Circulatory Diseases and TreatmentCirculatory Diseases and Treatment

Arrythmia or DysrhythmiaArrythmia or Dysrhythmia

Any change from normal heart rate or rhythm

BRADYCARDIA – slow heart rate (<60 bpm)

TACHYCARDIA – rapid heart rate (>100 bpm)

Blood PressureBlood Pressure Surge of blood when heart pumps

create pressure against the wall of the arteries.

Systolic Pressure

measured during the contraction phase Average Systolic = 120 mm Hg Range 100-140 mm hg Diastolic Pressure measured when the ventricles are relaxed Average Diastolic = 80 mm Hg Range 60-90 mm hg

SphygmomanometerSphygmomanometer(Instrument to measure BP)(Instrument to measure BP)

HypertensionHypertension High blood pressure “Silent Killer” – often no

symptoms Can lead to strokes, heart

attacks, and kidney failure 140/90 mm Hg or higher African-Americans and post-

menopausal women are at higher risk

HypertensionHypertension

Risk factors:

Smoking

Overweight

Stress

High fat diets

Family history

HypertensionHypertension

Treatment:

Relaxation

Low fat diet

Exercise

Weight loss

Medication

HypotensionHypotensionLow blood pressure

Systolic < 100

Symptoms include fainting due to lack of blood flow to the brain

Is a symptom of shock and heart block

Angina PectorisAngina Pectoris Chest pain, caused by

lack of oxygen to heart muscle

Often a warning before a heart attack

Treat with nitroglycerin to dilate coronary arteries – give this medicine sublingual

Causes of MICauses of MI

Blockage of coronary arteryBlood ClotAtherosclerosis- fatty plaque build-up on

arterial wallsArteriosclerosis-loss of elasticity and

thickening of wall of arteries

Myocardial Infarction (MI)Myocardial Infarction (MI)

MI or heart attack Lack of blood supply to the

myocardium causes damage Amount of damage depends

on size of area deprived of oxygen.

Myocardial Infarction (MI)Myocardial Infarction (MI)

Symptoms: Severe chest pain

radiating to left shoulder, arm, neck, & jaw Nausea Diaphoresis (sweating) Dyspnea (difficulty breathing)

Myocardial Infarction (MI)Myocardial Infarction (MI)

Immediate medical care is critical

Rx – bed rest, oxygen, medication

Morphine for pain TPA to dissolve a clot Anticoagulant therapy to

prevent further clots Angioplasty and by-pass

surgery may be necessary

AngioplastyAngioplasty Procedure to help open

clogged vessels (from arteriosclerosis)

May also be called “balloon surgery”

Catheter is inserted into a partially blocked artery and inflated.

Plaque is pushed outward and the artery widens to allow increased blood flow.

Coronary Artery BypassCoronary Artery Bypass

Usually, a healthy vein from the leg is removed and attached before and after the coronary obstruction, creating an alternate route for blood supply to the myocardium

Heart FailureHeart Failure

Ventricles unable to contract effectively and blood pools in the heart.

Right sided heart failure – engorgement of organs with venous blood occurs as well as edema and ascites (abnormal accumulation of serous fluid in the abdominal cavity,)

Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) Heart FailureHeart Failure

Left ventricle unable to contract effectively.

Symptoms include: Edema in lower extremities Blood backs up into the lung vessels, and fluid extends into air passages (pulmonary edema) Dypsnea (difficulty breathing) occurs Lung congestion and coughing

Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)

Treatment consists of drugs to strengthen heart beats (digoxin) and diuretics to reduce fluid.

If in danger of death due to heart failure – may need a heart transplant or implant

Heart TransplantHeart Transplant

Done for irreparably damaged myocardium, valves or blood vessels, or baby/child with congenital heart defect

Problem? compatibility Rx: Immunosuppressants

Large heart on right is the worn out one.Heart on left is the new heart!

Artificial HeartArtificial Heart

First used in 1982, it was called the Jarvik-7.

Barney Clark was first artificial heart transplant patient and he lived for 112 days.

Use of an artificial heart is meant to be temporary until donor heart can be found.

PacemakersPacemakers

Most are demand pacemakers which fire only when heart rates drops below programmed minimum (usually 60 beats per min.)

Used for patients in heart block – have an interruption of message from SA to AV node

Implantable DefibrillatorImplantable Defibrillator

FDA approved use of these in 1996 .

Through an electrode the computer in the defibrillator monitors the heartbeat.

If it detects an arrhythmia an the pacemaker cannot correct, it delivers an electrical jolt to the heart.

Other Cardiac TermsOther Cardiac Terms

CPR – cardiopulmonary resuscitation, used in the presence of cardiac arrest

DEFIBRILLATION – electrical shock to bring the heart back to a normal rhythm.

AED – automated external defibrillator

AneurysmAneurysmBallooning of

an artery, thinning and weakening of the artery wall

EmbolismEmbolism

Travelingblood clot

Varicose VeinsVaricose Veins

Painful, swollen, distended veins

Caused by heredity or due to posture, prolonged periods of standing, physical exertion, age and pregnancy

The EndThe End