W6 HF

• Starling's law states that increased length will increase contractile force to a point
• Preload is the end diastolic volume
• Afterload is the resistance/pressure that needs to be overcome by the heart
• Systolic heart failure is characterized by low-output/low ejection fraction due to decreased contractility
• Diastolic heart failure is characterized by high-output/regular ejection fraction, leading to filling problems
• Left ventricular hypertrophy is most commonly caused by chronic untreated hypertension
• Lusitropy is related to calcium management issues causing ventricles to not relax properly
• Takotsubo syndrome is a dilated cardiomyopathy of the left ventricle due to emotional or physical stress
• Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea is a symptom of heart failure where the patient wakes up after 2-4 hours of sleep with dyspnea
• Orthopnea is a symptom of heart failure characterized by positional dyspnea occurring immediately after laying down
• Cardiac wheeze is a symptom of heart failure, presenting with bronchospasm due to congestion in bronchial mucosa
• Cheyne-Stokes respirations are an ominous sign of heart failure
• Acute pulmonary edema is a life-threatening symptom of acute heart failure, characterized by crackles, air hunger, orthopnea, and frothy sputum
• Accelerated hypertension can cause acute cardiogenic pulmonary edema due to uncontrolled hypertension
• Neurological symptoms of heart failure include cardiac weakness, behavioral changes, fatigue, agitation, and restlessness
• Edema is a gravity-dependent symptom of heart failure caused by increasing hydrostatic pressure at capillary beds
• Nocturia is increased urinary output at night due to decreased sympathetic nervous system activity, a symptom of heart failure
• Oliguria is decreased urine output, a late sign of heart failure
• Cachexia is tissue/body wasting, a symptom of heart failure due to fluid buildup impairing nutrient absorption
• Cyanosis is a late symptom of heart failure caused by poor perfusion
• Left-sided heart failure results in backward left ventricle to left atrium backup to pulmonary edema
• Right-sided heart failure results in backward right ventricle to right atrium backup to peripheral edema
• Brain natriuretic peptide is a hormone released by ventricles in response to increased stretch
• Atrial natriuretic peptide is a hormone released by atria in response to increased stretch
• Rheumatic fever is an inflammatory disease that increases the risk of valvular disease
• Mitral stenosis causes impaired mitral valve opening during diastole, often caused by rheumatic endocarditis
• Mitral regurgitation is the backflow of blood from the left ventricle to the left atrium during ventricular systole
• Mitral valve prolapse is caused by posterior displacement of cusps of the mitral valve, often congenital and asymptomatic
• Aortic stenosis obstructs the outflow of blood from the left ventricle to the aorta, often presenting with chest pain and syncope
• Aortic regurgitation is incomplete closure of the aortic valve, leading to heart failure if untreated
• Inefective endocarditis is inflammation of the heart lining due to microorganisms, often presenting with fever and heart murmurs
• Pericarditis is inflammation of the pericardial sac, often presenting with fever, pain, and friction rub
• Cardiac tamponade is a rapid increase in fluid in the pericardial sac that impairs heart function
• Pulsus paradoxus is a characteristic sign of cardiac tamponade, occurring when inspiration causes a large decrease in arterial pressure
• Pulsus alternans is alternating weaker and stronger pulses in the periphery
• Cardiac asthma presents with wheezes due to bronchospasm caused by heart failure