Cardiovascular Disease Flashcards
What is atherosclerosis
Accumulation of substances I.e fibres and salts
This forms an atheroma beneath endothelium of artery
What happens when an atheroma grows?
Artery thickens and loses elasticity
Lumen narrows -restricts blood flow -increased blood pressure
What can atherosclerosis cause? (3)
Cardiovascular diseases such as
Angina
Stroke
Heart attack
What an contribute to formation of an atheroma ? (5)
Diabetes, low HDL AND LDL, high blood pressure, smoking and family history
Describe thrombosis (4)
- Atheroma ruptures, damages endothelium which releases clotting factors
- this triggers reaction of inactive prothrombin activating thrombin
- thrombin the causes soluble fibrinogen to insoluble fibrin
- fibrin forms mesh which traps platelets & blood cells to for thrombus ( clot)
What happens when a thrombus breaks loose?
It forms an embolus
What does an embolus do?
Travels through the bloodstream and could block a blood vessel
What could the blocking of a blood vessel lead to ? (2)
Deprives the cell of oxygen
Lead to death of tissues
What can a thrombus in the coronary artery cause?
Myocardial infarction (MI)
What can a thrombus in a brains artery cause?
Stroke
What is peripheral vascular disorder
Narrowing of arteries due to atherosclerosis
What is deep vein thrombosis (2)
Formation of thrombus in a deep vein usually in lower leg
Pain in leg muscle due to lack of oxygen
What is cholesterol (2)
- component of cell membrane and precursor for synthesis of steroids such as sex hormone
- most cholesterol synthesised by the liver from saturated fats
What does HDL do?
Transports excess cholesterol from body cells to the liver for elimination so it doesn’t accumulate in blood
What does HDL stand for?
What does LDL stand for?
High density lipoprotein
Low density lipoprotein
What does LDL do?
Takes cholesterol to the body cells
What do most cells have?
LDL receptors that take LDL into cells to release cholesterol
What happens when a cell has sufficient cholesterol levels?
Negative feedback - inhibits ldl receptors so LDL continues to circulate around blood and can release cholesterol in arteries causing atheroma
What is families hypercholesterolaemia and what is it caused by ?
Cause by autosomal dominance
High levels of cholesterol
What happens in familial hypercholesterolaemia
Decreased number of LDL receptors so stops LDL releasing cholesterol into cells
What can determine FH and what are treatment?
Genetic screening
Lifestyle choices and drugs like statin
What can high HDL to low LDL cause ?
Lower blood cholesterol and less chance of atherosclerosis
What can lower blood cholesterol
Physical activity
Less saturated fat in diet ( have in saturated)
Statins (drugs)
