Cardiovascular disease

• Examples of cardiovascular diseases

  • Coronary heart disease
  • Heart attacks
  • Faulty heart valves
  • Heart failure
• Coronary heart disease


  • Buildup of fatty material makes the lumen of arteries become narrower, reducing blood flow to the heart
• Treatments for cardiovascular diseases

  • Stents
  • Statins
  • Valve replacement
  • Heart transplant
• Cardiovascular Disease is a term used to describe diseases of the heart or blood vessels for example coronary heart disease
• Coronary heart disease is when the arteries that supply the blood to the muscle of the heart get blocked by buildup of fatty material
• Stents


  1. Inserted into arteries

  2. Keep them open

  3. Allow blood to flow through to the heart muscle
• Stents


  • Effective for some time
  • Risks of complications during surgery and risk of restenosis (re-narrowing of the artery)
• Cholesterol


  An essential lipid that the body produces and needs to function properly, but too much of a certain type can cause health problems
• Statins


  1. Reduce the amount of bad cholesterol in the bloodstream

  2. Slow down the rate of fatty deposits forming
• Statins disadvantages


  • Reduce the risk of strokes, coronary heart disease and heart attacks
  • Can increase the amount of beneficial HDL cholesterol
  • May have side effects like headaches, liver damage and memory loss
• Blood vessels are designed for their function
• Types of blood vessels


  • Arteries
  • Capillaries
  • Veins
• Arteries


  Carry blood under pressure from the heart
• Capillaries


  Very small blood vessels where exchange of materials between blood and body tissues occurs
• Veins


  Carry blood back to the heart
• Red blood cells carry oxygen from the lungs to all the cells in the body
• Red blood cells


  • Biconcave disc shape for large surface area
  • No nucleus to allow more room for haemoglobin
• White blood cells defend the body against infection
• White blood cells


  • Can change shape to engulf pathogens
  • Produce antibodies to fight microorganisms
  • Have a nucleus unlike red blood cells
• Platelets


  Small fragments of cells that help blood to clot at a wound
• Plasma


  The liquid part of blood that carries red and white blood cells, platelets, nutrients, waste products, and other substances