Cardiac/Vascular Nurse Exam Secrets Study Guide by Mometrix Media Page B
Authors: Mometrix Media
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patient has intermittent claudication.
Upon physical examination, practicing clinicians use a stethoscope to determine the presence of bruits. They also look for evidence of poor wound healing, sores, color changes, muscle pain or cramping upon physical activity, temperature changes and decreased blood pressure in limbs. Diagnostic screening tools include the ankle-brachial index and angiography. Additional tests include electrocardiogram, magnetic resonance angiography, blood tests, and ultrasound.
Hypotension
Hypotension is defined as low pressure, particularly lower than 90/60 mmHg. However, what practicing clinicians consider low blood pressure varies from patient to patient because some individuals have naturally low blood pressure with no symptoms. Also, patients with comorbid conditions like hepatic disease (cirrhosis) may have lower than normal blood pressure at baseline.
Drops in blood pressure of more than 20 mmHg are more of a concern from a patient’s normal blood pressure, as it can cause symptoms of dizziness, fainting and decreased mental capacity. It can also be an indicator of a more serious underlying condition such as uncontrolled bleeding, severe infections, and/or allergic reactions
Orthostatic hypotension or postural hypotension is defined as low blood pressure upon standing. In this condition, an individual’s blood pressure drops when going from a sitting to standing position, leading to dizziness, lightheadedness, blurred vision, and fainting or syncope. The causes of orthostatic hypotension include dehydration, prolonged bed rest, pregnancy, diabetes, heart problems, burns, excessive heat exposure, large varicose veins, and certain neurological disorders. Drugs that can lead to orthostatic hypotension include diuretics, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, and antidepressants.
The condition is more common in older individuals, with 20% of cases occurring in individuals aged 65 or older.
Postprandial hypotension is a condition that involves a sudden drop in blood pressure after eating. It typically affects elderly individuals with other cardiovascular comorbid condition or neurological disorders. Symptoms of the condition include dizziness, fatigue, syncope or fainting, mental confusion, and/or lightheadedness. Postprandial hypotension is more common among individuals with high blood pressure or autonomic nervous system disorders. Lifestyle modifications such as eating smaller meals low in carbohydrates more often may reduce symptoms. Also, lowering the dose of blood pressure medications may decrease the onset of postprandial hypotension.
Shy-Drager syndrome , also known as multiple system atrophy with orthostatic hypotension, is a rare disease that causes progressive damage to the autonomic nervous system. Deterioration of the autonomic nervous system leads to improper functioning of blood pressure, heart rate, breathing, and digestion. The main characteristic of Shy-Drager syndrome is severe hypotension when standing and severe hypertension when lying down. Other symptoms of the disease include muscle tremors, slowed movement, problems with coordination and speech, and incontinence. The disease is progressive, with few treatment approaches, and usually leads to death within 7 to 10 years from time of diagnosis.
Neurally mediated hypotension is a condition that causes a drop in blood pressure after standing for long periods. The symptoms associated with neurally mediated hypotension include dizziness, lightheadedness, heart palpitations, sweating, nausea, confusion, and fainting or syncope. The condition tends to affect younger adults and is caused by a malfunction between the brain and cardiovascular system, which causes blood pooling in the legs and feet leading to sudden blood pressure drops. Lifestyle modifications including the vagal maneuver, increased sodium intake and use of graduated compression
Upon physical examination, practicing clinicians use a stethoscope to determine the presence of bruits. They also look for evidence of poor wound healing, sores, color changes, muscle pain or cramping upon physical activity, temperature changes and decreased blood pressure in limbs. Diagnostic screening tools include the ankle-brachial index and angiography. Additional tests include electrocardiogram, magnetic resonance angiography, blood tests, and ultrasound.
Hypotension
Hypotension is defined as low pressure, particularly lower than 90/60 mmHg. However, what practicing clinicians consider low blood pressure varies from patient to patient because some individuals have naturally low blood pressure with no symptoms. Also, patients with comorbid conditions like hepatic disease (cirrhosis) may have lower than normal blood pressure at baseline.
Drops in blood pressure of more than 20 mmHg are more of a concern from a patient’s normal blood pressure, as it can cause symptoms of dizziness, fainting and decreased mental capacity. It can also be an indicator of a more serious underlying condition such as uncontrolled bleeding, severe infections, and/or allergic reactions
Orthostatic hypotension or postural hypotension is defined as low blood pressure upon standing. In this condition, an individual’s blood pressure drops when going from a sitting to standing position, leading to dizziness, lightheadedness, blurred vision, and fainting or syncope. The causes of orthostatic hypotension include dehydration, prolonged bed rest, pregnancy, diabetes, heart problems, burns, excessive heat exposure, large varicose veins, and certain neurological disorders. Drugs that can lead to orthostatic hypotension include diuretics, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, and antidepressants.
The condition is more common in older individuals, with 20% of cases occurring in individuals aged 65 or older.
Postprandial hypotension is a condition that involves a sudden drop in blood pressure after eating. It typically affects elderly individuals with other cardiovascular comorbid condition or neurological disorders. Symptoms of the condition include dizziness, fatigue, syncope or fainting, mental confusion, and/or lightheadedness. Postprandial hypotension is more common among individuals with high blood pressure or autonomic nervous system disorders. Lifestyle modifications such as eating smaller meals low in carbohydrates more often may reduce symptoms. Also, lowering the dose of blood pressure medications may decrease the onset of postprandial hypotension.
Shy-Drager syndrome , also known as multiple system atrophy with orthostatic hypotension, is a rare disease that causes progressive damage to the autonomic nervous system. Deterioration of the autonomic nervous system leads to improper functioning of blood pressure, heart rate, breathing, and digestion. The main characteristic of Shy-Drager syndrome is severe hypotension when standing and severe hypertension when lying down. Other symptoms of the disease include muscle tremors, slowed movement, problems with coordination and speech, and incontinence. The disease is progressive, with few treatment approaches, and usually leads to death within 7 to 10 years from time of diagnosis.
Neurally mediated hypotension is a condition that causes a drop in blood pressure after standing for long periods. The symptoms associated with neurally mediated hypotension include dizziness, lightheadedness, heart palpitations, sweating, nausea, confusion, and fainting or syncope. The condition tends to affect younger adults and is caused by a malfunction between the brain and cardiovascular system, which causes blood pooling in the legs and feet leading to sudden blood pressure drops. Lifestyle modifications including the vagal maneuver, increased sodium intake and use of graduated compression
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