Tuesday, September 17, 2013

EKG card # 10th! Velocity of Conduction of Electrical Impulses (EKG made easy !)


New York Heart Association (Grading for dyspnoea, palpitation, fatigue and angina in patients with cardiovascular disease)

The New York Heart Association (NYHA) Functional Classification in a Patient with Heart Disease 
Overview: The New York Heart Association (NYHA) developed a functional classification for patients with heart disease. 
Patients: Heart disease must be present. 
Parameters: 
(1) limitations on physical activity 
(2) symptoms (undue fatigue palpitations dyspnea and/or anginal pain) with ordinary physical activity  
(3) status at rest
For More reading please Click Read More  

ECG of the Month

1- What does this tracing shows ?
A) Right Ventricular Hypertrophy 
B) Acute Posterior Myocardial Infarction 

Correct answer:
a) Right ventricular hypertrophy
Discussion:
In this tracing, the QRS axis tends to the right axis deviation (RAD), which should make one think of right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH) first. After the RAD, all other diagnostic features of RVH are found in the precordial leads—namely tall R waves in the right precordial leads, a deep S wave in V6, and downsloping ST-T changes that are more prominent in the right precordial leads. This tracing has all of these features and is from a patient with primary pulmonary hypertension with RVH. In a tracing of acute posterior myocardial infarction, the ST segment is depressed more horizontally, and RAD and a deep S wave in V6 are not part of it.

Source: The Heart.org 

Monday, September 16, 2013

Happy hearts: Positivity plus exercise linked to lower CVD mortality

The association between a positive emotional state of mind and lower mortality in patients with ischemic heart disease is mediated by exercise, according to the results of a new study .
Patients with higher levels of positive affect, which reflects a pleasurable response to the environment and typically includes feelings of happiness, joy, excitement, contentment and enthusiasm, had a 42% lower risk of all-cause mortality at five years and were 50% more likely to participate in an exercise program than those with lower levels of positive affect.
In an adjusted regression model, there was no significant association between positive affect, as measured using the global mood scale (GMS), and cardiac-related hospitalizations. Ischemic heart disease patients with higher levels of positive affect on the GMS had a significant 42% lower risk of all-cause mortality at five years. In addition, these happier patients were also 48% more likely to exercise.