Cardiac Physiology

A non communicable disease caused by a build up of fatty acid deposits in the coronary arteries, this restricts blood flow to the heart muscles Can lead to death if untreated

Chest pain (angina) Feeling faint Nausea neck, jaw or arm pain

Smoking High blood pressure High cholesterol/ diet with a lot Lack of exercise Diabetes

Blood thinning medication Statins (cholesterol reducing medication) Stents (wire mesh that holds open arteries)

aka as chest pain and is caused as a result of reduced blood flow to the heart muscles. It’s not usually life threatening but can be a warning sign for heart attacks/ strokes

reduced blood flow to the heart due to a clot, but it’s still beating aka myocardial infarction

When the heart stops beating altogether usually caused by diseased electrical systems

Aka Blood pressure monitor measures blood pressure by inflating a cuff to restrict blood flow in the arm, it takes a (systolic) reading and then deflates and takes a second (diastolic) reading

The blood pressure cuff goes around the brachial artery. The bottom of the cuff is just above the elbow. while a person is seated in a chair with their feet flat on the floor. Their arm should rest comfortably at heart level. The cuff inflates to temporarily stop blood flow, and then slowly released. The gauge measures the pressure at both times.

Cuff may be the incorrect size, or not wrapped correctly Alcohol or caffein may have been taken before the test

Normal blood pressure is between 90/60 and 120/80 mmHg. High blood pressure is above 140/90 mmHg. Low blood pressure is below 90/60mmHg.

An ultrasound scan of the heart to look at the hearts structure and how well it is pumping. Used to diagnose faulty valves, cardiomyopathy, congenital heart disease

it should be used in conjunction with other tests

Places sticky electrodes on the skin around the patients heart, they detect the hearts electrical change in signals

Arrhythmias (different abnormal heart beats) CHD Heart attacks Cardiomyopathy (hearts walls become thickened/ enlarged)

Taken for a few minutes whilst the patient is lying down

Carried out whilst the patient takes part in exercise (treadmill or bikes) to see the hearts response to exercise

A portable machine worn like a belt to record ECG readings over a day or more.

P wave: atrial systole QRS segment: ventricular contraction ST segment: represents the delay as ventricles fill up with blood T wave: electrical reset and repolarisation of the heart

Calculate the number of squares between two R intervals, divide by 300

Slow heart beat (below 60bpm)

Baseline irregular (ventricular response is regular)

Faster heart beat then normal (above 100bpm)

Rapid irregular ventricular complexs