Cardiovascular Disease Flashcards
Coronary heart disease
When coronary arteries that supply blood to muscle of heart get blocked by layers of fatty material building up
Causes arteries to become narrow so blood flow is restricted and lack of oxygen supplied to heart muscle - can result in a heart attack
How can stents lower the risk of a heart attack?
Keep arteries open making sure that blood can pass through the heart muscles and keep the heart beating.
Pros of a stent?
Effective for a long time
Recovery time is quick
Cons of a stent?
Risk of complications during operation
Risk of infection from surgery
Risk of a blood clot near stent - thrombosis
What do statins do?
Reduce the amount of cholesterol in the blood so slows down rate of fatty deposits forming
Pros of statins?
Reduces risk of strokes, CHD and heart attacks
Can remove bad cholesterol from blood
May prevent other diseases
Cons of statins?
Long term drug that must be taken regularly - risk of being forgotten
Can cause negative side effects e.g. headaches
Can cause serious side effects e.g. kidney failure, liver damage, memory loss
Effect of statins isn’t instant
