Cornary Heart Disease Flashcards
What are the 2 main forms of lipoproteins?
High Density Lipoproteins (HDL)
Low Density Lipoproteins
What is the role of LDL?
carries lipids in the blood to cells lining the blood vessels
(including the cells lining the arteries, which can lead to the development of fatty streaks within in blood vessel lining)
What is the role of HDL?
transports lipids from cells to the liver, allowing them to be metabolised
What is the ideal ratio for HDL-LDL
HDL>LDL
HDL = healthier
Describe the structure of a blood vessel
Inner layer- epithelia called endothelium
Middle layer- smooth muscle
Outer layer- connective tissue
what is Atherosclerosis?
thickening or hardening of the arteries caused by a build-up of plaque in the inner lining
How may initial injury to the endothelium occur during atherosclerosis?
increased LDL, decreased HDL, high BP, diabetes etc
Describe the development of atherosclerosis?
- Initial injury to endothelium
- Endothelium becomes inflamed
- Macrophages are attracted to the area and release inflamatorry mediaters (CRP, TNF-α)
What is the effect of plaque accumulation?
- the fibrous plaque can calcify and protrude into the vessel lumen, decreasing blood flow
- some plaques are unstable and may rupture
what is ischemia
reduction in blood supply-
therefore reduction in oxygen delivery to cardiac muscle
what is angina?
pain produced as a result of hypoxia (lack of oxygen) to the myocardium
what type of pain does angina cause?
typically chest pain, pain in the neck, jaw or arms
how can angina be treated?
- Angioplasty
- Vasodilationors: to decrease smooth muscle contraction in coronary artery wall
- Cornoary artery bypass graft
what does increased troponin levels indicate?
cardiac damage
what is an NSTEMI?
a less severe heart attack as there is only partial occlusion of the cornoary artery
no ST elevation
