Download Varicose veins - Brookwood High School

Arrythmias
An irregularity in heart rhythm
 Tachycardia – racing heart in the absence of
exercise or anxiety
 Bradycardia – abnormally slow heartbeat
 Fibrillation – heart beat is sporatic, quivering
pattern
Tachycardia
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Rapid heart beat initiated within the ventricles, characterized by 3 or
more consecutive premature ventricular beats.
Causes
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Ventricular tachycardia is a potentially lethal disruption of normal heartbeat
that may cause the heart to become unable to pump adequate blood
through the body. The heart rate may be 160 to 240 (normal is 60 to 100
beats per minute).
Healed heart attacks form scar tissue which can lead to ventricular
tachycardia. This can occur days, months, or years after the heart attack.
Ventricular tachycardia can also result from anti-arrhythmic medications (an
undesired effect) or from altered blood chemistries (such as a low
potassium level), pH (acid-base) changes, or insufficient oxygenation.
Symptoms
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Sensation of feeling the heart beat (palpitations)
Light-headedness or dizziness
Fainting
Shortness of breath
Chest discomfort (angina)
Bradycardia
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Brachycardia is a condition in which the heart beats at a rate
that is below normal, below 65 beats per minute. Brachycardia
affects older patients and can be caused and linked by certain
prescribed medications.
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Treatment – Treatment for brachycardia or sinus brachycardia
is quite simple. Doctors might start a regiment of heart rate
increasing drugs. Doctors could also prescribe an artificial
pacemaker.
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Signs and Symptoms –
 Fatigue
 Decreased exercise
 Irritability
 Hypertension
Heart palpitation
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Palpitations are heartbeat sensations that feel like your heart is
pounding or racing. You may simply have an unpleasant awareness of
your own heartbeat, or may feel skipped or stopped beats. Palpitations
can be felt in your chest, throat, or neck.
Heart palpitations can be caused by:
You are more likely to have an abnormal
 Exercise
heart rhythm if you have:
 Anxiety, stress, fear
 Fever
•Known heart disease
 Caffeine, nicotine, cocaine, diet pills
•Significant risk factors for heart
 Overactive thyroid
disease
 Anemia
•An abnormal heart valve
 Hyperventilation
•An electrolyte abnormality -- low
 Low levels of oxygen in your blood
 Mitral valve prolapse,
potassium
 Heart disease
Common Blood Vessel
Disorders
Figure 15.5
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Characterized by deposits of
fatty substances, cholesterol,
cellular waste products,
calcium, and fibrin in the inner
lining of the artery
Hyperlipidemia – abnormally
high blood lipid level
Plaque – the buildup of
substances
Arteriosclerosis
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Arteriosclerosis of the
extremities is a disease of
the blood vessels
characterized by
narrowing and
hardening of the
arteries that supply the
legs and feet.
Symptoms include leg
pain, numbness, cold legs
or feet and muscle pain in
the thighs, calves or feet .
Varicose veins
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Varicose veins (varicosities) are twisted, enlarged
veins at the skin surface. The word comes from the
Latin word varix, which means "twisted."
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You are at greater risk if you:
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Are older
Have other family members with varicose veins
Are overweight
Stand for long periods of time
To prevent varicose veins from getting worse:
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Exercise
Lose weight
Avoid tight clothing
Elevate your legs
Avoid long periods of standing
Varicose veins
Aneurysm
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An abnormal widening or ballooning of a portion of an
artery, related to weakness in the wall of the blood
vessel.
Some common locations for aneurysms include:
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Aorta (the major artery from the heart)
Brain (cerebral aneurysm)
Leg (popliteal artery aneurysm)
Intestine (mesenteric artery aneurysm)
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Splenic artery aneurysm
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Stroke
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Occurs when the blood supply to the brain is
interrupted
Thrombus – blood clot
 Embolus – free flowing clot
 Aneurysm – bulging or burst blood vessel
 Transient ischemic attack (TIA) – brief
interruptions that cause temporary impairment
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Hypertension
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Hypertension = high blood pressure.
Blood pressure readings are measured in millimeters of
mercury (mmHg) and usually given as 2 numbers. For
example, 140 over 90 (written as 140/90).
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The top number is your systolic pressure, the pressure created
when your heart beats. It is considered high if it is consistently over
140.
The bottom number is your diastolic pressure, the pressure inside
blood vessels when the heart is at rest. It is considered high if it is
consistently over 90.
Many factors can affect blood pressure, including how
much water and salt you have in your body, the condition of
your kidneys, nervous system, or blood vessels, and the
levels of different body hormones.
Hypovolemic shock
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Emergency condition in which severe blood and fluid loss
makes the heart unable to pump enough blood to the body.
Causes -- Losing about 1/5 or more of the normal amount of
blood in your body causes hypovolemic shock.
Symptoms
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Rapid pulse
Rapid breathing
Anxiety or agitation
Cool, clammy skin
Weakness
Pale skin color (pallor)
Sweating, moist skin
Decreased or no urine output
Low blood pressure
Congestive Heart Failure
(CHF)
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Damaged or overworked heart muscle is unable to
keep blood circulating normally
Affects over 5 million Americans
Damage to heart muscle may result from rheumatic
fever, pneumonia, or heart attack,
Lack of proper circulation may allow blood to
accumulate in the vessels of the legs, ankles, or
lungs
Diuretics relieve fluid accumulation
Myocardial infarction (MI)
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heart attack – blood supplying the heart is disrupted
Risk factors for heart attack and
coronary artery disease include:
•Bad genes (hereditary factors)
•Being male
•Diabetes
•Getting older
•High blood pressure
•Smoking
•Too much fat in your diet
•Unhealthy cholesterol levels
Angina Pectoris
Ischemia – reduction of the heart’s blood and
oxygen supply
 The more serious the oxygen deprivation, the
more severe the pain
 Nitroglycerin – drug used to dilate the veins
 Beta blockers control potential overactivity of
the heart muscle
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Mitral valve prolapse
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Mitral valve prolapse is a
disorder in which, during
the contraction phase of the
heart, the mitral valve does
not close properly.
Some symptoms can
include palpitations, chest
pain, difficulty breathing
after exertion, fatigue,
cough, and shortness of
breath while lying down.
Aspirin for Heart Disease?
Research shows that 80 milligrams of aspirin
every other day is beneficial to heart patients
due to its blood thinning properties
 Some side effects of aspirin: gastrointestinal
intolerance and a tendency for difficulty with
blood clotting
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