Heart Failure Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What is a significant consequence of chronic excessive alcohol consumption?

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Pulmonary congestion

Alcoholic cardiomyopathy (correct)

Reduced cardiac output

Which of the following factors is considered a non-modifiable risk factor for heart failure?

Poor diet

Obesity

Hypertension

Ethnicity (correct)

What is the primary difference between HFrEF and HFpEF?

HFrEF is primarily caused by genetic predisposition, while HFpEF is caused by lifestyle factors.

HFrEF has an EF ≤ 40%, while HFpEF has an EF ≥ 50%. (correct)

HFrEF involves impaired filling, while HFpEF involves impaired contraction.

HFrEF typically presents with tachycardia, while HFpEF presents with bradycardia.

Which of the following is NOT a modifiable risk factor for heart failure?

Age Signup and view all the answers

Which population is at greater risk for heart failure due to higher rates of hypertension?

African Americans Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary consequence of chronic activation of the RAAS and SNS in heart failure?

Ventricular remodeling and wall thinning Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements accurately describes diastolic dysfunction in HFpEF?

It is characterized by impaired relaxation of the left ventricle. Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of increased left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) in heart failure?

It causes an increase in pulmonary edema. Signup and view all the answers

How does elevated blood pressure affect heart failure with preserved ejection fraction?

It increases the afterload against which the heart must pump. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a non-modifiable risk factor for heart failure?

Age Signup and view all the answers

What is a common misconception regarding the transmissibility of heart failure?

Heart failure is transmissible between individuals. Signup and view all the answers

What effect does smoking have on heart failure risk?

Increases oxidative stress and promotes atherosclerosis. Signup and view all the answers

Which condition is NOT a common factor contributing to the development of heart failure?

Regular exercise Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction (HFrEF) and Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF)?

HFrEF represents systolic heart failure, whereas HFpEF indicates diastolic heart failure. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is the most likely cause of heart failure?

Ischemic Heart Disease Signup and view all the answers

What compensatory mechanism is activated in response to reduce cardiac output in heart failure?

Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) activation Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential consequence of prolonged sympathetic nervous system activation in heart failure?

Increased myocardial oxygen demand Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following conditions can lead to heart failure due to increased cardiac workload?

Atrial fibrillation Signup and view all the answers

What does a reduced stroke volume indicate about heart function?

Ineffective blood ejection per heartbeat Signup and view all the answers

Which type of cardiomyopathy is characterized by a weakened heart muscle that impairs blood pumping ability?

Dilated cardiomyopathy Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about heart failure is true?

Valvular heart disease can lead to heart failure due to increased workload. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Cardiovascular - Heart Failure

Heart failure (HF) occurs when the heart cannot pump blood effectively to meet metabolic needs.
Categorized as:
- Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction (HFrEF): Ejection fraction ≤ 40% (systolic heart failure)
- Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF): Ejection fraction ≥ 50% (diastolic heart failure)

Most Likely Causes

Ischemic Heart Disease: Myocardial infarction (MI) can weaken the heart muscle, leading to heart failure.
Hypertension: Chronic high blood pressure increases the workload on the left ventricle, eventually leading to heart failure.
Cardiomyopathy: Structural heart disease (e.g., dilated, hypertrophic, restrictive) can impair the heart's ability to pump blood.
Valvular Heart Disease: Stenosis or regurgitation increases the cardiac workload, potentially causing heart failure.
Other causes: Arrhythmias (e.g., atrial fibrillation), infections, anemia, and high-output heart failure due to metabolic demands.

Pathophysiology

HFrEF (Systolic HF):
- Reduced contractility: Myocardial injury or cell death weakens the heart muscle, reducing its ability to pump. Impaired contraction is due to structural or contractile changes.
- Reduced cardiac output: Reduced stroke volume (amount of blood pumped per beat) leads to a lower ejection fraction (EF ≤ 40%).
- Compensatory mechanisms: The body activates the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) and sympathetic nervous system (SNS) to increase blood pressure and contractility. However, prolonged activation leads to ventricular remodeling (dilation and wall thinning), worsening the condition.
HFpEF (Diastolic HF):
- Impaired relaxation: The left ventricle's ability to relax and fill with blood is impaired, increasing stiffness.
- Increased left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP): Difficulty filling leads to back pressure into the left atrium and pulmonary circulation, causing pulmonary edema and shortness of breath.
- Increased afterload: Elevated blood pressure increases resistance against which the heart must pump blood, worsening heart failure.
- Neurohormonal activation: Similar to HFrEF, RAAS and SNS activation worsens diastolic dysfunction through fibrosis and stiffening of the cardiac muscle.

Disease Transmission

Heart failure is a non-infectious disease and is not directly transmissible from person to person.
However, heart failure can be secondary to an infectious cause (e.g., viral myocarditis or endocarditis).

Risk Factors

Modifiable:
- Hypertension
- Coronary artery disease (CAD)
- Obesity
- Diabetes mellitus
- Smoking
- Physical inactivity
- High alcohol intake
- Diet (high in salt, trans fats, refined sugars)
Non-modifiable:
- Age
- Sex (men are more likely to have systolic HF, women are more likely to have diastolic HF)
- Genetics/family history
- Ethnicity (some populations have higher risk)

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Description

This quiz explores various aspects of heart failure, including risk factors, differences between HFrEF and HFpEF, and the underlying physiological mechanisms involved. Test your knowledge on modifiable vs. non-modifiable risk factors and the impact of lifestyle choices on heart failure development.