Cardiovascular disease

• Cardiovascular diseases are disease of the heart and blood vessels
• Cardiovascular diseases are non communicable
• Coronary heart disease layers of fatty material build up inside the coronary artery
• the fatty material in the artey causes the artery to narrow which reduces the flow of blood resulting in a lack of oxygen for the heat muscle
• In extreme cases Cononary heart disease can result in a heart attack As the heart has been starved of oxygen
• Statins are drugs which reduce the levels of cholesterol in the blood slowing down the rate of fatty deposits forming in the arteries
• statins can cause liver problems
• In some people conorary heart disease can cause almost a total blockage of a coronary artery this can be treated with a stent
• A stent is a tube which can be inserted into the coronary artery to keep it open meaning the blood can flow normally through the artery
• A stent will not prevent other regions of the coronary artery from narrowing it does not treat the underlying cause of the disease
• When heart valves are faulty we can replace them with a mechanical bauble or a valve from an animal such as a pig
• Machanical valves can last a lifetime but can increase risk of blood clots meaning the patient have to take anti clotting drugs
• Valves from animals do not Last as long and may need to be replaced
• In some patients with cariovascular disease the heart can not pump enough blood round the body this is called heart failure
• People with heart failure are sometimes given a donated heart or a donated heart and lungs
• There are not enough donated hearts available to treat everyone who needs one
• The patient with heart failure must take drugs to stop the heart from being rejected by the immune system.
• Sometimes a paitient Can be given an artificial heart as a temporary solution
• Artificial hearts increase the risk of blood clotting and are not a long term solution to heart failure