coronary heart disease

• coronary heart disease is a condition where the coronary arteries become blocked with fatty deposits blocking blood trying to get to the heart
• CHD causes the arteries to become narrow so blood flow is restricted and there's a lack of oxygen to the heart muscle - can result in heart attack
• stents are tubes that are inserted inside the arteries to keep them open so blood can pass through to the heart muscle to keep the person alive
• stents lower the risk of heart attack and are effective for a long time however, they may cause blood clots near the stents and there is a risk of infection and heart attack in surgery
• statins are a drug that reduce levels of 'bad' cholesterol in the blood that can cause heart problems, having too much of this cholesterol can cause a build up of fatty material in the arteries - leads to CHD
• by reducing the amount of 'bad' cholesterol in blood, statins can reduce the risk of strokes, CHD and heart attacks. statins can increase the amount of 'good' cholesterol in blood
• statins however may cause neurodegeniative problems, such as confusion, dizziness, and tremors