Cardiovascular Assessment Overview

Study Notes

Cardiovascular assessment is a crucial part of a physical examination that helps identify cardiovascular disease risk factors, diagnose cardiovascular conditions, and monitor treatment effectiveness.
The assessment involves a combination of medical history, physical examination, and diagnostic tests.

Risk factors:
- Hypertension
- Hyperlipidemia
- Diabetes
- Smoking
- Family history of cardiovascular disease
Symptoms:
- Chest pain or discomfort (angina)
- Shortness of breath (dyspnea)
- Fatigue
- Swelling in the legs or feet (edema)
- Palpitations or irregular heartbeats

Vital signs:
- Blood pressure
- Heart rate
- Respiratory rate
- Oxygen saturation
Inspection:
- Observe for signs of heart failure (e.g., jugular venous distension, peripheral edema)
- Note the shape and size of the heart
Palpation:
- Feel for the apical pulse
- Check for thrills or heaves (abnormal heart sounds)
Auscultation:
- Listen for heart sounds (S1, S2, S3, S4)
- Identify murmurs or abnormal sounds

Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG):
- Measures the electrical activity of the heart
- Helps diagnose arrhythmias, myocardial infarction, and cardiac chamber enlargement
Echocardiogram:
- Uses ultrasound to visualize the heart and its structures
- Assesses cardiac function, valve function, and blood flow
Stress test:
- Measures the heart's response to physical activity or medication
- Helps diagnose coronary artery disease and assess cardiac function

Ankle-brachial index (ABI):
- Measures blood pressure in the legs compared to the arms
- Helps diagnose peripheral artery disease
Carotid duplex ultrasound:
- Assesses blood flow in the carotid arteries
- Helps diagnose carotid artery stenosis

Cardiovascular assessment is crucial for identifying cardiovascular disease risk factors, diagnosing cardiovascular conditions, and monitoring treatment effectiveness.

Vital signs measured during cardiovascular assessment include:
- Blood pressure
- Heart rate
- Respiratory rate
- Oxygen saturation
Inspection involves:
- Observing for signs of heart failure (e.g., jugular venous distension, peripheral edema)
- Noting the shape and size of the heart
Palpation involves:
- Feeling for the apical pulse
- Checking for thrills or heaves (abnormal heart sounds)
Auscultation involves:
- Listening for heart sounds (S1, S2, S3, S4)
- Identifying murmurs or abnormal sounds

Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) measures the electrical activity of the heart and helps diagnose:
- Arrhythmias
- Myocardial infarction
- Cardiac chamber enlargement
Echocardiogram uses ultrasound to visualize the heart and its structures and assesses:
- Cardiac function
- Valve function
- Blood flow
Stress test measures the heart's response to physical activity or medication and helps diagnose:
- Coronary artery disease
- Cardiac function

Ankle-brachial index (ABI) measures blood pressure in the legs compared to the arms and helps diagnose:
- Peripheral artery disease
Carotid duplex ultrasound assesses blood flow in the carotid arteries and helps diagnose:
- Carotid artery stenosis