Chapter 17: Drug Therapy for Heart Failure

Chapter 17: Drug Therapy for Heart Failure

Complete Chapter Questions With Answers

Sample Questions Are Posted Below

MULTIPLE CHOICE

BASIC CONCEPTS

1. What does the term “afterload” mean?

ANS:  B

Afterload is the pressure in the aorta that the left ventricle must overcome before blood can move from it into the aorta. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) is also the pressure that the left ventricle must overcome to move blood from the left ventricle into the aorta during contraction (afterload). Afterload increases because of increased peripheral resistance usually as a result of high blood pressure.

DIF:    Cognitive Level: Remembering        REF:   p. 274

2. What is the most common cause of heart failure?

ANS:  A

Most heart failure is caused by hypertension. Other causes of heart failure include myocardial infarction, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathy, substance abuse (alcohol and illicit or prescribed drugs), heart valve disease, congenital defects, cardiac infections and inflammations, and conditions that increase cardiac output and energy demands such as sepsis.

DIF:    Cognitive Level: Remembering        REF:   p. 278

3. What is the main physiological problem in most types of heart failure?

ANS:  D

The muscle of the left ventricle becomes overstretched. When any muscle is overstretched, its contraction is weaker. When the muscles of the left ventricle are overstretched or flabby and the contraction is weak, too much blood remains in the left ventricle, and more blood arriving from the left atrium is added to it. This overstretches the muscle more and continues to weaken contractions, leading to heart failure.

DIF:    Cognitive Level: Remembering        REF:   p. 274

4. Which symptom occurs with only pure right-sided heart failure and does not occur with pure left-sided heart failure?

ANS:  D

When the right ventricle contracts poorly, signs and symptoms of peripheral congestion occur (Box 17-2 in text) such as weight gain, swelling in the legs, jugular vein distention (Figure 17-4 in text), and increased blood pressure.

DIF:     Cognitive Level: Remembering REF:    p. 276, Box 17-2