Resistance is Futile
We would describe a blood pressure of 90/75 as this.
What is a narrow pulse pressure?
This measurement reflects the amount of ventricular stretch at the end of diastole.
What is preload?
Cardiomyocytes release this when damaged or stressed.
What is troponin?
This common arrhythmia can reduce cardiac output by eliminating effective atrial contraction.
What is atrial fibrillation?
A drop in blood pressure activates this nervous system first.
What is the sympathetic nervous system?
This is the cardiac output of a patient with cool extremities, hypertension, and left ventricular hypertrophy.
What is increased afterload?
A patient with vomiting, diarrhea, and poor oral intake will most likely have this effect on preload.
What is decreased?
This electrolyte plays a critical role in allowing cardiac muscle fibers to contract.
What is calcium?
Atrial kick comprises of this percentage of your total cardiac output.
What is 20-30%?
Aldosterone acts on this organ to increase sodium and water retention.
What is the kidney?
A patient with this valvular disorder must generate significantly higher pressures to eject blood from the left ventricle.
What is aortic stenosis?
Activation of RAAS and ADH results in sodium and water retention, producing this effect on cardiac output.
What is increased preload?
A past history of a STEMI can indicate this about a patient's cardiac output.
What is decreased contractility?
Severe sepsis initially lowers afterload through this widespread process.
What is vasodilation?
A patient stands up quickly and becomes dizzy. These receptors trigger a rapid increase in sympathetic activity to prevent syncope.
What are baroreceptors?
This is the cardiac output of a patient with septic shock. They are warm, flushed, and hypotensive due to widespread vasodilation.
What is decreased afterload?
This bedside maneuver can temporarily increase preload without administering fluids.
What is passive leg raise?
During exercise, sympathetic stimulation and catecholamine release cause this change in cardiac output to meet increased oxygen demands.
What is increased contractility?
This shock state is characterized by poor contractility and low cardiac output despite adequate volume.
What is cardiogenic shock?
This hormone is released from the kidneys when renal perfusion decreases and initiates the RAAS cascade.
What is renin?
This structural adaptation develops over time when the left ventricle persistently pumps against elevated systemic pressures.
What is left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH)?
This myocardial behaviour benefits from the Frank-Starling mechanism.
What is stretch?
During systole, contractile force is produced when these two proteins form cross-bridges within the cardiac muscle cell.
What are actin and myosin?
This early warning sign can indicate a STEMI, when the body quickly shunts blood away from splanchnic circulation to preserve cardiac/neural perfusion.
What is vomiting?
This hormone is released by the posterior pituitary to increase water reabsorption in the kidneys.
What is ADH (vasopressin)?