Atherosclerosis

Question 1

What is atherosclerosis?

Answer 1

The build-up of atheromas in blood vessels, causing damaged vessels and increased blood pressure

Question 2

How do atheromas develop?

Answer 2

By the endothelial layer of the atrial lumen becoming damaged and the resulting inflammatory response in addition to calcium salts / fibrous tissues causing a blockade along the atrial lumen

Question 3

Is atherosclerosis a positive or negative feedback loop?

Answer 3

Positive, it is self-perpetuating because atheromas increase blood pressure which leads to damaged atrial walls and thus the creation of more atheromas

Question 4

Why do only arteries become infected with atherosclerosis?

Answer 4

They are the only vessels with high pressure, walls have a much higher chance of being damaged by the high pressure than other vessels

Question 5

What are risk factors of developing atherosclerosis?

Answer 5

High blood pressure, lack of exercise, high salt diet, atrial damage in general, age, DNA

Question 6

What is a foam cell and how does it contribute to the creation of an atheroma?

Answer 6

A foam cell is a white blood cell that has accumulated a large amount of cholesterol due to an inflammatory response. The foam cell deposits the cholesterol around the atrial lumen, causing a plaque to form

Question 7

What is coronary heart disease?

Answer 7

Disease of the arteries creates fatty plaques in the arteries which limits the amount of blood that can flow through the artery.

Question 8

What is ischemia?

Answer 8

When not enough blood reaches the heart due to fatty plaques in the arteries