Coronary heart disease Flashcards
What is coronary heart disease?
When one of the coronary arteries (arteries supplying the heart with blood) gets blocked, so that the cardiac muscles run short of oxygen.
How does cardiac arrest/ heart attack happen?
Cardiac muscles cells cannot respire, so they can’t obtain energy to allow them to contract. The heart stops beating.
What are the risk factors for CHD?
- Smoking cigarretes
- Diets high in saturated fats, salt and cholesterol
- Gender
- Age
- Obesity
- Stress
- Genetics
- High blood pressure
- Blood cholesterol level
What lifestyle changes can help prevent CHD
- Manage stress levels
- Diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol
- Excercise regularly
- Keep weight at a suitable level
- Stop smoking cigarretes
- Avoid diets high in animal fats
How do statins and aspirin help treat CHD?
Statins help reduce cholesterol levels in blood. Both drugs lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of blood clots forming inside blood vessels
What is coronary bypass operation?
A blocked or seriously damaged artery is replaced with a length of blood vessel taken from another part of the body
What is a stent?
A mesh tube inserted in the artery to keep it open
What is angioplasty?
When a small balloon is inserted into the collapsed artery and inflated using water. The artery is pushed open and the balloon is removed.
What risk is faced when a heart transplant is gotten?
The immune system may reject the transplanted heart, so the patient must take drugs to suppress their immune system for the rest of their life.
