Hypertension
Name two specific dietary patterns recommended for treating hypertension.
The DASH and Mediterranean diets.
What is often the only early symptom of left-sided heart failure?
Dyspnea on exertion (shortness of breath during physical activity).
Which demographic group has the highest prevalence of Hypertension (HTN)?
African Americans.
What is typically the first sign of Cardiovascular Disease (CVD)?
Myocardial Infarction (MI).
What factors contribute most to the increased incidence of hypertension with age?
Normal changes of aging coupled with lifelong habits like smoking.
In an older adult, what does a mild systolic murmur usually indicate?
It is considered an expected finding of the aging heart.
What is the most common chronic cardiovascular disease encountered in clinical practice?
Hypertension (HTN)
List three classes of medications recommended for the treatment of hypertension.
Calcium channel blockers, thiazide diuretics, and beta-blockers.
What are the two major symptoms of Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) in older adults?
Shortness of breath and unexplained fatigue.
List three signs of right-sided heart failure.
Dependent edema, fatigue, and hepatic congestion.
Which non-cardiac condition is a preventable complication of long-standing hypertension?
Dementia.
Define the process of "remodeling" in the context of chronic CHD.
It is a compensatory process where the heart enlarges and changes shape following damage.
Which biomarkers are used to differentiate shortness of breath caused by HF from other causes?
Serum BNP or NT-proBNP.