cardiovascular disease

• what is coronary heart disease?

  its when the coronary arteries that supply the blood to the muscle of the heart get blocked by layers of fatty material buildup.
• what is a stent?

  a stent is a tube that is inserted inside an artery
• how do stents reduce the risk of heart attacks?

  stents keep coronary arteries open, so oxygenated blood can flow to the heart muscle
• what is a disadvantage of using stents?

  • risk of infection
  • risk of complications during operation
  • patients can develop a blood clot (thrombosis)
• Angelica has developed canary heart disease. describe the changes that habe occur in her coronary arteries. what are the consequences?


  the coronary arteries that supply blood have been blocked by layers of fatty material. it narrows the arteries which restricts blood flow and reduces the amount of oxygen that reaches the heart.
• what do statins do?

  they reduce cholesterol in the blood
• what is cholesterol?


  its an essential lipid that ur body produces in order to function properly. too bad much bad cholesterol (LDL) can cause health problems.
• what are statins?


  they are drugs which reduce the bad cholesterol in the bloodstream - slows down the rate of fatty deposits forming
• what is an advantage of statins?

  • can reduce strokes, coronary heart disease & heart attacks
  • sttsains
• what are the advantages of statins?

  • reduce risks of strokes, coronary heart disease, heart attacks
  • can increase the amount of beneficial cholesterol (HDL)
  • they can help prevent other diseases
• Ali has a heart failure and is fitting with an artificial heart. outline how this compares to having a heart transplant using a real donor heart.

  artificial heat is less likely to be rejected by the immune system. however blood doesn't flow through an artificial heart as smoothy so he will have to take drugs to thin his blood - can cause problems w bleeding. artificial heart can also wear out or the electrical motor could fail.
• what are artificial hearts?

  a mechanical device that pump blood for a person whose own heart has failed
• what are the advantages of an artificial heart?

  • less likely to be rejected by the immune system
  • made from metals or plastics so the body doesn't recognise them as foreign
  • keep a person alive till a donor heart is found
• what is the disadvantage of an artificial heart?

  • surgery can lead to bleeding and infection
  • parts of the heart can wear out or the electrical motor could fail
  • blood doesn't flow through as a smoothly which causes blood clots and lead to strokes
  • patients have to take drugs to thin blood - can cause bleeding problems
• why is having a leaky value dangerous?


  it allows blood to flow in both directions rather than just forward - means blood doesn't circulate as effectively
• what are biological valves?

  they are valves taken from humans or other mammals
• what is a mechanical valve?

  man made valves
• what is artificial blood?

  a blood substitute which is used to replace the lost volume of blood
• what are the disadvantages of using statins?

  • long term drug that have to be taken regularly - could forget
  • negative side effects - headaches, kidney failure, liver damage, memory loss
  • effect isn't instant