Cardiovascular disease Flashcards
What are cardiovascular diseases?
Diseases of the heart and blood vessels
Describe coronary heart disease?
Layers of fat build up within the coronary arteries causing the artery to narrow
This means there is less blood flow and eventually a lack of oxygen to the heart muscle
This can also cause a heart attack
How can coronary heart disease be treated?
Using statins and stents
What is a statin?
A drug which reduces the level of cholesterol in the blood to reduce the amount of fatty build up in the arteries
What are advantages and disadvantages of statins?
One advantage is statins have been proven to work and are effective
However, they can cause side effects such as liver problems
What is a stent?
A stent is a tube which can be placed into the coronary artery to keep it open
What are advantages and disadvantages of a stent?
The advantage of a stent is that blood can flow normally through the artery
However, the disadvantage is that it doesn’t stop blockages elsewhere
Why do people need a valve replacement?
Their vavle might not open properly which causes the heart to enlarge
Or their valves may be leaky cause them to become tired
What are the advantages and disadvantages of mechanical valves?
One advantage is they last a lifetime
However a disadvantage is they can cause blood clots so you have to take anticlotting drugs
What are the advantages and disadvantages of biological valves?
One advantage of biological valves is that patients don’t need to take drugs
However, one disadvantage of them is that they have to be replaced
How is heart failure treated?
A donated heart
An artificial heart
Problems with treating heart failure?
There aren’t enough donated hearts available for every patient
Also, the patient must take drugs to stop the heart from being rejected
Problems with artificial hearts?
They increase the risk of blood clotting and can only be used for a short time
