Tutor profile: Abigail C.

What education do patients need when living with chronic angina?

When an episode occurs, stop what you're doing and sit or lay down. This will decrease the workload of the heart. Take nitroglycerin right away and place under your tongue. If you do not feel a tingling sensation, the medication is most likely expired, it must be replaced every 6 months. You can take nitro up to 3 times total if the angina is still present. Space out doses by 5 minutes. If angina is still present after the 3rd dose, call your HCP immediately. To store nitro, keep tablets away from sunlight.

What are the parts and functions of a neuron?

At the end of neurons, there are synaptic terminals. These are used to send signals and connect to other neurons. Dendrites are usually on the other end of the neuron and they have the opposite function of synaptic terminals, they are used to receive signals. One way to differentiate between the two is dendrites are usually connected to the cell body. The cell body integrates signals and are in charge of metabolic activities. Axons are the long parts of neurons that transmit action potential (the signals being sent). Myelin covers axons (they look like little marshmallows) and helps to insulate and speed up the signals. The action potential is able to 'jump' along the axon because of the myelin sheaths. Neurons that don't have myelin have slower speeds of action potential due to this.

Explain why hypertension often causes edema

Blood pressure is equal to the hydrostatic pressure of the capillaries which is determined by the net filtration pressure of those capillaries. Net filtration pressure is the volume of fluid pushed into or out of the tissues. When net filtration increases, it increases the volume of fluid pushed into the tissues. When blood pressure increases, this increases the hydrostatic pressure of the capillaries and in turn the net filtration pressure. Therefore, this causes increased fluids to go into the tissues and causes edema.