Heart Conditions PDF

1. Congestive Heart Failure (CHF): De nition: A chronic condition where the heart cannot pump blood effectively to meet the body’s needs. Causes: ◦ Coronary artery disease (CAD) ◦ Hypertension ◦...

1. Congestive Heart Failure (CHF): De nition: A chronic condition where the heart cannot pump blood effectively to meet the body’s needs. Causes: ◦ Coronary artery disease (CAD) ◦ Hypertension ◦ Valvular heart disease Symptoms: ◦ Fatigue, shortness of breath (dyspnea), swelling in legs/feet (edema) ◦ Fluid retention leading to pulmonary congestion Types: ◦ Left-sided: Affects the lungs (pulmonary symptoms). ◦ Right-sided: Causes systemic symptoms (edema, ascites). Treatment: ◦ Lifestyle changes: low-sodium diet, exercise. ◦ Medications: diuretics, ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers. ◦ Advanced cases: implantable devices or heart transplant. ◦ Main goal: reduce uid retention ◦ heart’s reduced ability to pump blood effectively, causing uid buildup in tissues (edema) and lungs 2. Myocardial Infarction (MI): De nition: Commonly known as a heart attack, it occurs when blood ow to the heart muscle is blocked, leading to tissue damage or death. Causes: ◦ Blockage in coronary arteries due to atherosclerosis or a clot. Symptoms: ◦ Chest pain (often radiating to the arm, jaw, or back), shortness of breath, nausea, cold sweat. ◦ Symptoms can be atypical in women and diabetics (e.g., fatigue, indigestion-like pain). Diagnosis: ◦ ECG changes, elevated cardiac biomarkers (e.g., troponins). Treatment: ◦ Immediate: aspirin, nitroglycerin, oxygen, thrombolytics, or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). ◦ Long-term: statins, ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers, lifestyle modi cations. fi fi fl fl fi fl  3. Angina Pectoris: De nition: Chest pain or discomfort caused by insuf cient blood ow to the heart muscle (ischemia), often triggered by exertion or stress. Types: ◦ Stable Angina: Predictable; occurs with exertion, relieved by rest or nitroglycerin. ◦ Unstable Angina: Occurs unpredictably; a medical emergency. ◦ Prinzmetal’s (Variant) Angina: Caused by coronary artery spasm, not necessarily linked to exertion. Symptoms: ◦ Pressure, tightness, or burning sensation in the chest. Treatment: ◦ Acute: nitroglycerin. ◦ Chronic: beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, lifestyle changes, revascularization (e.g., stenting) ◦ Nitrates ◦ Beta blockers ◦ Calcium channel blockers ◦ Main goal: dilate blood vessels, reducing the heart's oxygen demand, or improving the heart's ef ciency. 4. Coronary Artery Disease (CAD): De nition: Narrowing or blockage of the coronary arteries due to plaque buildup (atherosclerosis), reducing blood ow to the heart. Further classi ed as: ▪ Arteriosclerosis ▪ Atherosclerosis ▪ Angina ▪ MI Risk Factors: ◦ Smoking, high cholesterol, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, sedentary lifestyle. Symptoms: ◦ Often asymptomatic until signi cant blockage develops. ◦ Angina, shortness of breath, fatigue. Complications: ◦ Can lead to MI, heart failure, arrhythmias. Treatment: ◦ Medications: statins, antiplatelets, ACE inhibitors. ◦ ACE: lower BP, ◦ ARBS (sartan) ◦ Antiplatelets (e.g., aspirin, clopidogrel): Prevent blood clots. ◦ Statins (e.g., atorvastatin, rosuvastatin): Lower LDL cholesterol fi fi fi fi fi fl fi fl  ◦ Statins are drugs that can lower your cholesterol ◦ Lifestyle: diet, exercise, smoking cessation. ◦ Procedures: PCI (stent placement), coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). ◦ Main goal: improve blood ow to the heart, 5. Arrhythmias: De nition: Abnormal heart rhythms that can be too fast (tachycardia), too slow (bradycardia), or irregular. Types: ◦ Atrial Fibrillation (AFib): Irregular, rapid atrial activity; increases stroke risk. ◦ Ventricular Tachycardia/Fibrillation: Life-threatening; requires immediate treatment. ◦ Bradyarrhythmias: Slow rhythms; may need a pacemaker. ◦ Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT): Rapid rhythm originating above the ventricles. Causes: ◦ Electrolyte imbalances, CAD, heart failure, medications, structural heart disease. Symptoms: ◦ Palpitations, dizziness, fainting, chest discomfort. Treatment: ◦ Procedures: cardioversion, catheter ablation, implantable devices ◦ Medications ◦ Class I - sodium channel blockers ◦ Class 2 - beta blockers ◦ Class 3 - “amiodarone” ◦ Class 4 - calcium channel blockers fi fl  1. Arteriosclerosis (CAD) De nition: A general term for the thickening, hardening, and loss of elasticity of arterial walls. Cause: Aging, hypertension, and wear-and-tear on blood vessels. Impact: Reduces the exibility of arteries, leading to increased blood pressure and impaired circulation. Key Point: It is a broad category of arterial diseases, including atherosclerosis. 2. Atherosclerosis (CAD) De nition: A speci c type of arteriosclerosis characterized by the buildup of fatty deposits (plaques) in the arterial walls. Cause: High cholesterol, smoking, hypertension, and diabetes. Impact: ◦ Narrows the arteries, restricting blood ow. ◦ Increases the risk of blood clots, leading to angina, heart attacks, or strokes. Key Point: Atherosclerosis is a form of arteriosclerosis but speci cally involves plaque buildup. 3. Angina (Chest Pain) De nition: A symptom of reduced blood ow to the heart muscle (ischemia) caused by narrowed or blocked coronary arteries. Cause: Often due to atherosclerosis or coronary artery spasm. Types: ◦ Stable Angina: Predictable; occurs during exertion and is relieved by rest or nitroglycerin. ◦ Unstable Angina: Occurs unpredictably; signals a higher risk of heart attack. ◦ Variant Angina: Caused by coronary artery spasms, not blockages. Impact: Temporary pain or discomfort; does not cause permanent heart damage. Key Point: Angina is a symptom, not a disease. fi fi fi fi fl fl fl fi  4. Myocardial Infarction (MI) De nition: Commonly called a heart attack, it occurs when blood ow to a part of the heart is completely blocked, causing damage or death to heart muscle tissue. Cause: Often due to the rupture of an atherosclerotic plaque leading to a blood clot. Symptoms: ◦ Severe chest pain or pressure, not relieved by rest. ◦ Shortness of breath, nausea, sweating. ◦ Can present atypically in some individuals (e.g., women, diabetics). Impact: ◦ Permanent damage to heart muscle. ◦ Can lead to heart failure or fatal arrhythmias if untreated. Key Point: MI is a life-threatening event caused by prolonged ischemia. fi fl