Blood and Heart Diseases

Blood Types

• Blood types are A, B,

AB, and O

• Type O is the most

common in the US

• Type AB is the rarest

• Each blood type is

based on the type of
antigen located on the
surface of the RBC
membrane

• Antigens help the body to

identify ”self” from
“non-self”

• Foreign antigens cause

the immune system to
produce antibodies

• Each blood type also

has an antibody found
in the blood plasma

• These attach to a specific

antigen and destroys
them

Q34

Leukemia

• A cancer of the blood
• Characterized by the production of extremely high numbers of immature white blood cells in the bone marrow that are incapable fighting infection like normal WBCs

Q35

Complete Blood Count

• A CBC is a common blood test to

check for blood disorders (like
anemia) or abnormal blood cell
counts, clotting problems, immune
system disorders, cancers of the
blood, etc.

• Measures the numbers of RBCs,

WBCs, and platelets

• Low RBC counts could indicate anemia
• Abnormal WBC counts could indicate

infection, blood cancer, or immune
disorders

• Low platelet counts could indicate

bleeding or clotting issues

Hemophilia is usually an inherited bleeding disorder in which the blood does not clot properly

Q36

Blood Reactions

• If a person with Type A gets a

transfusion from a Type B blood
donor, the recipient’s anti-B
antibodies attack the donor’s red
blood cells

• The donated RBCs will clump together in a process called agglutination

• Can cause blockages in small

vessels

• Can cause hemolysis

• This can cause hemoglobin

to accumulate in the
kidneys and cause kidney
damage or kidney failure

• Milder symptoms of blood

reactions include fever, chills, and
vomiting

Q37

Diseases & Disorders of the
Cardiovascular System

Cardiovascular Diseases

• Approximately 2000 deaths per day

result from cardiovascular diseases

• Someone will have a coronary event

approximately every 25 seconds

• Every minute someone will die of a

coronary event

• The costs of heart disease in the US

are estimated at $300 billion per
year

Heart Valve
Abnormalities

• Heart Murmurs:

• Whooshing or swishing

sounds upon auscultation
caused by one of the
valves not closing properly

• Common in children, can

be congenital, and a result
of aging, infection, or other
disease

Heart Valve
Abnormalities

• Valvular Stenosis:

• Narrowing of the heart valve

due to a stiff or fused valve
cusps

• Can Occur in one or more

valves making the heart work
hard to pump blood

• Moderate forms will need to

limit physical activity

• Severe cases would need

surgery to replace the valves

Heart Valve
Abnormalities

• Mitral Valve Prolapse:

• An incomplete closing of the mitral valve

• Occurs in up to 10% of the

population (common)

• Usually harmless
• Some cases develop

mitral regurgitation
causing shortness of
breath, palpitations,
fatigue, and chest pain

• In some cases the valve

will need to be replaced

Diseases ending in

-itis

• Pericarditis:

• Inflammation of the pericardial sac causing the heart to rub against the sac
as the heart contracts

• Causes stabbing pain, shortness of breath,

fatigue, and rapid pulse

• Myocarditis:

• Inflammation of the myocardium
• Causes symptoms similar to pericarditis

• Endocarditis:

• Inflammation of the innermost layer of the heart

• Can destroy the heart valves and cause

life-threatening complications

Heart Failure

• A condition in which the heart cannot adequately pump blood to meet the oxygen needs of the body

• Heart muscle becomes stiff and is

difficult to fill with blood

• When the heart cannot pump effectively, fluid backs up into the lungs, liver, arms, legs, and GI tract

• Symptoms include shortness of

breath, cough, edema in the ankles
and legs, weight gain, and frequent
urination

Heart Failure

• Treatment involves diuretic medication (such

as Lasix), vasodilators, and cardiostimulatory
and cardioinhibitory drugs

• The most common cause of heart failure is coronary artery disease or an infection called cardiomyopathy

• Patients in end stage heart failure are put on

the donor list to receive a heart transplant

Diseases of the

Arteries

• Aneurysms:

• An abnormal ballooning of a blood

vessel due to weakness in the wall of
the vessel

• Hypertension, high cholesterol, and

smoking increases the risk of
developing an aneurysm

• Some cases have no symptoms while

some cause pain and swelling

• Common locations are the aorta, the

brain, the artery behind the knee, and
the intestines

• A ruptured aneurysm can cause

sudden death

Diseases of the Arteries

• Coronary Artery Disease:

• Also called coronary heart

disease

• Caused by the narrowing of one

or more of the coronary arteries
from a buildup of plaque

• When the plaque hardens, it

hardens the artery, and the
disease becomes atherosclerosis

• Symptoms include angina

pectoris (chest pain), throat
dryness, jaw pain going down
the left arm, nausea,
perspiration, shortness of
breath, and fainting

Heart Attack

• Also called myocardial infarction

• Occurs when a piece of arterial plaque ruptures

and occludes the artery

• Chest pain and shortness of breath are early

warning signs

• Patients should receive treatment within 60-90

minutes

• Treatment will include fibrinolytic therapy

to dissolve any clot and balloon
angioplasty to open the blocked vessel and
stent placement to keep it open

Hypertension

• Medical term for high blood pressure

• Occurs when the force of the blood

against the arterial wall remains
elevated for extended periods of time

• Characterized by blood pressure at or

over 140/90 taken on three separate
occasions

• CDC estimates 1/3 of adults in the US

have high blood pressure

• Risk factors for developing high B/P are

family history, obesity, smoking, physical
inactivity, and sensitivity to salt

Peripheral Vascular

Disease

• A condition in which the arteries of the legs narrow resulting in lack of blood flow to the thighs, calf muscles, and feet

• Symptoms include pain, fatigue in the

lower extremities, and a burning
sensation in the calf

• Risk factors for developing PVD are

smoking, having diabetes, and being
African-American

• Exercise lowers the risk of developing

PVD

• Treatment includes medication and

possible placement of a stent to open
the vessels

Stroke

• Also called a cerebrovascular accident occurring when blood flow to the brain stops, depriving the brain of oxygen

• Two types of stroke:

• Ischemic: when one of the arteries of the brain becomes blocked

• Hemorrhagic: when one of the arteries ruptures, causing bleeding in the brain

• CDC states that stroke is the 4th leading

cause of death

• Risk factors for stroke are family history,

high B/P, diabetes, high cholesterol, use
of birth control, race, smoking, excessive
alcohol consumption, drug use, obesity,
and physical inactivity

Stroke

• If the effects of a stroke are temporary, a

person might be experiencing a transient
ischemic attack

• A temporary lack of blood flow to the

brain

• Symptoms of stroke will usually disappear

within 1-2 hours

• Remember F.A.S.T. for signs of a stroke

• F – face (Is one side drooping?)
• A – arms (Is one arm weak or numb?)
• S – Speech (Is speech slurred?)
• T – Time (Time is critical! Call 911!)