Cardiovascular disease

• cardiovascular diseases


  diseases of the heart and blood vessels
• coronary heart disease


  when the coronary arteries get blocked by fatty material building up. This causes the arteries to become narrow so blood flow is restricted and there is a lack of oxygen to the heart - can result in a heart attack
• treatments for coronary heart disease

  • statins
  • stents
• statins


  a drug which can reduce the levels or cholesterol in the blood to slow dawn the rate that fatty materials build up
• statins


  + Reduce the amount of cholesterol

  + Increase the amount of beneficial cholesterol

  + may also help prevent other diseases

  ¬ could forget to take them

  ¬ negative side effects such as kidney failure

  ¬ effect of statins isn't instant
• statins 


  + reduces amount of cholesterol

  + Increase beneficial cholesterol

  + may also help prevent other diseases

  ¬ may forget to take pill

  ¬ takes time to work

  ¬ negative side effects e.g kidney faliure
• stents


  tubes put into the artery to keep them open making sure blood can pass through
• stents


  + effective for a long time

  ¬ can get infection from surgery
• artificial heart


  mechanical devices that pump blood for a person whose heart has failed - temporary fix - less likely to be rejected as they are plastic/metal. could get an infection during surgery
• biological or mechanical valves


  when valves are weakened they can be replaced with biological valves (from mammals) or mechanical valves (plastic)
• artificial blood


  blood substitute to replace a lost volume of blood - help keep patient alive - could be an air bubble in the blood