Common Cardiac Conditions

 

PTA 103 heart 2.jpg

Below are the primary cardiac conditions that you may encounter. Realize that all the safety considerations for applying exercise are aimed at avoiding causing another MI or sudden cardiac arrest. The role of the PTA is to recognize the signs and symptoms that may indicate excessive stress and possible and/or immediate danger to the cardiovascular system. PTAs should also be able to appropriately monitor and modify exercises consistent with with safe activity guidelines.

Arrhythmia

Pathology of conduction in the heart. Can occur at the SA node, AV node, Purkinje fibers, and bundle branch blocks

  1. Types of arrhythmias: bradicardia and, tachycardia (atrial and ventricular)
  2. Symptoms = palpitations, lightheadedness, syncope (fainting), and cardiac arrest
  3. Atrial Fibrillation is the most common form of arrhythmia
  4. Clinical significance
    1. may be the first manifestation of heart disease
    2. may precipitate heart failure or ischemia
    3. can predispose to intracardiac clot formation and embolic events (stroke, MI, peripheral emboli)
    4. Beta blockers make sure the heart beats slower and does not work as hard in order to control blood pressure

Can you think of how the use of beta blockers may affect a patient during exercise?

 

 True False Quiz

An irregular heart rhythm may be associated with cardiac arrythmia

 
 

Stable and Unstable Angina

Angina Pectoris:stable angina - chest pain with exertion

Acute coronary syndrome:unstable angina - chest pain at rest


Read the linked web resources and be able to distinguish between the tow and discriminate the appropriate response if these symptoms present in a clinical situation.They can be frequently encountered when working with any population aged 40+.

 

Multiple Answer Quiz

Possible causes of angina include

[mark all correct answers]

 
 
 
 

True False Quiz

Cardiac angina is synonomous with chest pain

 
 

 Myocardial Infarction

Web exploration: Myocardial Infarction:

 

Hypertension

Web exploration: Hypertension Tutorial:

Note that hypertension definitions fluctuate. For the purposes of this course, we will use current guidelines by the American Heart Association: 130/80.

Scope of practice alert: 130/80 is a blood pressure measure. Hypertension is a diagnosis. PTAs report outcomes of tests and measures, but DO NOT classify readings in diagnostic terms. In short, do not report to a patient that they have "hypertension" if you get a high blood pressure measure.

 


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