Cardiovascular Conditions Quiz

Common Cardiovascular Conditions: Definition, Signs, Symptoms, Causes, Investigations, and Interventions

• Angina is a severe chest pain caused by ischemia due to a lack of blood supply to the heart muscle.
• The signs and symptoms of angina include a tight, strangling sensation in the chest, pain in the arms, shoulders, neck, jaw, throat, or back, nausea, fatigue, shortness of breath, sweating, light-headedness, and weakness.
• Coronary artery disease is the main cause of angina due to atherosclerosis of the cardiac arteries.
• Electrocardiogram (ECG) and blood tests are used in investigating angina, and medication such as nitroglycerin can relieve the pain.
• A heart attack (myocardial infarction) occurs when there is an occlusion of a coronary artery due to a lack of oxygen supply, causing necrosis of part of the myocardium.
• The signs and symptoms of a heart attack include severe persistent chest pain, unrelieved by nitroglycerin, and pain that is crushing or squeezing.
• Risk factors for a heart attack may include family history, hypertension, smoking, elevated cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, and aging.
• Electrocardiogram (ECG) and blood tests, thrombolysis, angiography plus insertion of stent, and coronary artery bypass graft are used in investigating and treating a heart attack.
• Coronary artery disease is a narrowing or obstruction of arterial lumina that interferes with cardiac perfusion and can lead to angina, myocardial infarction, chronic heart failure, and sudden death.
• Risk factors for coronary artery disease may include family history, obesity, smoking, high-fat carbohydrate diet, sedentary lifestyle, hypertension, and high cholesterol.
• Electrocardiogram (ECG), blood tests, angioplasty plus insertion of a stent, and coronary artery bypass graft are used in investigating and treating coronary artery disease.
• Congestive heart failure results from myocardial dysfunction, and the pump failure usually occurs in a damaged left ventricle. Restricting salt and fluid intake, frequent measurement of body weight, and medication are appropriate care interventions for congestive heart failure.