Emily Olivo, Samantha Legon, Isabella Babilonia
Cardiac Discussion Questions Part 2 Some Thinking Questions
1. What are three major causes of blood clots? Endothelial damage, Hyper coagulative states,
stasis of blood, high cholesterol, foam cells=atherosclerosis, high platelets
2. What happens to blood flow when there is a stenotic valve ? pressure is increased in the
chamber that is pushing on that valve, decreased pressure on the other side
3. What happens to blood flow when there is a valve that has regurgitation? there is backflow
4. Why does a patient with aortic stenosis get very tired and feel faint when they exercise? the
arteries are narrowed which causes ischemia, not getting enough oxygenated blood
5. Select the type of heart failure that typically cause each sign or symptom :
Write either Right Sided Heart Failure (Rt. Sided HF) OR Left Sided Heart Failure (Lt. Sided HF)
next to each sign or symptom below and why it occurs ?
Orthopnea Lt. Sided HF
Ankle Edema Rt. Sided HF
Jugular Vein Distension Rt. Sided HF
Dyspnea Lt. Sided HF
Decreased urine output Lt. Sided HF
Coughing / Pink Frothy sputum Lt. Sided HF
Crackles (rales) heard on auscultation Lt. Sided HF
Hepatomegaly Rt. Sided HF
6. Mr. S has left ventricular hypertrophy from hypertension. He asks his doctor: “Why does this
hypertrophy increase my risk of having a heart attack? I thought a big muscle would be
beneficial?” How would you respond to Mr.S? Hypertrophy is consistent with the heart having
to pump harder and increase in chest wall thickness, it can cause heart failure. Not enough
blood supply to areas.
7. a. A patient is complaining of crushing substernal pain in his chest with dyspnea, dizziness, and
nausea which started while he was doing physical work in his yard. However, he states that as
soon as he sat down , and rested, the pain and nausea went away. The patient is seen in the ER,
examined and diagnosed with a normal ECG and “stable angina”.
What assessment questions should the nurse ask this patient about his possible risk factors for
coronary heart disease.
Have you ever smoked cigarettes? Are you physically active? Have you been diagnosed with
diabetes? Do you have a history of hypertension? Family history of CAD?
b. The patient asks if he had a heart attack? Is that what has caused my symptoms? What should
the nurse respond to this patient? You did not have a myocardial infarction which means you
do not have permanent tissue damage in your heart. Your condition is treatable with
triglycerin. It was only a spasm.