7.0 Cardiovascular System Medications Introduction
- Understand common health conditions that can contribute to cardiovascular disorders.
- Describe the classifications and actions of cardiovascular drugs and renal system drugs.
- Explain your understanding of when, how, and to whom cardiovascular system drugs may be administered
- Identify the mechanism of action, side and adverse effects and nursing considerations associated with cardiovascular drug therapy
- Identify considerations and implications of using cardiovascular and renal system medications across the life span
- Articulate key client teaching for each med class to promote health and client safety while taking these medications.
- Apply evidence-based concepts when using the nursing process
Key Terms
- afterload
- anticoagulant
- arrhythmia
- arteriosclerosis
- artery
- atherosclerosis
- blood pressure
- capillaries
- cardiac output (CO)
- cerebrovascular accident
- coagulation
- vascular compliance
- contractility
- diastole
- edema
- embolus
- fibrillation
- fibrinolysis
- hemostasis
- hyperlipidemia
- hypertension
- hypervolemia
- hypovolemia
- international normalized ratio
- ischemia
- loop of henle
- myocardial infarction
- negative inotropic factors
- partial thromboplastin time
- perfusion
- positive inotropic factors
- preload
- prothrombin time
- renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system
- sinoatrial (SA) node
- sinus rhythm
- stroke volume (SV)
- systole
- thrombus
- transient ischemic attack
- veins
- venous reserve
The cardiovascular system (CV) supplies blood throughout the body. It is composed of the heart, arteries, veins and capillaries that all work together to provide oxygenated blood and other nutrients to all parts of the body, as well as remove cellular wastes and by-products. Perfusion is the term to describe this process that is regulated by the nervous system, autoregulated by different organs and tissues as well as hormones, blood volume, electrolytes and much more. (Chaundry, Miao, & Rehman, 2022).
This chapter will begin with a review of the body systems that work to maintain adequate perfusion to the body to maintain physiological function and survival, including the cardiovascular and renal system. In unit 7.2 Conditions and Disorders related to Perfusion, a review of some important conditions that can impact perfusion will be examined. The rest of the units will cover the many medication classifications related to the CV system. The final unit is diuretics and although they work on the renal system, they are used primarily to improve cardiovascular health by lowering fluid volume. At the end of most units will be some interactive questions to test your understanding. You will also notice that there are medication cards for some of the medications. These were developed as a guide for you to use in your own practice and to edit as needed.
Reference
Chaundry, R. & Miao, J. & Rehman, A. (2022). Physiology, Cardiovascular. National Library of Medicine. StatPearls [Internet]. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK493197/
How readily the drug targets specific cells to produce an intended therapeutic effect.
The connection between the neuron and its target cell.
Causes contraction of skeletal muscles; associated with voluntary responses.
Cells that carry electrical impulses to the synapse of a target organ.
The study of how drugs act at target sites of action in the body.
A more significant response occurs in the body when the medication is administered in large doses to provide a large amount of medication to the site of infection for a short period of time.
A test used to quickly diagnose bacterial infection .Identification of bacteria as gram + or gram - assists the healthcare provider in selecting an appropriate antibiotic to treat the infection.
An organism causing disease to its host.
A molecule that prevents the action of other molecules, often by competing for a cellular receptor; opposite of agonist.
Consist of the somatic nervous system that stimulates voluntary movement of muscles, and the autonomic nervous system that controls involuntary responses.
A secondary infection in a patient having a preexisting infection. C diff and yeast infections as a result of antibiotic therapy are examples of superinfections.
Infections caused by Streptococcus and Staphylococcus bacteria are examples of gram + infection.
The drug dose required to produce a specific intensity of effect.
The science of preparation of drugs.
A characteristic of bacteria demonstrating lack of effective treatment by an antibiotic when a sensitivity analysis is performed.
Time dependency occurs when greater therapeutic effects are seen with lower blood levels over a longer period of time.
Controls cardiac and smooth muscle, as well as glandular tissue; associated with involuntary responses.
Antimicrobial drugs that cause bacteria to stop reproducing but may not ultimately kill the bacteria.
An antibiotic that targets a wide variety of bacterial pathogens, including both gram-positive and gram-negative species.
The rate at which 50% of a drug is eliminated from the bloodstream.
Balance between the SNS and PNS. At each target organ, dual innervation determines activity. For example, SNS stimulation causes the heart rate to increase, whereas PNS stimulation causes the heart rate to decrease.
An infection caused by Vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus that is difficult to treat because it exhibits resistance to nearly all available antibiotics.
An infection caused by Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus that is difficult to treat because it exhibits resistance to nearly all available antibiotics.
Includes nerves outside the brain and spinal cord. Associated with the “rest and digest” response. Stimulation of PNS causes decreased heart rate, decreased blood pressure via vasodilation, bronchial constriction, and stimulates intestinal motility, salivation, and relaxation of the bladder.
Concurrent drug administration producing a synergistic interaction that is better than the efficacy of either drug alone. An example of synergistic drug combinations is trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim).
An antibiotic that targets only specific subsets of bacterial pathogens.
Concurrent administration of two drugs causes harmful effects such as a decrease of drug activity, decreased therapeutic levels due to increased metabolism and elimination, or increased potential for toxicity due to decreased metabolism and elimination. An example of an antagonistic interaction is taking antacids with antibiotics, causing decreased absorption of the antibiotic.
An unintended pharmacological effect that occurs when a medication is administered correctly.
Responses that the brain controls without the need for conscious thought.
A digestive enzyme.
The effect of a drug, other than the desired effect, sometimes in an organ other than the target organ.
A drug which binds to its "receptor" and produces its characteristic effect.
Associated with the “fight or flight response.” Stimulation causes the main effects of increased heart rate, increased blood pressure via the constriction of blood vessels, and bronchodilation.
All preganglionic neurons (in the SNS and PNS) release acetylcholine (ACh).
The maximum effect of which the drug is capable.
As the dose of a drug increases, the response should increase. The slope of the curve is characteristic of the particular drug-receptor interaction.
The science dealing with actions of drugs on the body.
The strength of binding between drug and receptor.
Antimicrobial drugs that kill their target bacteria.
Sense the environment and conduct signals to the brain that become a conscious perception of that stimulus.
A test performed to examine different body substances for the presence of bacteria or fungus.
A test performed in addition to a culture in order to select an effective antibiotic to treat the microorganism.
