1.2 Who is at risk of CVD? Flashcards
What is risk?
The probability of occurrence of some unwanted event or outcome.
How do dietary factors increase CVD risk?
A diet in high saturated fats increases risk of CVD because it increases cholesterol level, which increases atheroma formation (which can lead to thrombosis).
A diet high in salt also increases CVD risk because it increases the risk of high blood pressure.
How does high blood pressure increase the risk of CVD?
It increases the risk of damage to the artery walls, which increases the risk of atheroma formation, which can lead to CVD. Blood pressure is increased by excessive alcohol consumption, stress and diet.
How does smoking increase the risk of CVD?
1) Carbon monoxide binds irreversibly to haemoglobin, reducing the volume of oxygen it can carry.
2) Nicotine makes platelets sticky, increasing the chance of blood clots forming.
3) Decreases amount of antioxidants in the blood - these are important in protecting cells from damage.
How does inactivity increase the risk of CVD?
Increases blood pressure.
How can genetics affect your risk of CVD?
Some inherit particular alleles that make them more likely to have high blood pressure etc.
How can age affect your risk of CVD?
Risk increases with age because plaque can build up slowly over time, leading to CVD.
How can gender affect your risk of CVD?
Women are less likely to have CVD as oestrogen increases HDL levels.
What is the ideal blood pressure?
120/80
How might people overestimate risk?
They may believe things to be a greater risk than they actually are. e.g. they may have known someone who smoked and died from CVD, so think that if you smoke you will die of CVD.
How might people underestimate risk?
They may believe things to be a lower risk than they actually are. This could be due to a lack of information making them unaware of the factors that contribute to diseases like CVD.
What are the reasons for underestimates?
Risk is undertaken voluntarily
Risk is natural, familiar, not feared, fair, common
Consequences are in the long term
What are the reasons for overestimates?
Risk is involuntary, unnatural, unfamiliar, feared, unfair, rare, sudden
What is a correlation?
Two variables are correlated when change in one is accompanied with a change in the other. This could be positive or negative.
What is a causation?
Two variable are causally linked when a change in one is responsible for a change in the other. It implies there is a mechanism by which one variable leads to the change in the other variable.
What is probability?
The numerical chance that the event or outcome will occur.
