What is the primary function of the heart? - Answers To pump blood to the body through the vascular
system to supply oxygen and nutrients to the tissues.
Where is the point of maximal impulse (PMI) located? - Answers At the apex, in the fifth intercostal
space at the midclavicular line on the left.
What are the three layers of the heart? - Answers Endocardium (endothelial tissue), myocardium
(muscle), and epicardium (protection).
What is the pericardium? - Answers A fibrous sac that surrounds the heart.
What is the pathway of deoxygenated blood through the heart? - Answers Deoxygenated blood flows
from the superior/inferior vena cava to the right atrium, right ventricle, right and left pulmonary
arteries, and then to the lungs.
What separates the right atrium from the right ventricle? - Answers The tricuspid valve.
What are the phases of the cardiac cycle? - Answers Diastole (relaxation) and systole (contraction).
What is the role of the SA node in the heart? - Answers It is the heart's natural pacemaker that sets
the rhythm and rate.
What is cardiac output? - Answers The total amount of blood ejected from one ventricle of the heart
per minute, typically 5-6 L/min at rest.
What is preload? - Answers The degree of stretching of the ventricular muscle at the end of diastole.
What is afterload? - Answers The resistance needed to overcome to eject blood from the heart.
What are the normal hemoglobin levels for females? - Answers 12-16 g/dL.
What are the normal hemoglobin levels for males? - Answers 14-18 g/dL.
What is anemia? - Answers A condition where the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells
(RBCs).
What are common symptoms of anemia? - Answers Fatigue, pallor, headache, tachycardia,
numbness, tingling, cold intolerance, dyspnea on exertion, and irritability.
What are risk factors for developing anemia? - Answers Acute blood loss, chronic blood loss (e.g., GI
bleed), inadequate intake of iron, B12, or folic acid.
What is the significance of the Bundle of His in cardiac function? - Answers It divides into the right and
left bundle branches, facilitating ventricular contraction.
What do Purkinje fibers do? - Answers They are responsible for ventricular contraction.
What are the common comorbidities associated with heart failure? - Answers Obesity, atrial
fibrillation, chronic kidney disease, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension.
What are some non-pharmacological treatments for heart failure? - Answers Smoking cessation,
weight reduction, healthy diet, monitoring fluid intake, and stress management.
What is the role of ACE inhibitors in heart failure treatment? - Answers They help to relax blood
vessels and reduce the workload on the heart.
What are common symptoms of Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia? - Answers Glossitis (beefy red
tongue), koilonychias (spoon-shaped nails), numbness and tingling in extremities.
What dietary sources are rich in Vitamin B12? - Answers Liver, meat, eggs, and milk.
What is pernicious anemia? - Answers A type of Vitamin B12 deficiency caused by lack of intrinsic
factor in the stomach, leading to decreased absorption.
What are some risk factors for pernicious anemia? - Answers Chron's disease, ETOH abuse, celiac
disease, bariatric surgery, and long-term use of medications that decrease gastric acid.
What is folic acid deficiency anemia associated with? - Answers Excess alcohol intake, which blocks
Vitamin B12 absorption.
What is sickle cell anemia? - Answers An inherited blood disorder where red blood cells become
abnormally shaped and rigid, leading to ischemic pain and organ damage.
What lab tests are used to diagnose anemia? - Answers Complete blood count, serum iron and
ferritin, stool for occult blood, serum vitamin B12 and folate, and bone marrow biopsy.
What are the heart functions of preload and afterload? - Answers Preload refers to the filling of the
heart (diastolic BP), while afterload refers to the force the heart must exert to pump blood (systolic
BP).
What is hyperlipidemia? - Answers A condition characterized by elevated cholesterol and
triglycerides, which can lead to atherosclerosis.
What are the consequences of atherosclerosis? - Answers Peripheral arterial disease, coronary artery
disease, and stroke.
, What foods are high in cholesterol? - Answers Red meat, processed meats, eggs, milk, fried foods,
cheese, and shellfish.
What are common medications used to treat hyperlipidemia? - Answers Statins such as Atorvastatin,
Fluvastatin, Lovastatin, Pravastatin, Rosuvastatin, and Simvastatin.
What is the normal blood pressure range? - Answers Less than 120/80 mmHg.
What defines primary hypertension? - Answers Hypertension with no identifiable cause, accounting
for 90-95% of cases.
What are the manifestations of hypertension? - Answers Headache, dizziness, chest palpitations/pain,
fatigue, and dyspnea.
What lifestyle modifications can help manage hypertension? - Answers Weight loss, reduced sodium
intake, stopping smoking, and regular exercise.
What is the DASH diet? - Answers Dietary approaches to stop hypertension, promoting lower sodium
intake.
What is the role of ACE inhibitors in hypertension management? - Answers They block the production
of angiotensin II, reducing blood pressure.
What are common side effects of statins? - Answers Muscle pain, especially after 2-3 weeks of use.
What is the ejection fraction? - Answers A measurement of how much blood the left ventricle pumps
out with each contraction, expressed as a percentage.
What is biventricular heart failure? - Answers Heart failure affecting both the left and right sides of
the heart.
What nursing actions are important in managing anemia? - Answers Monitor hemoglobin levels,
oxygen saturation, assist in ambulation, and schedule rest.
What is the significance of monitoring blood pressure in hypertensive patients? - Answers To assess
treatment effectiveness and prevent hypertensive crises.
What is heart failure (HF)? - Answers A condition where the heart is unable to pump blood effectively,
leading to inadequate blood flow to meet the body's needs.
What is the normal ejection fraction (EF) range? - Answers 55-70%
What characterizes HFrEF? - Answers Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, where EF is less
than 45%, indicating an inability to pump blood to the aorta.
What characterizes HFpEF? - Answers Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, where EF is
greater than 45%, indicating an inability to fill the left ventricle.
What are common symptoms of left-sided heart failure? - Answers Shortness of breath (SOB),
pulmonary edema, crackles, coughing, and fatigue.
What are common symptoms of right-sided heart failure? - Answers Edema, jugular venous distension
(JVD), weight gain, hepatomegaly, and ascites.
What is the priority nursing action for patients with heart failure? - Answers Monitor for shortness of
breath and provide extra pillows or recliners for sleeping.
What does a weight gain of more than 5 pounds in a week indicate in heart failure patients? - Answers
It may indicate fluid retention and worsening heart failure.
What is status asthmaticus? - Answers A severe asthma episode with rapid onset, leading to potential
acute ventilatory failure or death.
What are common clinical manifestations of asthma? - Answers Wheezing, coughing, chest tightness,
and dyspnea.
What is the primary pathophysiology of asthma? - Answers Airway inflammation leading to
bronchospasms and permanent changes in airway structure.
What are the risk factors for developing asthma? - Answers Genetics, allergens, respiratory infections,
and exposure to pollutants.
What is the purpose of bronchodilators in asthma treatment? - Answers To relax and open the
airways for easier breathing.
What is the significance of PEFR and FEV in asthma diagnostics? - Answers They measure lung
function and can indicate the severity of an asthma attack.
What are common treatments for chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD)? - Answers Beta-2-
antagonists, inhaled corticosteroids, and muscarinic receptor antagonists.
What is pneumonia? - Answers An infection of the lung parenchyma caused by various organisms,
leading to inflammation and consolidation.
What are the common signs and symptoms of pneumonia? - Answers Fever, chills, cough, dyspnea,
and increased work of breathing.