Cardiovascular disease

• Cardiovascular disease - diseases of the heart or blood vessel
• Coronary heart disease - a disease caused by buildup of fatty deposits inside the coronary artery, this narrows it and reduces the blood flow to heart muscle
• Coronary artery - arteries which supply oxygenated blood to the heart muscle
• Treatments for cardiovascular disease

  • Statins
  • Stents
  • Heart transplant
  • Artificial heart
  • Replacement of heart valves
• Statins

  Advantages:

  • reduce LDL cholesterol in blood which slows formation of fatty deposits

  Disadvantages:

  • need to be taken long-term
  • side effects
  • may not have immediate effect
• Stents

  Advantages:

  • keeps coronary arteries open for a long time
  • recovery is quick
  • lowers chance of heart attack

  Disadvantages:

  • surgery can cause infection
  • risk of heart attack during surgery
  • chance of thrombosis (blood clots forming near stent)
• Heart transplant (from donor)

  Advantages:

  • treats heart failure
  • donor hearts work better than artificial

  Disadvantages:

  • chances of infection after surgery
  • donor heart can be rejected
• Artificial heart transplant

  Advantages:

  • can be used while waiting for donor heart or or while heart is healing

  Disadvantages:

  • infection after surgery
  • can be rejected, metal and plastic can be recognised as foreign
  • thormobosis (blood clots) leading to strokes
  • mechanical parts could wear out or motor could fail
• Replacement of heart valves

  Advantages:

  • treats severe valve damage
  • if using mechanical valve, it will last for a long time
  • if using biological valve, it works well and less likely to be rejected

  Disadvantages:

  • if using mechanical valve, constant medication is needed to stop blood clotting around the valve
  • if using biological valve, it will only last 12-15 years
  • infection after surgery
  • can cause thrombosis (blood clotting)