeding, stroke, and can sometimes be fatal.

Aneurysms often have no symptoms until they rupture.

Treatment varies from watchful waiting to emergency surgery. The choice depends on the location, size, and condition of the aneurysm.

Hypertension

A condition in which the force of the blood against the artery walls is too high.

Usually hypertension is defined as blood pressure above 140/90, and is considered severe if the pressure is above 180/120.

High blood pressure often has no symptoms. Over time, if untreated, it can cause health conditions, such as heart disease and stroke.

orthostatic hypertension

A form of low blood pressure that happens when standing up from sitting or lying down.

COMMON CAUSES

Orthostatic hypotension can have causes that aren't due to underlying disease. Examples include dehydration, standing up too quickly, medication side effects, or aging.

Multiple Choice

After a massage it is common for someone to feel dizzy, this will pass . Always remind your client to take their time getting up from the table. If the client is still dizzy after sitting up for a while what should you offer them?

• water

• an escort to their car

• candy

Raynaud Disease

A condition in which some areas of the body feel numb and cool in certain circumstances.

In Raynaud's phenomenon, smaller arteries that supply blood to the skin constrict excessively in response to cold, limiting blood supply to the affected area.

The fingers, toes, ears, and tip of the nose are commonly involved and feel numb and cool in response to cold temperatures or stress. It's often accompanied by changes in the color of the skin.

Thromboangiitis obliterans

Thromboangiitis obliterans (Buerger disease) is caused by small blood vessels that become inflamed and swollen. The blood vessels then narrow or get blocked by blood clots. This is often times related to the fingers and toes of smokers

Diseases of the Veins

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phlebitis and thrombophlebitis

Phlebitis (fle-BYE-tis) means inflammation of a vein. Thrombophlebitis is due to one or more blood clots in a vein that cause inflammation. Thrombophlebitis usually occurs in leg veins, but it may occur in an arm or other parts of the body

deep vein thrombosis

A blood clot in a deep vein, usually in the legs.

This condition is serious because blood clots can loosen and lodge in the lungs.

Leg pain or swelling may occur, but there may be no symptoms.

Treatments include medications and use of compression stockings.

varicose veins

Varicose veins are swollen, twisted veins that lie just under the skin and usually occur in the legs. Overview. Varicose veins are a common condition caused by weak or damaged vein walls and valves. Varicose veins may form whenever blood pressure increases inside your veins.

Risk Factors: Old age; Pregnancy; Obesity

Multiple Choice

Varicose vein sufferers often struggle with legs that itch, throb, cramp, and feel heavy. Massage is a known way to relieve some of these symptoms because the gentle pressure increases blood circulation throughout the legs and prevents blood clots. Can massage take away the appearance of varicose veins?

• Yes

• No