Cardiovascualr diseases

• Cardiovascular diseases

  Diseases of the heart and blood vessels
• Cardiovascular diseases

  • They are non-communicable, meaning they cannot be passed from person to person
• Coronary heart disease


  Layers of fatty material build up inside the coronary arteries, causing them to narrow and reduce blood flow to the heart muscle
• Coronary heart disease

  1. Reduced blood flow

  2. Lack of oxygen for heart muscle

  3. Heart attack (in extreme cases)
• Statins


  Drugs that reduce the level of cholesterol in the blood, slowing down the buildup of fatty materials in the arteries
• Statins

  • Effective at reducing the risk of coronary heart disease
  • Can cause unwanted side effects like liver problems
• Stent


  A tube inserted into a coronary artery to keep it open and allow normal blood flow
• Stent

  • Allows normal blood flow through the artery
  • Does not treat the underlying causes of the disease
• Heart valve problems

  Valves do not fully open or are leaky, causing the heart to work harder
• Mechanical heart valves

  Made of metal or animal tissue, can last a lifetime but increase the risk of blood clots
• Heart failure


  The heart cannot pump enough blood around the body
• Heart transplant


  A donated heart or heart and lungs are used to replace the patient's damaged heart
• Heart transplant

  • Not enough donated hearts available
  • Patients must take drugs to prevent rejection by the immune system
• Artificial heart


  A temporary solution to allow a damaged heart to rest or while waiting for a transplant
• Artificial heart

  • Increases the risk of blood clotting
  • Not a long-term solution for heart failure