A broad term applied to any number of pathological conditions where there is thickening, hardening, & loss of elasticity of arteries.
Arteriosclerosis is a broad medical term that describes any condition causing your arteries to become thick, hard, and lose their natural elasticity. Essentially, it means your normally flexible blood vessels stiffen, making it harder for them to properly transport blood throughout your body.
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Atherosclerosis
Answer
Thickening & hardening due to plaque development. Affects large - midsize arteries: aorta, carotid.
Atherosclerosis is a disease where your arteries, especially larger ones like the aorta and carotids, become thick and hard. This happens due to the build-up of fatty deposits called plaque on their inner walls, which narrows the arteries and restricts blood flow.
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Causes of Arteriosclerosis
Answer
Heredity, diet, smoking
Arteriosclerosis refers to the hardening and thickening of artery walls. Your genetic background (heredity), a diet high in unhealthy fats, and lifestyle choices like smoking are major risk factors that contribute to the development of this condition.
This flashcard asks about lifestyle choices and health conditions that can be changed to reduce the risk of arteriosclerosis, which is the hardening of arteries. The answer highlights key modifiable factors like diet, exercise, smoking, stress management, and cholesterol control, emphasizing that addressing these areas can significantly prevent or slow the progression of this arterial disease.
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Non-modifiable factors for arteriosclerosis
Answer
Old age, race (African American, Hispanic), Hereditary (Familial hyperlipidemia)
These are risk factors for arteriosclerosis that you cannot change or control, meaning they are inherent to an individual. Your age, race (like African American or Hispanic background), and genetic predispositions such as familial hyperlipidemia are all fixed factors that increase your susceptibility to developing hardened arteries. Understanding these helps differentiate them from lifestyle factors that can be modified.
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Recommended Total serum cholesterol (Lab Assessment)
Answer
< 200mg/dl
This flashcard asks for the desirable level of total cholesterol in your blood, which is a key indicator of cardiovascular health. A total serum cholesterol level of less than 200 mg/dL is recommended because higher levels significantly increase your risk of developing heart disease and stroke due to plaque buildup in your arteries. This lab assessment helps healthcare providers monitor and manage your heart health.
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Recommended Triglyceride level (Lab Assessment)
Answer
<150 mg/dl (women < 135 mg/dl)
Triglycerides are a type of fat found in your blood, and maintaining healthy levels is crucial for heart health. This flashcard indicates that a recommended triglyceride level is generally below 150 mg/dl, but ideally even lower for women, specifically under 135 mg/dl. Keeping these levels low helps reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease.
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Recommended LDL level (Lab Assessment)
Answer
<100 mg/dl (<70 mg/dl with CAD, DM)
This flashcard explains the target levels for LDL, often called "bad" cholesterol, which is important for heart health. For most people, the goal is to keep LDL below 100 mg/dl to minimize cardiovascular risk. However, if someone has pre-existing conditions like coronary artery disease (CAD) or diabetes (DM), a stricter target of below 70 mg/dl is recommended to further reduce their risk of heart attack and stroke.
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Recommended HDL level (Lab Assessment)
Answer
>40 mg/dl
This flashcard asks about the healthy target for HDL cholesterol, often called "good" cholesterol. HDL helps remove excess cholesterol from your arteries, protecting against heart disease. A recommended level of greater than 40 mg/dl indicates a healthier cardiovascular profile and a lower risk of developing heart-related issues.
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Percentage of cholesterol the liver makes
Answer
75%
The liver is your body's primary internal factory for cholesterol, producing roughly 75% of what you need. This means only about 25% comes from the food you eat. It highlights that cholesterol is vital, as your body actively manufactures the majority of it regardless of diet.
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Action of Statins
Answer
Inhibits HMG-CoA reductase, an enzyme responsible for catalyzing an early step in cholesterol synthesis.
Statins work by blocking HMG-CoA reductase, a crucial enzyme that kicks off the process of making cholesterol in your body. By inhibiting this early step, statins effectively reduce the amount of cholesterol your body produces, which helps lower blood cholesterol levels.
Statins are a class of prescription medications primarily used to lower high cholesterol levels in the blood, thereby reducing the risk of heart attacks and strokes. The flashcard provides common brand names like Lipitor and Crestor, along with their generic drug names (e.g., atorvastatin, rosuvastatin), which are all examples of different statin medications.
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Key side effects & teaching for Statins
Answer
Rhabdomyolysis (teach about cramping being important to call provider for). NO GRAPEFRUIT JUICE (could interfere with med). Take @ night.
Statins can cause a serious muscle breakdown called rhabdomyolysis, so it's crucial to teach patients to report any muscle pain or cramping to their provider immediately. Patients must also avoid grapefruit juice, which can dangerously increase medication levels. Finally, advise taking statins at night for best effectiveness.
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Action of Fibrates
Answer
Reduces elevated triglyceride levels by inhibiting triglyceride synthesis.
