5. Cardiovascular Disease

Question 1

What is cardiovascular disease?

Answer 1

Diseases of the heart / blood vessels

Question 2

Examples of cardiovascular disease

Answer 2

Aneurysms
Thrombosis
Myocardial infarction

Most cardiovascular diseases start with atheroma formation

Question 3

Coronary heart diseas

Answer 3

Arteries have lots of atheromas in them which restricts blood flow to heart muscle - lead to myocardial Infarction

Question 4

Atheroma formation

Answer 4

Damage of the endothelium (high blood pressure) macrophages / fat from blood clump together under the lining forming fatty streak.

Over time, white blood cells/ lipids/ connective tissue build up/ harden doming fibrous plaque - atheroma.

Question 5

Why is atheroma formation bad ?

Answer 5

Partially ( eventually fully ) block the lumen of artery , this restricts blood flow - causing blood pressure to increase

Question 6

Aneurysm

Answer 6

Blood like swelling of artery
Starts with atheroma formation
Plaque damages/ weaken / narrows artery = increases blood pressure

When blood travels through weakened artery at high pressure it pushes inner layer of artery thought the outer elastic layer forming aneurysm - burst - haemorrhage

Question 7

Thrombosis

Answer 7

Blood clot starting with atheroma formation
Plaque ruptured through endothelium
Damages artery leaving rough surface.
Platelets/ fibrin accurate at damages site - blood clot.

Cause blockage
Or block blood vessel elsewhere

Question 8

Myocardial infarction

Answer 8

Heart attack

Coronary arteries become blocked meaning blood work o2 can’t get to part of heart.

Question 9

Why is heart attack bad

Answer 9

Damage / death of heart

Chest pain/ short breath / sweating

Death if large parts affected