Health and Disease

• What type of disease is coronary heart disease (CHD)?

  Non-communicable disease
• What do cardiac muscle cells require from the blood?

  Oxygen, glucose, and nutrients
• Which arteries supply blood to the heart?

  Coronary arteries
• What is the function of the coronary arteries?

  To supply oxygenated blood to the heart
• What effect does a narrowed lumen in a coronary artery have?

  It reduces blood flow to the heart

  
• What are the two main treatments for coronary heart disease (CHD)?

  • Increasing the width of the lumen using a stent
  • Prescribing statins to lower blood cholesterol
• How do stents help treat coronary heart disease?

  They keep the coronary arteries open
• What is the procedure for inserting a stent?

  A tube is threaded through the groin
• What happens during the stent insertion procedure?

  A balloon inflates to widen the artery

  
• What is the main benefit of using stents?

  They reduce the risk of a heart attack
• What is a potential risk associated with stents?

  Risk of blood clots (thrombosis)
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of stents?

  Advantages:

  • Effective at reducing heart attack risk
  • Long-lasting
  • Simple minor surgery

  
  

  Disadvantages:

  • Risk of blood clots
  • Risk of infection during surgery
  • Risk of damage to blood vessel
• What can be done in cases of heart failure?

  A heart can be transplanted
• What is an artificial heart used for?

  To keep patients alive while waiting for a transplant
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of artificial hearts?

  Advantages:

  • Shorter waiting times for transplants
  • Less chance of immune rejection

  
  

  Disadvantages:

  • Do not work as well as real hearts
  • Increased risk of blood clots
• What should you consider when evaluating treatments for CHD?

  Benefits and risks of each treatment
• What are statins used for?

  To reduce levels of fatty deposits in blood
• How do statins work?

  They block an enzyme needed to make cholesterol
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of statins?

  Advantages:

  • Reduce 'bad' cholesterol (LDL)
  • Increase 'good' cholesterol (HDL)

  
  

  Disadvantages:

  • Need to be taken long-term
  • Side effects include muscle pain and kidney problems
• What role do heart valves play?

  Ensure blood is pumped in one direction
• What can cause heart valves to become faulty?

  Illness, old age, or heart attack
• What happens if a heart valve leaks?

  Blood flows back into the atria or ventricles
• What are the types of replacement valves?

  • Biological valves from cows or pigs
  • Mechanical valves
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of biological and mechanical valves?

  Biological valves:

  • Highly effective
  • Less likely to leak
  • Need replacement after 12-15 years

  
  

  Mechanical valves:

  • Long-lasting
  • Less need for replacement
  • Increased risk of blood clots
• What are risk factors in relation to diseases?

  Linked to an increased rate of disease

  
• Can exposure to a risk factor guarantee disease?

  No, it does not guarantee disease
• What is a causal mechanism?

  A proven link between risk factors and disease
• What can trigger cancers according to the study material?

  Viruses living in cells
• What can severe physical ill health lead to?

  Depression and other mental illness
• What should you be able to do with disease incidence information?

  • Translate between graphical and numerical forms
  • Construct and interpret frequency tables and diagrams
  • Use scatter diagrams to identify correlations
• What is health defined as?

  The state of physical and mental well-being
• How can ill health affect individuals and society?

  Reduces quality of life and lifespan
• What is a major cause of ill health?

  Diseases, both communicable and non-communicable
• What can be a cost of being ill?

  Expensive healthcare and lost work
• What causes communicable diseases?

  Microorganisms
• How do diseases affect individuals and society?

  They impact the sufferer, family, and society
• What can ill health lead to?

  A poorer quality of life or reduced lifespan
• What is a financial consequence of being ill?

  Individuals may require expensive healthcare
• What causes communicable diseases?

  Microorganisms called pathogens
• What is a non-communicable disease?

  Not caused by pathogens, long-lasting effects