4. Reducing the risk of CVD

Question 1

What are the 4 types of drugs and their function used in reducing the risk of CVD?

Answer 1

Antihypertensives- reduce blood pressure
Statins- lower cholesterol
Anticoagulents- reduce formation of blood clots
Platelet Inhibitory- reduce formation of blood clots by preventing platelets from clumping together

Question 2

(Antihypertensive) What do ACE inhibitors do and what are their side effects?

Answer 2

Reduces the hormone that causes vasoconstriction, lowering blood pressure
Side effects- dizziness, abnormal heart rhythms

Question 3

(Antihypertensive) What do calcium channel blockers do and what are their side effects?

Answer 3

Block the calcium channels, preventing Ca getting into the muscle cells so they can contract. They prevent this in the artery walls so blood pressure is lowered.
Side effects- dizziness, abnormal heart rhythms

Question 4

(Antihypertensive) What do diueretics do and what are their side effects?

Answer 4

Increase the volume of urine produced so the blood plasma volume is also decreased, lowering blood pressure.
Side effects- dizziness, nausea

Question 5

What do statins do and what are their side effects?

Answer 5

Inhibit the enzyme involved in LDL production so there is less cholesterol in the blood.
Side effects- dizziness, chest pain

Question 6

(Anticoagulent) What does warfarin do and what are their side effects?

Answer 6

Affects synthesis of clotting factors
Side effects- dizziness, excessive bleeding
((cannot get rid of existing blood clots))

Question 7

(Platelet inhibitory) What does aspirin do and what are their side effects?

Answer 7

Reduces the stickiness of platelets and therefore the likelihood of a clot forming.
Side effects- allergic reactions, excessive bleeding

Question 8

(Platelet inhibitory) What does clopidogrel so and what is its side effects?

Answer 8

Slow or stops platelets sticking to vessel walls.

Side effects- dizziness, excessive bleeding

Question 9

What are some lifestyle changes that could be made to lower the risk of CVD?

Answer 9

stop smoking, excercise more, reduce alcohol intake, diet low in sat fat and salt, maintaining a low blood pressure, maintain a ‘normal’ BMI, high intake of omega 3 fatty acids.

Question 10

What is the benefit of eating more non-starch polysaccharides?

Answer 10

They are a soluble fibre that is only partially digested so form a gel trapping cholesterol preventing its absorption

Question 11

What do sterols and stanols do?

Answer 11

Naturally produced in plants, stanols are saturated.

They reduce the amount of cholesterol absorbed in the intestines.