Cardiovascular Disease Flashcards
What is cardiovascular disease (CVD)?
CVD refers to diseases and injuries affecting the heart and blood vessels, including those in the heart, brain, and throughout the body.
What is atherosclerosis, and how does it impact cardiovascular health?
Atherosclerosis is the buildup of plaque in arteries, narrowing them and reducing blood flow, increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke.
What is coronary heart disease (CHD), and how does it develop?
CHD occurs when plaque accumulates in the coronary arteries, restricting blood supply to the heart, potentially leading to a heart attack.
What is a myocardial infarction?
A myocardial infarction (heart attack) occurs when blood flow to the heart is blocked, leading to damage or death of heart tissue.
How does thrombosis contribute to cardiovascular disease?
Thrombosis is the formation of a blood clot inside a vessel, which can obstruct blood flow and lead to heart attacks or strokes.
How does LDL contribute to atherosclerosis in 6 steps?
LDL transports cholesterol to cells.
If not taken up, LDL remains in circulation.
Over time, LDL becomes oxidized and deposits in small blood vessel injuries, triggering an immune response
Macrophages engulf oxidized LDL, forming foam cells.
Foam cells accumulate, creating a fatty plaque
Plaques form, narrowing arteries and increasing CHD risk.
What are the 3 potential consequences of atherosclerosis?
Narrowing of blood vessels, restricting blood flow.
Plaque rupture leading to blood clots.
Increased risk of CHD and stroke.
What are 4 unmodifiable risk factors for CHD?
Age
Biological sex (higher risk in males)
Family history/genetics
Ethnicity
What are 9 modifiable risk factors for CHD?
High blood cholesterol
High blood pressure
Diabetes
Overweight/obesity
Excessive alcohol intake
Physical inactivity
Smoking
Stress
Poor diet
What is the classical diet-heart hypothesis?
It proposes that high saturated fat, high cholesterol, and low PUFA intake increase serum cholesterol, leading to plaque formation, narrowed arteries, and heart attacks.
What is measured in a lipid profile for assessing CHD risk?
Total cholesterol
LDL cholesterol
HDL cholesterol
Triacylglycerols (TAG)
What 3 lipid ratios are most predictive of CHD risk?
Total cholesterol/HDL ratio
LDL/HDL ratio
ApoB/ApoA ratio (ApoB indicates LDL levels, while ApoA is associated with HDL
What are 4 key critiques of the diet-heart hypothesis?
Most variation in serum cholesterol is not explained by dietary fat/cholesterol intake.
Type of fat is more important than total fat intake.
Other CHD factors include blood pressure, lipid profile, thrombotic tendency, and hyperglycemia.
Lipoprotein(a) has both pro-thrombotic and atherosclerotic properties, worsening CHD risk.
How does dietary cholesterol impact serum cholesterol levels?
Dietary cholesterol has minimal impact on serum cholesterol in most individuals due to the body’s ability to regulate endogenous cholesterol synthesis.
How does the 4 types of dietary fat influence serum cholesterol?
Trans fats: Lower HDL, raise total cholesterol.
Saturated fats: Increase LDL.
PUFAs: Increase HDL, lower LDL and total cholesterol.
MUFAs: Generally beneficial but harder to separate from SF in studies.
hat are the AMDR (Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Range) recommendations for dietary fats?
Total fat: 20-35% of energy
Omega-6 PUFA: 5-10% of energy
Omega-3 PUFA: 1-2% of energy
How does replacing saturated fat affect CVD risk?
Replacing SF with PUFA reduces CVD risk.
Replacing SF with refined carbs does not provide benefits and may increase CVD risk.
How do omega-3 fatty acids impact cardiovascular health in 4 ways?
Lower blood TAG levels.
Reduce inflammation.
Improve cardiac rhythm.
Decrease thrombotic tendency.
: How does fiber intake affect CHD risk in 3 ways?
Binds to bile acids, promoting cholesterol excretion.
Improves glycemic control and insulin sensitivity.
Supports weight management.
What role do antioxidants play in reducing CVD risk?
Antioxidants like vitamins C, D, beta-carotene, and selenium prevent LDL oxidation, reducing plaque formation and atherosclerosis risk.
How do phytochemicals contribute to heart health?
Flavonoids and stilbenoids (e.g., resveratrol, pterostilbene): Have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and gene-modulating effects.
What is the 3 roles of vitamin D in cardiovascular health?
Decreases inflammation.
Regulates vascular function.
Enhances endothelial cell health.
How does magnesium impact heart disease risk in 2 ways?
Modulates vascular tone and myocardial excitability.
Supports endothelial function.
How do B vitamins influence CHD risk in 2 ways?
Support methyl group exchange in metabolic pathways.
Elevated homocysteine levels may indicate increased cardiovascular risk.
