What are the parts of the circulatory system
Heart
Blood
Blood Vessels
What is the function of the cardiovascular system
-Blood
o Carries food, oxygen, and other substances to the
cells throughout the body so they can live and function
o Helps with injuries and healing
o Removes waste products from cells
o (and blood vessels) Regulates body temperature
o Produces and carries cells that defend the body from
disease-causing organisms (remember the lymphatic
system!)
What are the 4 chambers of the heart
- Atria (atrium): receive blood
- Right atrium receives blood from body tissues
- Left atrium receives blood from lungs
- Ventricles: pump blood out of the heart
- Right ventricle pumps blood to the lungs
- Left ventricle pumps blood to the rest of the body
Valves: located between atria and ventricles – allow blood to
flow in only one direction
What is blood pressure
- Measures how much force is exerted by the blood against the artery’s walls
- Systolic (SBP): when the ventricles contract
- Diastolic (DBP): when the ventricles relax
- Recorded as SBP/DBP (i.e. 120-70)
What are the blood cells
- Red blood cells (erythrocytes)
- Hemoglobin: picks up and releases oxygen
- When blood is bright red: hemoglobin is filled
with oxygen - When blood is bluish-red: hemoglobin has
released oxygen to tissues - White blood cells (leukocytes):
- protect body against infection
- Platelets
- Necessary for blood clotting
What are the blood vessels
Arteries: carry blood away from the
heart
- Branch into arterioles →
capillaries
Veins: return blood to the heart
- Empty dark bluish-red blood from
the body into the right atrium
what should we observe as HCA for the cardiovascular
Skin color
Skin temperature
Pulse
Blood pressure (check scope with agency)
Oxygen saturation (check scope with agency)
What are the two main veins
- Inferior Vena Cava – carries blood from
trunk and legs - Superior Vena Cava – carries blood from
the head and arms - Venous blood is dark red – little O2 and lost of CO2
what are some changes to the cardiovascular system with aging
- Weakened cardiac muscle
- Arteries become narrow and
become less elastic → causes
heart to work harder; may
result in higher BP - Potentially a decrease in
blood volume
What is phlebitis
inflammation of the vein
s/s are redness and warmth to area, pain, burning and swelling
what is thrombus
blood clot that form in a blood vessel
- Can decrease or completely stop blood flow in a blood vessel
- Prevention: stay active; leg exercises if bed bound
what is Arrhythmias
abnormal heart rhythms
- Heartbeats either skipped or extra beats occur
- Severity varies
- TX: pacemaker
what is Ischemia
decrease in
blood supply to an area
What is coronary artery disease
- Atherosclerosis → coronary arteries narrowed or blocked
- Less O2 and nutrients to heart muscle
- Leads to angina pectoris and/or myocardial infarct
- Risk factors:
- Lifestyle factors
- HTN; high cholesterol
- Age
- Gender
- Family history
what is congestive heart failure (chf)
- Heart does not pump efficiently →
blood backs up → tissues become
congested with fluid - May be right or left sided heart
failure or eventually it can be both
your role for clients with chf?
Positioning for ease of breathing
Follow diet plan
Measure in and outs; daily weights
Balance activity and rest
Encourage no smoking/alcohol
Delegated tasks:
* - compression stockings
* - assist with medications
* - assist with oxygen
* - monitor for DVT or blood clots
effects of immobility to the cardiovascular system
Heart must work harder
-Less efficient
-Vessels narrower and less elastic
-Blood return to heart not as efficient (effects
of pooling)
- Pooling may lead to thrombus formation
what is the right side heart function and left side heart function
- Right side of heart receives blood
from tissues and pumps it into the
lungs to get oxygen - Left side of heart receives blood
from the lungs and pumps it to the
rest of the body
