Atherosclerosis

• What is the medical term for a heart attack?

  Myocardial infarcation
• What happens during a heart attack?

  There is a lack of oxygen to heart tissue leading to damage and death
• What happens during a stroke?

  There is lack of oxygen to brain tissue leading to damage or death
• What happens during an aneurysm?

  An artery in the brain swells and may burst which can be fatal
• What is atherosclerosis?

  The build-up of fatty deposits inside the wall of the artery
• What is stage 1 of atherosclerosis?

  Damage to the endothelium
• How can the endothelium of an artery be damaged?

  • High blood pressure
  • High cholesterol levels
  • Toxins e.g. cigarette smoke
• What occurs after the endothelium of an artery is damaged?

  An inflammatory response
• What occurs during an inflammatory response?

  • Cholesterol gathers at the injury site
  • Cholesterol is oxidised triggering an immune response
  • WBC gather and lead to inflammation
• What happens after an inflammatory response in the artery?

  A 'fatty streak' is formed at the site of the endothelial damage made from dead cells
• How are bits of fatty deposit prevented from breaking off into the bloodstream?

  The artery's muscle cells form a fibrous cap over the fatty deposit
• What is an atheroma?

  A fatty deposit inside the arterial walls hardened by calcium