2.7

• Cardiovascular disease (CVD)

  Any kind of disease related to the heart or circulatory system
• Main types of CVD

  • Angina
  • Heart attacks
  • Strokes
  • Peripheral vascular diseases
• Atherosclerosis

  A blockage or narrowing of the lumen and hardening of the arteries caused by the formation of an atheroma under the endothelium
• Formation of atheroma

  1. Injury to endothelium

  2. Accumulation of fat, calcium, cholesterol and fibrous materials under endothelium

  3. Atheroma formation
• Atheroma formation

  Narrows the lumen
• Narrowed lumen

  Increases blood pressure as heart has to work harder
• Atheroma formation

  Coats smooth muscle and elastic fibers, making artery less stretchy and more brittle
• Causes of atherosclerosis


  • High blood pressure
  • Carbon monoxide from cigarettes
  • Diabetes
  • High blood cholesterol
  • High fat diet
  • Low exercise
• Progression of atherosclerosis

  1. Lumen gets smaller and smaller

  2. Blood struggles to get through

  3. Blood clots (thrombus formation)
• The artery does not narrow, it is the lumen that narrows
• Atherosclerosis

  Increases blood pressure