Cardiovascular Quiz

• Identify red-flag symptoms for cardiac disorders

  • pain that follows C3-T4 spinal distribution in absence of known neck/back pain or injury
  • Angina that arises in response to exertion or activity
  • Palpitations 
  • lasting for hours or occurring in association with pain, SOB, fainting, severe lightheadedness
  • Dyspnea 
  • inability to climb a single flight of stairs without feeling severely winded 
  • awakens at night or SOB when in supine
  • known cardiac disease 
  • Cardiac syncope 
  • lightheaded, dizziness, nausea → risk for heart attack or stroke 
  • Edema
• Coronary Artery Disease

  narrowing of coronary arteries

  • insufficient blood flow to heart --> ischemia --> MI
• CAD signs and symptoms

  • men and women
  • crushing, heavy, squeezing sensation
  • pain with emotion or exertion
  • women (symptoms present for 1 month)
  • weakness
  • fatigue
  • trouble sleeping
• Angina signs and symptoms

  • pain radiating down left shoulder and down ulnar distribution of the arm to the fingers
  • referred pain to neck, jaw, teeth, upper back
• Cardiac arrest/MI

  heart attack caused by coronary artery occlusion
• Cardiac arrest/MI signs and symptoms

  • may be silent
  • sudden cardiac death
  • prolonged/severe substernal chest pain/squeezing pressure
  • pain radiating down unilateral/bilateral arms up to throat, neck, back, jaw, shoulders
  • nausea
  • angina lasting 30+ minutes
  • sudden dimness or loss of vision or speech
  • pallor
  • diaphoresis
  • sob
  • weakness, numbness, feeling of faintness
• Pericarditis

  Inflammation of the pericardium
• Signs and symptoms of pericarditis

  • substernal pain that may radiate to upper neck and back, upper traps, left supraclavicular area, down left arm
  • difficulty swallowing
  • pain relieved by leaning forward or sitting upright
  • pain aggravated by movement associated with deep breathing
  • pain aggravated by trunk movements
  • cough
  • LE edema
• CHF signs and symptoms

  • Left sided
  • pulmonary edema (pink, frothy, sputum)
  • productive cough
  • dyspnea/orthopnea
  • fatigue
  • muscle cramping/weakness
  • Right sided
  • edema
  • JVD
  • fatigue
  • cyanosis
• Abdominal aortic aneurysm signs and symptoms

  • often asymptomatic
  • pulsating mass in abdomen, more noticeable in supine
  • back or abdominal pain
  • pain may radiate to neck, chest, back
  • dull ache in mid abdominal left flank or low back
• Heart valve disorders signs and symptoms

  • fatigue
  • dyspnea
  • palpitation
  • chest pain
  • pitting edema
  • orthopnea
  • dizzy/syncope
• HTN signs and symptoms

  • headache
  • dizziness
  • flushed face
  • spontaneous epistaxis
  • vision changes
• Vascular venous disease signs and symptoms

  • acute
  • red, warm, swelling
  • chronic
  • thick, brown skin at ankles
  • venous stasis ulcers
  • swollen limbs
• Arterial disease signs and symptoms

  • hair loss on toes, feet, legs
  • numbness in foot after exercise
  • decreased circulation in foot
  • intermittent claudication that is consistent
  • dull, aching, squeezing
• Diuretics purpose

  • lower BP by reducing fluid --> reduced blood volume
  • CHF, HTN
• Side effects of diuretics

  • muscle weakness and spasm
  • dizziness/lightheaded
  • headache
  • hypotension
  • nausea
• ACE inhibitors purpose

  prevents vasoconstriction to treat HTN
• Side effects of ACE inhibitors

  • persistent dry cough
  • rash
• Beta blockers purpose

  reduced BP to treat HTN and arrhythmias
• Beta blocker side effects

  • depression
  • worsening asthma
  • fatigue
  • blunted max HR
• Alpha-1 blockers purpose

  treat hypertension via vasodilation
• Alpha-1 blockers side effects

  • signs of hypotension
  • reflex tachycardia
• Calcium channel blockers purpose

  treat HTN
• Calcium channel blockers side effects

  • swelling of the feet and ankles (heart failure)
  • orthostatic hypotension
  • headache
  • nausea
• Nitrates purpose

  relieve angina by dilating coronary arteries
• Nitrates side effects

  • headache
  • dizziness
  • tachycardia
  • orthostatic hypotension
• Pleuritic pain

  pain with inspiration, laughing, coughing, sneezing, deep breaths

  • holding breath relieves pain
• Pain on palpitation

  MSK origin
• Pain with changes in position

  MSK or pulmonary origin