Cardiovascular disease

• cardiovascular disease = any condition that affects the heart e.g heart attack
• risk factors:

  • excess fat in diet
  • lack of exercise
  • smoking
  • high blood cholesterol
  • genetic factors
  • -> these conditions may cause an atheroma in coronary arteries
• where are atheromas formed?

  coronary arteries
• what is an atheroma?

  the build up of fatty deposits in cornonary arteries
• the consequences of an atheroma:

  • reduced blood flow
  • prevents oxygenated blood from reaching the heart muscle -> can result in heart attack (as the heart muscle had to do anaerobic respiration, which led to a build up of lactic acid, killing the heart muscle cells)
• treatments for cardiovascular disease:

  • statin
  • angioplasty
  • healthy diet / lifestyle
• what is angioplasty?


  a small balloon inflated in blood vessel to remove blockage
• advantage of statin = controls blood cholesterol levels
• disadvantage of statin = can cause side effects
• advantage of angioplasty = improved blood flow
• disadvantage of angioplasty = temporary (if an unhealthy diet is continued the cardiovascular disease will return)
• adv of healthy diet/lifestyle = reduces risk and lowers blood pressure
• dis of healthy diet/lifestyle = high level of self-discipline required