Cardiovascular malfunctions LO1

Question 1

What are the symptoms and effects of hypertension (high blood pressure)?

Answer 1

• as a general guide, ideal blood pressure is considered to be between 90/60 mmHg and 120/80 mmHg. High blood pressure is considered to be 140/90 mmHg or higher
• hypertension rarely has noticeable symptoms

Question 2

What is the biological explanation for hypertension?

Answer 2

• blood pressure is recorded with two numbers. The systolic pressure (higher number) is the force at which your heart pumps blood around your body
• the diastolic pressure (lower number) is the resistance to the blood flow in the blood vessels
• they’re both measured in millimetres of mercury (mmHg). High blood pressure damages the blood vessels.

Question 3

What are the causes of hypertension?

Answer 3

Factors that can increase the risk of high blood pressure include:
- age- the risk of developing high blood pressure increases as you get older
- a family history of high blood pressure
- a high salt intake
- lack of exercise
- being overweight of obese
- smoking and regularly drinking large amounts of alcohol
Conditions that can cause high blood pressure include:
- kidney disease
- diabetes
- hormone problem such as a under- or overactive thyroid.

Question 4

What are the monitoring, treatments and care needs for hypertension?

Answer 4

• blood pressure will need to be monitored- readings will need to be taken regularly
• impact on lifestyle: changes in diet- a balanced diet with low fat and salt; take regular exercise; reduce alcohol intake; stop smoking; get enough sleep (at least 6 hours a night); reduce stress
• medication: doctors may recommend taking one or more medicines to keep the blood pressure under control. These usually need to be taken once a day. Common blood pressure, and beta-blockers, which slow the heart rate.
• impacts: hypertension can lead to an increased risk of coronary heart disease, strokes and kidney disease

Question 5

What are the symptoms and effects of coronary heart disease?

Answer 5

-Angina: symptoms of angina can include breathlessness, nausea, dizziness, and chest pain, a feeling of tightness in the chest that may spread to the arms, neck and jaw
- Heart attack (myocardial infarction): light headed, feeling weak, sweating, shortness of breath and chest pain that can radiate from the chest to the jaw, neck, arms and back can all be signs of a heart attack

Question 6

What is the biological explanation of coronary heart disease?

Answer 6

• walls of the arteries become blocked with fatty deposits, a process called atherosclerosis
• when arteries become completely blocked it can cause a heart attack, which can permanently damage the heart muscle and if not treated straight away can be fatal

Question 7

What are the causes of coronary heart disease?

Answer 7

• coronary heart disease is caused by a build-up of fatty deposits on the walls of the arteries around the heart. Risk of this developing is significantly increased by lifestyle factors such as smoking, lack of regular exercise and obesity, if a person has a high cholesterol level, high blood pressure or diabetes
• age, genes and gender can also influence the likelihood of developing heart disease

Question 8

What are the monitoring, treatments and care needs for coronary heart disease?

Answer 8

• blood tests can check the levels of certain fats, cholesterol, sugar and proteins in the blood
• an electrocardiogram (ECG) measures the electrical activity of the heart and can show any damage to the heart muscles or signs of coronary heart disease
• lifestyle changes
  medication:
• nitrates relax the coronary arteries and allow more blood to reach the heart; these can be used to treat and prevent angina
• cholesterol- lowering medicines, such as statins
• Antiplatelet medicines, such as aspirin or clopidogrel, and anticoagulant medicines make the blood less likely to form clots. They also reduce the risk of having a heart attack.
• ACE inhibitors lower blood pressure and are used if someone has had a heart attack
  Surgical procedures:
• angioplasty passes a tiny deflated balloon into a narrow artery and then inflates it, pushing the artery open; sometimes a stent or mesh tube is inserted to treat narrow arteries
• a coronary artery bypass graft is surgery to bypass the narrow coronary arteries to improve the flow of blood to the heart
• coronary heart disease cant be cured but treatment can help manage the symptoms and reduce the chances of problems such as heart attacks
• PIES impact on being able to complete daily living tasks, and emotional and social impacts