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Questions and Answers
What is the primary purpose of a stent in the treatment of blood vessel occlusion?
What is the primary purpose of a stent in the treatment of blood vessel occlusion?
Which component of a lipid profile is most indicative of potential heart problems?
Which component of a lipid profile is most indicative of potential heart problems?
What is the diagnostic purpose of angiography?
What is the diagnostic purpose of angiography?
Which of these non-invasive procedures measures the electrical activity of the heart?
Which of these non-invasive procedures measures the electrical activity of the heart?
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What does the term 'Angina Pectoris' refer to?
What does the term 'Angina Pectoris' refer to?
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What is the significance of an 'anastomosis' in a Coronary Artery Bypass Graft?
What is the significance of an 'anastomosis' in a Coronary Artery Bypass Graft?
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Where is the femoral artery important in the context of cardiac procedures?
Where is the femoral artery important in the context of cardiac procedures?
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A patient is advised to monitor inflammatory markers in their blood. What is a key consideration regarding this test?
A patient is advised to monitor inflammatory markers in their blood. What is a key consideration regarding this test?
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Study Notes
Plaque Stability and Blood Vessel Health
- Plaque stability varies based on blood vessel size and ability to dilate and constrict.
- Plaque can damage both the inner and outer layers of blood vessels.
- Blood vessel bursting can occur due to excessive pressure from plaque buildup and blood clots in the tunica intima.
Types of Blood Vessels
- Coronary arteries supply blood to the heart.
- Peripheral arteries supply blood to the arms, legs, and brain.
Blood Tests for Heart Health
- Lipid profile measures cholesterol, LDL/HDL ratio, and triglycerides.
- A crucial value is the triglyceride-to-HDL ratio (1:1 for optimal, 1-2:1 for older individuals). Total cholesterol alone is less significant.
- Inflammatory markers (less frequent), recommend for family history of heart issues, detect proteins indicating inflammation. This can assess potential plaque buildup or blood clots. Do not perform test when sick, as it may result in false positive results.
Electrocardiography (EKG)
- EKG measures heart's electrical activity, producing a PQRST wave.
- Non-invasive, meaning no pre-procedure preparations needed.
- Electrodes placed on the chest.
- Stress test performed during physical activity, versus when resting.
Angiography
- Angiography visualizes blood vessels via X-rays and a dye (contrast agent). Unlike ultrasound, which uses sound waves.
- Dye highlights the blood flow.
- Patient factors can impact angiography diagnosis.
Stents
- Stents are medical tubes inserted into a blood vessel to maintain open blood flow.
- Use is determined by the level of blockage.
- A balloon expands the affected vessel before the stent is inserted, the balloon is then removed.
- Stent mesh is often coated with compounds to dissolve surrounding plaque.
Femoral Artery
- Used as a primary access point to insert medical probes.
Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG)
- CABG surgically reroutes blood flow around blocked coronary arteries using a transplanted blood vessel.
- A vessel from another part of the body is used.
- Anastomosis is the joining of blood vessels.
Lifestyle and Medications
- Diet is crucial to managing blood vessel health.
- Statins are commonly used medications that help lower cardiac risks.
Normal Blood Components
- LDL, HDL, chylomicrons and glucose are present in normal, healthy blood.
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Description
Explore the critical relationship between plaque stability and blood vessel health with this quiz. Understand the impact of blood vessel size and tests used for assessing heart health. Test your knowledge on the types of blood vessels and key factors influencing cardiovascular conditions.
