cardiovascular disease Flashcards
what is cardiovascular disease
term used to describe diseases of the heart or blood vessels
what is coronary heart disease
when the coronary arteries that supply the blood to the heart get blocked by layers of fatty material
how can coronary heart disease cause a heart attack
The effects of coronary heart disease cause arteries to become narrow so blood flow is restricted and there is a lack of oxygen to the heart
what are stents
stents are tubes that are inserted inside arteries to keep them open and make sure blood can pass through to the heart
what are the positives of stents
stents are effective for a long time and the recovery time from the surgery is quick
what are the negatives of stents 
there is a risk of infection from surgery and sometimes patients develop a blood clot near the stent called a thrombosis
what are statins
statins are drugs that can reduce the amount of bad cholesterol present in the bloodstream this slows down the rate of fatty deposits forming
what is cholesterol
essential lipid that your body produces and needs to function properly
what type of cholesterol can cause health problem
ldl cholesterol
what can to much of ldl cause 
fatty deposits to form inside arteries which can lead to coronary heart disease
what are the positives of statins
can reduce the risks of strokes, coronary heart disease and heart attack
what are the negatives of statins
someone may forget to take the drug and they must be taken regularly
can sometimes cause headaches and some serious side-effects like kidney failure
what are artificial hearts
mechanical devices that pump blood for a person whose heart has failed
what are the positives of an artificial heart
they are less likely to be rejected by the bodies immune system then a donor heart
what are the negatives of an artificial heart
they do not work as well as healthy natural ones
blood does not flow through as smoothly and could cause blood clots and lead to strokes
patients must take drugs to thin their blood

