Cardiovascular disease

• Cardiovascular disease is when the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart gets blocked up by layers of fatty deposits building up.
• The result of the fatty deposits means that the arteries become narrow, so the blood is restricted and there's a lack of oxygen to the heart - which can result in a heart attack.
• Stents are tubes inserted in the arteries. They keep the arteries open and allow more blood flow.
• Stents are effective for a long time and the recovery time from the surgery is relatively quick.
• However, stents can have disadvantages such as complications from the surgery - like infection, or a risk of a blood clot developing near the stent which is called thrombosis.
• What is cholesterol?

  An essential lipid that the body produces to function properly.
• Too much of a specific type of cholesterol ( LDL cholesterol) can cause health problems. they can cause fatty deposits to form inside arteries, which can lead to coronary heart disease.
• What are statins?

  Drugs that can reduce the amount of 'bad' cholesterol present within the bloodstream.
• What do statins do?


  They slow down the rate of fatty deposits forming.
• Advantages of statins:

  • Reduce the risks of strokes, coronary heart disease and heart attacks.
  • Increase the amount of beneficial cholesterol (HDL cholesterol) in your bloodstream. This type can remove 'bad' cholesterol from the blood.
• Disadvantages of statins:

  • They are a long-term drug that must be taken regularly, therefore you could forget to take them.
  • Can have negative side effects such as headaches or more serious ones like kidney failure, liver damage and memory loss.
  • The effects of statins aren't instant.
• Suggest two disadvantages of treating patients using stents?


  They are a long-term drug and have to be taken regularly and can have negative side effects.