factors increasing risk

• what are 3 of the most common risk factors for cardiovascular disease?

  • High blood cholesterol and poor diet
  • Cigarette smoking
  • High blood pressure
• Explain high blood cholesterol as a risk factor?

  • Cholesterol is one of the main parts of the fatty deposits that form atheromas
  • Atheromas can lead to increased blood pressure and blood clots
  • This may block the flow of blood to coronary arteries which could cause a myocardial infarction
• Explain poor diet as a risk factor?

  A diet high in saturated fat is associated with high cholesterol.

  A diet high in SALT also increases the RISK of cardiovascular disease because it increases risk of high blood pressure
• Explain cigarette smoking as a risk factor?

  • nicotine and carbon monoxide are found in cigarette smoke
  • They both increase risk
  • nicotine increases risk of high blood pressure
  • carbon monoxide combines with Hb and reduces amount of O2 transported in the blood = reduces amount of O2 available to tissues
  • If heart muscle doesnt receive enough oxygen it can lead to a heart attack !
• What does smoking also do?

  decreases the amount of antioxidants in the blood- these are important for protecting cells from damage

  Fewer antioxidants = cell damage in the coronary artery walls is more likely = atheroma formation
• explain high blood pressure as a risk factor?

  • High blood pressure increases risk of damage to artery walls
  • damaged walls have an increased risk of atheroma formation = further increase in blood pressure
  • Atheromas also cause blood clots to form = blood clots can block flow of blood to the heart muscle which could possibly result in MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION
• What does anything that increases blood pressure also do?

  Increases risk of cardiovascular disease
• Give examples of things that increase blood pressure?

  Being overweight, not exercising, excessive alcohol consumption
• What do other risk factors of cardiovascular disease include?

  Age (increases risk as age increases) and sex (Men more likely)
• What risk factors cannot be controlled?

  • Having a genetic predisposition to coronary heart disease
  • Having high blood pressure as a result of another condition eg diabetes