24 Questions
What is the main characteristic of atherosclerosis?
Deposits of fatty substances, cholesterol, cellular waste products, calcium, and fibrin in the inner lining of the artery.
What is ischemia in the context of angina?
Reduction of the heart’s blood and oxygen supply.
What happens to the heart during a myocardial infarction?
The blood supply to the heart is disrupted, causing damage to the heart.
What is a possible complication of congestive heart failure?
Blood accumulating in the vessels of the legs, ankles, or lungs.
What is an irregularity in heart rhythm known as?
Arrhythmia.
What is the name of the condition that occurs when a blood clot is dislodged and moves through the circulatory system?
Coronary thrombosis.
What is a possible cause of damage to the heart muscle leading to congestive heart failure?
Rheumatic fever, pneumonia, or other cardiovascular problems.
What is the approximate percentage of people who do not survive their first heart attack?
25%
What is bradycardia, and what is its effect on the heart?
Bradycardia is an abnormally slow heart beat.
What is fibrillation, and how does it affect the heart?
Fibrillation is a sporadic, quivering pattern of the heart beat.
What is congenital heart disease, and how common is it?
Congenital heart disease is a heart defect present at birth, affecting 1 out of 125 children born.
What is rheumatic heart disease, and what causes it?
Rheumatic heart disease results from rheumatic fever, which affects connective tissue.
What are some common symptoms of heart disease?
Fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath, dizziness, palpitations, chest discomfort and/or pain, chest heaviness, nausea, vomiting, and pain that radiates to the jaw, arm, or throat.
What is a lipid profile, and what does it typically include?
A lipid profile includes the levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, and atherogenic ratio.
What is a high level of cholesterol associated with?
Heart disease.
What is the function of LDL cholesterol, and what is its effect on the heart?
LDL cholesterol carries cholesterol from the liver to the blood and then to organs, and high levels are associated with atherosclerosis, heart disease, and myocardial infarction.
What is the function of creatine kinase (CK) in cardiac muscles?
It catalyses the conversion of creatin to phosphocreatine, degrading ATP to ADP, serving as an energy reservoir for the rapid regeneration of ATP.
What is the significance of CK-MB isoenzyme in diagnosing acute myocardial infarction (AMI)?
CK-MB starts to increase 4 hours after an acute myocardial infarction, reaches maximum peak within 12-24 hours, and returns to normal after 2-3 days of onset.
What is the limitation of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) as a biomarker for myocardial infarction?
LDH is a non-specific marker due to its widespread distribution in various tissues, including liver, cardiac muscle, kidney, skeletal muscle, and erythrocytes.
How do cardiac troponin T and I (cTnT and cTnI) differ from other cardiac enzymes in diagnosing myocardial infarction?
Cardiac troponin T and I are more specific markers for myocardial infarction compared to other cardiac enzymes, such as CK and LDH.
What is the significance of cardiac biomarkers in diagnosing myocardial infarction?
Cardiac biomarkers, such as CK, LDH, and troponin, are released into the bloodstream in response to myocardial damage, serving as sensitive and specific indicators of myocardial infarction.
How do conventional ECG changes differ from troponin levels in diagnosing myocardial infarction?
Conventional ECG changes may not always be present in patients with myocardial infarction, whereas troponin levels are more sensitive and specific indicators of myocardial damage.
What is the role of myoglobin in diagnosing myocardial infarction?
Myoglobin is a cardiac protein that can be used as a biomarker for myocardial infarction, although it is less specific than cardiac troponin.
What is the significance of cardiac enzymes in diagnosing myocardial infarction?
Cardiac enzymes, such as CK and LDH, are released into the bloodstream in response to myocardial damage, serving as biomarkers for diagnosing myocardial infarction.
Study Notes
Types of Cardiovascular Disease
- Atherosclerosis: characterized by deposits of fatty substances, cholesterol, cellular waste products, calcium, and fibrin in the inner lining of the artery
- Coronary heart disease: includes acute myocardial infarction (heart attack), angina (chest pain), and congestive heart failure (CHF)
- Arrhythmia: irregular heart beat
- Congenital and rheumatic heart disease: can affect children and result from hereditary factors, maternal diseases, or chemical intake during fetal development
Atherosclerosis
- Characterized by hyperlipidemia (abnormally high blood lipid level) and plaque (build-up of cholesterol deposits in the arteries)
Angina
- Ischemia: reduction of the heart's blood and oxygen supply
- Can lead to severe pain, a sign of myocardial infarction (MI)
Myocardial Infarction (Heart Attack)
- Blood supply to the heart is disrupted, causing damage to the heart
- May cause irregular heart beat or stop altogether
- Can be similar to stroke
- 25% of people do not survive their first heart attack
Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)
- Damaged or overworked heart muscle is unable to keep blood circulating normally
- Can result from rheumatic fever, pneumonia, or other cardiovascular problems
- Lack of proper circulation can lead to blood accumulation in the vessels of the legs, ankles, or lungs
Arrhythmias
- Irregularity in heart rhythm
- Tachycardia: racing heart in the absence of exercise or anxiety
- More sensitive biochemical markers, such as troponins, can be released in some patients without conventional ECG changes of infarction
Cardiac Markers
- Cardiac enzymes: creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) or serum glutamate transaminase (SGOT)
- Cardiac proteins: cardiac troponin T and I (cTnT and cTnI), myoglobin
Creatine Kinase (CK)
- Enzyme expressed in multiple tissues, including cardiac and muscle tissues
- Function: catalyzes the conversion of creatine to phosphocreatine, degrading ATP to ADP
- CK-MB isoenzyme: increases 4 hours after acute myocardial infarction (AMI), reaches maximum peak within 12-24 hours, and returns to normal after 2-3 days of onset
Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH)
- Distributed widely in liver, cardiac muscle, kidney, skeletal muscle, erythrocytes, and other tissues
- Non-specific marker, but can be used to diagnose myocardial infarction (MI)
Symptoms of Heart Disease
- Fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath, dizziness, palpitations, chest discomfort and/or pain, chest heaviness, nausea, vomiting, and pain that radiates to the jaw, arm, or throat
- Sometimes heart disease causes no symptoms at all
Lipid Profiles
- Includes levels of total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C), triglycerides (TG), and atherogenic ratio (LDL-C/HDL-C)
- Used to determine risk of heart disease
This quiz covers the basics of cardiovascular disease, including symptoms, risk factors, and diagnostic tests such as lipid profiles and cardiac markers. Topics include atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, angina, and more.
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