cardiovascular malfunctions Flashcards
what is hypertension?
A long term medical condition in which blood pressure in the arteries are constantly elevated.
what is coronary heart disease?
where the coronary arteries struggle to supply the hear muscle with nutrients or oxygen. most causes relate to lifestyle, smoking and high blood pressure (alcohol) can damage the endothelium which allows smooth blood flow to the heart
what is angina?
A condition arising when the cells beyond the obstruction get less oxygen, resulting in pain in exertion - climbing up steps.
how can a cardiac arrest occur?
when a disruption to the electrical activity to the heart happens, resulting in a chaotic beating of the ventricles called ventricular fibrillation.
Angiogram?
a type of x-ray that involves dye visible in x-ray photographs injected into the blood stream so that narrowing of the coronary arteries can be seen.
Angioplasty?
a microscopic deflated ballon is passed into a narrow artery and inflated pushing the artery open.
Coronary bypass?
Using a piece of artery from the chest to bypass/ bridge a blockage region of the coronary artery, allowing blood to flow beyond the blockage.
what is atheroma?
degeneration of the walls of the artery caused by accumulated fatty deposits and scar tissue.
