Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiovascular Disease

Diseases of the heart and blood vessel system Heart disease is #1 killer in the United States, stroke #4 (CDC) Washington State (CDC)

Cardiovascular disease also contributes to mortality across the globe (NationMaster.com)

WHO: the burden of heart disease and stroke

Cardiovascular Disease

Many different terms Conditions are frequently

related

Hypertension

A measure of the force blood exerts against the walls of arteries Systole - pressure when heart

contracts Diastole - pressure when

heart relaxes

What is blood pressure? Blood pressure assessment “Hypertension” = “high blood

pressure”

Why Does Hypertension Matter?

Hypertension damages inner lining of artery

Artery bleeds Injured area clots, can

accumulate “plaque” Animation

Atherosclerosis

Plaque buildup within an artery or arteries A normal artery allows room for blood to flow An atherosclerotic artery has plaque buildup as a result of

damage to the blood vessel An artery becomes damaged

High blood pressure Smoking

Vessel bleeds, forms clot, accumulates plaque Calcium, fibrin, cholesterol

YouTube animation (0:45+)

Thrombus and Embolus

When a blood clot or other foreign body in a blood vessel (thrombus) prevents blood delivery, the human tissue needing the blood delivery can be damaged

When a blood clot or piece of plaque breaks off of its origin and travels through the blood vessel system (embolus), human tissue can be damaged

Can occur in arteries and veins

Coronary Artery Disease, Myocardial Infarction

When atherosclerosis occurs in the coronary arteries supplying blood to the heart, the condition is labeled coronary artery disease (CAD)

CAD can cause a myocardial infarction (heart attack; through 1:37)

Coronary Artery Disease, Myocardial Infarction Coronary artery occlusion Myocardial infarction Coronary artery plaque may not completely halt

blood flow but instead reduce it: ischemia Blood flow reduction to body’s tissues Angina (chest pain or pressure) may result when

ischemia occurs in the heart

Stroke

When a blockage occurs in the brain, reduced blood flow can cause a stroke

Arrhythmia

Normal rhythm = sinus rhythm SA node, AV node, bundle branches Sinus rhythm (click ventricular tachycardia, then sinus rhythm)

Too fast = tachycardia Too slow = bradycardia Irregular heartbeat

Variation from normal sinus rhythm Supraventricular tachycardia Atrial fibrillation

Instead of single impulse in the SA node, can be >400bpm Ventricular tachycardia Ventricular fibrillation

Cardiac Arrest

Different from myocardial infarction An electrical event Usually due to underlying heart disease Heart stops due to ventricular fibrillation CPR can help blood flow, but defibrillation

needed to restart heart