Cardiovascular

What this Module Involves

This module first covers the fundamental basic physiology that you need to know to understand the cardiovascular system. We go through the factors controlling heart rate and force of contraction and peripheral resistance. We then look at the most common drugs used affecting these variables and the main investigations currently used, including ECGs. Finally we use this platform to understand the main cardiovascular conditions.

Section 1:
Background

To begin with, we need to understand how blood pressure is controlled in a healthy person. This involves the control of heart rate, force of contraction and total peripheral resistance. This is then broken down into learning about the clotting cascade, atherosclerosis and renal physiology which maintains electrolytes and blood volume.

Section 2: pharmacology

The cardiovascular drugs are some of the most commonly prescribed drugs in general practice. We cover drugs controlling heart rate, force of contraction and anti-arrythmics. We then look at the blood pressure medication involving beta-blockers, diuretics and drugs influencing renal physiology and the anticoagulants.

Section 3: Tests and investigations

We start with covering the basics behind imaging of the heart, learning about the different uses and indications for CXR, ultrasound and cardio CT/MRI. Next, we cover the main types of cardiac procedures sued such as angioplasty and coronary bypass grafting. The final section involves learning how to interpet ECGs.

Section 4:
conditions

In this section, we go through the different types of cardiovascular conditions. We start with conditions involving the heart like myocardial infarctions. Also covered are central and peripheral vascular conditions, valvular disorders, pericardial diseases and infective endocarditis. We go through the pathology, symptoms and treatments.