cardiovascular disease

• the heart is divided into four chambers, two atria (right & left) and two ventricles (right & left)
• cardiovascular diseases are diseases of the heart and blood vessels. It's non-communicable and not infectious
• coronary heart disease - layers of fatty material building up inside the coronary arteries and causes the arteries to narrow and reduce flow of oxygen through the coronary arteries.
• coronary arteries - provides oxygen to the muscle cells of the heart
• CHD can lead to a heart attack
• there are 2 treatments for CHD
• statins - drugs which reduce the level of cholesterol in the blood. pro - reduces CHD. con - unwanted side effects e.g. liver problems
• stent - a tube inserted in the coronary artery to keep it open. pro - blood can flow normally thru the artery. con - wont prevent other regions of the coronary arteries from narrowing + doesnt treat underlying causes of the disease