Cardiovascular Diseases Overview

General/Arteriosclerosis

• ST segment elevation on an ECG indicates a significant heart problem, possibly a heart attack. Elevation suggests myocardial ischemia or injury.
• Angina pectoris results from reduced blood flow to the heart muscle, causing chest pain. Symptoms include crushing chest pain, tightness, or pressure, often radiating to the left arm or jaw. It's caused by reduced blood supply to the heart muscle.
• Unstable angina is characterized by severe, unpredictable chest pain, which may signal a developing heart attack. It's a worsening pattern of angina, often more frequent and severe.
• Blood flows from the vena cava into the right atrium, then to the right ventricle, to the pulmonary artery, then to the lungs for oxygenation. Oxygenated blood returns to the heart through the pulmonary veins, enters the left atrium, and goes to the left ventricle. The left ventricle pumps blood into the aorta, distributing it throughout the body. This describes the normal circulatory route.

Arrhythmias and Heart Failure

• Atrial fibrillation is an irregular heartbeat originating in the atria, often characterized by rapid heart rates. It's caused by disorganized electrical signals in the atria.
• Heart failure occurs when the heart can't pump enough blood to meet the body's needs. It can lead to fluid buildup and shortness of breath. This results in a decreased ability of the heart to effectively circulate blood.
• Cardiac output is the amount of blood pumped by the heart per minute. The body compensates for decreased cardiac output with mechanisms like increased heart rate, vasoconstriction, and fluid retention.
• Heart failure can present with various symptoms, including shortness of breath, swelling in the legs and ankles, fatigue, and a persistent cough. These are signs of inadequate circulation and fluid buildup.
• Certain medications can trigger abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias). Different drugs have different effects.
• Intrinsic automaticity refers to the heart's natural pacemaker activity. This represents the heart's inherent ability to generate electrical impulses.

Hypertension

• Essential hypertension is high blood pressure with no identifiable cause. Secondary hypertension is high blood pressure resulting from an underlying medical condition, for instance, kidney disease.
• Hypertension is categorized into stages based on systolic and diastolic blood pressure readings. (Specific stages are not provided.) Hypertension is classified by specific pressures.
• Complications of hypertension include heart disease, stroke, kidney damage, and visual problems. Elevated pressure damages blood vessels.
• Mean arterial pressure is the average pressure in the arteries over one cardiac cycle. This is an important indicator of blood pressure.

Hypertension Treatment

• Goals of hypertension treatment include lowering blood pressure and reducing the risks of cardiovascular disease. Lowering pressure is key.
• Treatment options for hypertension vary depending on the patient's overall health and blood pressure levels. These include lifestyle modifications, such as diet and exercise, and medications, like diuretics, beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, ARBs, etc.
• Initial treatment for patients without prior medications may involve lifestyle changes and single-drug therapy. This is a starting point.
• Subsequent treatment for patients already on antihypertensive medications might involve adding another medication or adjusting current ones. These treatments follow the initial treatment.
• Non-pharmacological therapies like weight loss, dietary changes, and exercise can be beneficial for hypertension management. These are lifestyle changes.
• Each category of antihypertensive medication has potential contraindications that must be considered before prescribing. Important due to varying side effects.
• Adverse effects should be monitored and potential side effects addressed when giving antihypertensive medications.
• Monitoring blood pressure medication should be considered in conjunction with lifestyle counseling. This combination is important.
• Alpha-blockers have specific potential side effects, some of which can be quite significant. Must be considered carefully.
• ACE and ARB inhibitors are not recommended to be used together, due to potential dangerous effects.
• Pregnancy and pre-existing hypertension pose distinct challenges and require careful medical management, as these situations have specific requirements.
• Diuretics may have diuretic effects along with potential side effects like electrolyte imbalances, also needs careful monitoring.
• Hypertensive emergencies and urgencies require rapid and precise medical treatment due to severe effects and risks, due to immediate and severe effects.