Cardiovascular System Disorders

Study Notes

Comprises patient health history and physical examination.
Acute situations require focusing on serious signs and symptoms until patient stabilization.
Complete assessments are essential for stable or chronic cardiac conditions upon admission.

Risk Factors: Increased serum lipids, smoking, sedentary lifestyle, obesity, and stress.

Medical History: Includes past and current symptoms, childhood illnesses, and other conditions (hypertension, asthma, diabetes, etc.).
Medications: Documentation of prescribed and over-the-counter drugs (e.g., aspirin), understanding of medication name, dosage, and usage.
Family History: Insight into familial disorders (e.g., varicose veins, obesity) and premature deaths (e.g., prior to 60 years).
Other History: Issues such as constipation linked to heart rate changes, exercise intolerance, dyspnea, and sexual dysfunction.

Physical Assessment: Key metrics include blood pressure (monitor orthostatic changes), pulse (apical pulse assessment), and respiration characteristics.
Inspection: Observation of shortness of breath, skin color for oxygenation, hair distribution on extremities, and jugular vein distention.
Capillary Refill: Assessed to evaluate blood flow in extremities; clubbing of nail beds can indicate underlying issues.

Palpation: Assessment of pulses, temperature indicating venous blood flow issues, and palpation for edema in the extremities.
Percussion: Usually performed by a physician to detect cardiac enlargement, mainly of the heart's left border.
Auscultation: Heart sounds (S1 and S2) indicate valve function; murmurs signify turbulent blood flow caused by valve issues; pericardial friction rub indicates inflammation.

Diagnostic tests integrate with health history and physical assessment to guide patient care.
Include non-invasive studies such as chest X-rays to evaluate cardiovascular health.