Causes and development of CVD (1.5-1.7, 1.15, 1.18) Flashcards
Anticoagulants
A class of drug used to stop blood from forming clots and used as a treatment for CVD.
Antihypertensives
A class of drug that is used as a treatment for high blood pressure (hypertension).
Atherosclerosis
A disease caused by a buildup of fatty deposits within arteries which narrows them and can restrict blood flow.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD)
A term used to describe a group of diseases related to the heart and blood vessels.
Coagulation
The process of blood turning into a gel and forming a clot, often in response to a broken blood vessel to prevent blood loss.
Risk factor
A factor that increases the likelihood of a person developing a disease.
Statins
A class of drug that is used to lower cholesterol levels in the blood.
Stages leading to atherosclerosis
- Endothelium becomes damaged
- Inflammatory response occurs where white blood cells accumulate
- An atheroma forms with a build up of fatty desposit, including cholesterol
- Calcium salts and fibrous tissue build up, forming plaque
- Plaque causes the lumen to become narrower, reducing blood flow, causing blood pressure to increase
Stages leading to a blood clot
- Thromboplastin is released from a damaged blood vessel
- Triggers the conversion of prothrombin (soluble protein) to thrombin (enzyme)
- Thrombin catalyses the conversion of fibrinogen (soluble protein) to fibrin (insoluble fibres)
- The fibrin fibres tangle together and form a mesh in which platelets and red blood cells get trapped, forming a blood clot
Thromboplastin
A protein released from a damaged blood vessel
Prothrombin
A protein which is converted into thrombin with the help of calcium ions and thromboplastin
Thrombin
An enzyme formed from the conversion of thromboplastin
It catalyses the conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin
Fibrinogen
A soluble protein which is converted into fibrin by the enzyme thrombin
Fibrin
Solid insoluble fibres formed from fibrinogen by thrombin
They tangle together to form a mess in which platelets and red blood cells get trapped, forming a blood clot
How blood clots lead to heart attacks
- Coronary artery becomes blocked by blood clot
- Area of heart muscle cut off from blood supply (ischaemic) and wont receive any oxygen
- Myocardial infarction occurs (heart attack)
- Causes damage and death of heart muscle