Blood and heart disease: Organisation: Biology: GCSE (9:1)

• Blood


  Connective tissue made of plasma, red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets

  
• Plasma


  The liquid part of blood

  
• Red blood cells

  Blood cells that carry oxygen from the lungs to the body cells

  
• White blood cells

  Blood cells that help destroy disease-causing microorganisms

  
• Platelets


  Particles in the blood needed for blood clotting

  
• Cardiovascular disease


  A disease of the heart and blood vessels
• Coronary heart disease


  The clogging of the vessels that surround the heart muscle

  
• Non-communicable


  A disease that is not transmitted from one host to another
• Stent


  A wire mesh tube used to keep arteries open, can sometimes only be a temporary solution

  
• Statin

  A drug used to lower cholesterol, may cause side effects

  
• Faulty valve


  A heart valve which is damaged
• Biological valve


  A replacement heart valve made with the valves and tissues derived from animals or human donors

  
• Mechanical valve

  A non-biological replacement heart valve

  
• Donor heart

  A heart that comes from a deceased donor
• Artificial heart

  A mechanical pump implanted in place of a diseased or damaged heart

  
• Lifestyle


  Adjusting lifestyle and diet can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as less fatty food, more exercise, reduced stress, avoiding recreational drugs and cigarettes, requires a high level of self-discipline