health issues

• what is coronary heart disease?

  • when the coronary arteries that supply blood back to the muscle of the heart get blocked by layers of fatty material building up
  • this causes the arteries to become narrow so blood flow is restricted, resulting in a lack of oxygen to the heart and heart attacks.
• what do stents do?

  • stents are mech tubes that are inserted inside arteries to keep them open so that blood can pass through to the heart muscles.
  • stents lower risks of heart attacks
  • possible complications such as blood clots or thrombosis
• what is a statin and why is it necessary?

  • cholesterol build up can cause health issues such as fatty deposits in arteries
  • statins are drugs that reduce the amount of this type of cholesterol in the blood stream so that the rate fatty deposits forming is slower.
• advantages of statins?


  • reduce risks of strokes, coronary heart disease and heart attacks by lowering cholesterol level
  • they can increase the amount of 'good' cholesterol
  • may prevent other diseases
• disadvantages of statins?


  • long-term drug that must be taken regularly
  • kidney failure, liver damage and memory loss
  • effect isn't instant
• artificial hearts 


  • often temporary until a donor can be found
  • are mechanical devices that pump blood around the body so they are less likely to be rejected by someones body than a donor heart
  • don't work as well as natural ones
• how can faulty heart valves be replaced?

  • valves may become leaky with age or stiffened by damage
  • valves can be replaced either mechanically or biologically from humans or other mammals.
  • may cause issues with blood clots.
• to avoid contamination on your culture you should:

  • sterilise the petri dish e.g high temperature, to kill unwanted microorganisms
  • sterilise an inoculating loop by passing it through a flame
  • lightly tape thw lid of the petri dish on to stop microorganisms in the air from getting in
  • store the petri dish upside down to stop drops of condensation from falling on the agar surface
• factors affecting health?


  • diet
  • stress
  • access to medication
  • lifestyle
  • exercise
  • drinking and drugs and smoking
• smoking

  • proven to directly cause cardiovascular disease, lung disease and lung cancer
  • damages walls of arteries and cells in lining of lungs
• obesity


  • directly causes type 2 diabetes
  • makes the body less sensitive to insulin
  • struggles to control the concentration of glucose in blood.
• what is cancer?


  • uncontrolled growth and division
  • a group of cancerous cells produces a tumour
• what is a benign tumour?

  • slow growing
  • grows within a membrane
  • non-invasive
  • non-cancerous
• what is a malignant tumour?

  • tumour spreads to neighbouring healthy tissues
  • cells can break off and spread to other parts of the body in the bloodstream
  • form secondary tumours
  • dangerous, fatal, cancerous.
• viruses living in cells can trigger cancers
• immune reactions initially caused by a pathogen can trigger allergies such as skin rashes and asthma