treatments for cardiovascular disease

• What are the different treatments of coronary heart disease?

  • Bypass surgery
  • Statins
  • Stents
• What are the pros and cons of having a bypass surgery to treat coronary heart disease?

  • Pros: no rejection
  • Cons: risk of infection, major surgery, requires general anaesthetic.
• What are pros and cons of using statins?

  Pros: no surgery required.

  Cons: must be taken long-term and regularly, may have side efefcts - such as liver damage.
• What are statins?

  • Drugs.
  • Stop the liver from producing cholesterol
  • Lowers blood cholesterol levels.
  • Slows down the build up of fatty materials in arteries.
• What are stents?

  • Mechanical treatment.
  • Holds open blocked arteries.
  • Allows blood to flow through to the heart muscles.
• What are the pros and cons of stents?

  • Pros: remains in place and will work long-term, rapid recovery time.
  • Cons: risks infection, fatty deposits can rebuild, risks blood clots.
• How can heart valve disease be treated?

  • Artificial replacement.
  • Biological replacement.
• What are pros and cons of artificial valve replacement?

  • Pros: no rejection.
  • Cons: may need replacing, risk of blood clots and stroke - requires patients to need anti-clotting medication, risk from surgery, can damage red blood cells.
• What are pros and cons of biological valve replacement?

  • Pros: doesn't damage red blood cells.
  • Cons: risk of infection - requires immuno-suppressant medication, ethical issues of animal tissue use, needs replacing more often because the valves can harden.
• How can irregular heart beat be treated?

  • Artificial pacemaker.
• What are the pros and cons of artificial pacemaker?

  • Pros: doesn't need a major surgery.
  • Cons: needs battery/peacemaker replacement, rejection by immune system.
• What are treatments for heart failures?

  • Biological replacement
  • Mechanical replacement
• How often does a mechanical replacement need replacing?

  Every 3 years.