Cardiovascular Disease & Treatments Flashcards
What are Cardiovascular Diseases (CVD)?
Diseases that affect the heart and circulatory system.
What can coronary heart disease (CHD) lead to?
Heart attacks.
What is atherosclerosis?
Plaque build-up on the artery wall that narrows the lumen and reduces blood flow.
How can strokes/cerebrovascular accidents happen?
Blockage - clots/plaques
Ruptures - bleeding
What can atherosclerosis lead to?
A heart attack - thrombosis (clotting) occurs over the plaque, which blocks blood flow to heart muscle and it dies.
What factors can influence CVD?
Genetics, age, inactivity, smoking, high blood pressure, diet.
What does a stent do?
Reopens a blood vessel and supports weak section of an artery.
What is a bypass?
Can be used to pass blood in a different direction, away from the damaged section of a blood vessel.
What other ways can CVD be treated?
Diet and exercise - first option.
Antihypertensives - reduces blood pressure.
Statins - reduces LDL (low density lipids).
Blood thinners - e.g. aspirin, makes it easier for blood to pass through.
Heart transplant - last, LAST resort.
What do Thiazide diuretics do?
Reduce blood volume (blood thinner)
What are ACE inhibitors?
Blocks conversion of enzyme (angiotensin I).
Increases urine production.
Reduces blood volume (blood thinner)
What are Ca2+ channel blockers?
Relax and widen arteries.
Reduces heartbeat strength.
What are Beta (β) blockers?
Slow heart rate and decrease/block production of adrenaline.
What are immunosuppressants?
Lowers immune response in the body, and increases risk of:
Infection
Diabetes
Cancer
Kidney failure/problems
Advantage of heart transplants…
It is now becoming a routine medical procedure.