Fibrates are a class of medication designed to lower high triglyceride levels in the blood by directly inhibiting the body's ability to synthesize, or create, new triglycerides. This reduction helps manage elevated fat levels, which is crucial for preventing conditions like pancreatitis and reducing cardiovascular risk in affected individuals.
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Examples of Fibrates
Answer
Fenofibrate (TriCor), clofibrate, gemfibrozil
Fibrates are a class of lipid-lowering medications primarily used to significantly reduce high triglyceride levels in the blood. Fenofibrate (TriCor), clofibrate, and gemfibrozil are common examples of these drugs, which work by influencing how the body processes fats to help prevent cardiovascular issues.
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Key side effects & teaching for Fibrates
Answer
Common S/E: abdominal pain, nausea. Take 30 mins before morning/evening meal.
Fibrates are a class of medications primarily used to lower high triglyceride levels. The flashcard highlights that common side effects are gastrointestinal, specifically abdominal pain and nausea. To help minimize these side effects and ensure proper drug absorption, patients should be taught to take fibrates 30 minutes before their morning and evening meals.
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Action of Bile Acid Sequestrants
Answer
Binds with bile acids in gut and eliminates; liver then uses body's cholesterol to make more bile; decreases LDLs and triglycerides.
Bile Acid Sequestrants work by binding to bile acids in the gut, preventing their reabsorption and causing them to be eliminated from the body. To compensate, the liver uses more of the body's cholesterol to synthesize new bile acids, which effectively lowers overall LDL ("bad" cholesterol) and triglyceride levels.
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Examples of Bile Acid Sequestrants
Answer
Cholestyramine (Questran), colesevelam (Welchol)
Bile acid sequestrants like Cholestyramine and colesevelam are medications that bind to bile acids in your intestines, preventing their reabsorption. This forces your liver to use more cholesterol to produce new bile acids, which effectively lowers your overall LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels. They are primarily used to help manage high cholesterol.
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Common side effects of Bile Acid Sequestrants
Answer
Constipation, bloating, gas, nausea.
Bile Acid Sequestrants work by binding bile acids in your intestines to lower cholesterol, which directly impacts your digestive system. Because they act locally in the gut, common side effects are gastrointestinal issues like constipation, bloating, gas, and nausea.
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Action of Nicotinic Acid (niacin/ Vit B3)
Answer
Lowers LDL and triglycerides, Increases HDL.
Nicotinic acid (niacin/Vit B3) primarily works in the liver to reduce the production of very-low-density lipoproteins (VLDL), which are precursors to both LDL ("bad" cholesterol) and triglycerides. Simultaneously, it helps slow the breakdown of HDL ("good" cholesterol), leading to its increased levels. This dual action effectively improves your overall lipid profile by lowering harmful fats and raising beneficial ones.
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Examples of Nicotinic Acid
Answer
Niacin (Niaspan, Niacor) Rx-STRENGTH NIACIN
Nicotinic acid is the chemical name for Niacin, which is a form of Vitamin B3. The answer specifies "Rx-STRENGTH NIACIN" and brand names like Niaspan or Niacor because these are prescription formulations used for therapeutic purposes, distinguishing them from lower-dose dietary supplements.
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Key side effects & teaching for Nicotinic Acid
Answer
Major side effect: skin flushing and dizziness. Can give ASA 325mg to help with flushing. NVD.
This flashcard highlights that Nicotinic Acid (Niacin) commonly causes skin flushing and dizziness due due to its vasodilatory effects. To manage the flushing, patients can take aspirin (ASA 325mg) about 30 minutes beforehand. Other potential side effects include gastrointestinal issues like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea (NVD).
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Action of Cholesterol Absorption Inhibitors
Answer
Inhibits absorption of cholesterol in the small intestine. Decreases LDL, increases HDL.
These inhibitors work by blocking the absorption of cholesterol from food and bile directly in the small intestine, preventing it from entering your bloodstream. This action effectively lowers your "bad" LDL cholesterol and often slightly increases your "good" HDL cholesterol, which helps improve your overall cardiovascular health.
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Examples of Cholesterol Absorption Inhibitors
Answer
Ezetimibe (Zetia)
Here's a helpful explanation:
Cholesterol absorption inhibitors are medications designed to prevent the cholesterol you consume from being absorbed into your bloodstream from your intestines. Ezetimibe (brand name Zetia) is a specific drug in this class that works by blocking a protein in the small intestine essential for cholesterol absorption, thereby helping to lower overall blood cholesterol levels.
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Teaching for Cholesterol Absorption Inhibitors
Answer
Take with liquids and meals. Other meds 1hr before or 4hr after.
Cholesterol absorption inhibitors reduce how much dietary cholesterol your body absorbs, so taking them with liquids and meals ensures they are present when food is being processed. It's vital to separate them from other medications (1 hour before or 4 hours after) to prevent drug interactions that could hinder their absorption or the absorption of other necessary medications.