Cardiovascular Disease Flashcards
Most cardiovascular disease starts with atheroma formation. Describe this process.
- If damage occurs to the endothelium white blood cells and lipids from the blood clamp together under the lining to form fatty streaks
- Overtime, more white blood cell cells and lipids and connective tissue buildup in harden to form fibrous plague called atheroma
- This plaque partially blocked the lumen of the artery restricting blood flow
What is coronary heart disease?
Type of cardiovascular disease
- Occurs when coronary arteries have lots of aromas in them which restricts blood flow to the heart muscle
- Can lead to myocardial infarction
Aneurysm- balloon like swelling of the artery
- What is this and describe the process?
- atheroma plaque damaging and we can arteries
- They also narrow arteries in increasing blood pressures
- When blood travels through a weekend artery at high-pressure, it may push the thinner layers of the artery through the outer elastic layer to form a balloon like swelling
- This aneurysm may burst causing a haemorrhage- bleeding
Thrombosis- formation of a blood clot
- Describe how this happens
-an atheroma plaque can rupture/ first through the endothelium of an artery
- This damages the artery wall and leaves a rough surface
- Platelets and fibrin (protein) accumulate at the sight of damage and form of blood clot
- This blood clot can cause a complete blockage of the artery or it can become dislodged and block the blood vessel elsewhere in the body
- Debris from the rupture can cause another blood clot to form further down the artery
Interrupted blood flow to the heart can cause myocardial infarction
- Describe this process
- The heart muscle is supplied with blood by the coronary arteries
- If the coronary artery becomes completely blocked an area of the heart, muscle will be tightly cut off from blood supply receiving no oxygen
- This causes myocardial infarction more commonly known as a heart attack
- Heart attack can cause damage in death of the heart muscle
Symptoms of a heart attack
Pain in the chest and upper body, shortness of breath and sweating
What happens if large areas of the heart are affected by a heart attack?
Heart failure, which is often fatal
How is high blood cholesterol A risk factor for cardiovascular disease?
- cholesterol is one of the main constituents of the fatty deposits that form atheromas
- atheromas later to increase blood pressure and blood clots
- This could block the flow of blood to the coronary arteries which could cause a heart attack
How can poor diet increase the risk of cardiovascular disease?
- A diet in high saturated fat is associated with high blood cholesterol levels
- A diet high in salt also increases the risk of cardiovascular disease because it increases the risk of high blood pressure
How does smoking increase the risk of cardiovascular disease?
- Both nicotine and carbon monoxide found in cigarette smoke increase the risk
- Nicotine increases the risk of high blood pressure
- Carbon monoxide combines with haemoglobin and reduces the amount of oxygen transported in the blood
How does high blood pressure increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases?
- High blood pressure increases the risk of damage to artery walls
- Damage walls have an increased risk of atheroma formation
- atheromas can cause blood clots
- Blood clots cat block flow of blood to heart muscle
