cq2; preventable chronic diseases (cvd) Flashcards
What is CVD?
Damage to, or disease of, the heart, arteries, veins and/or smaller blood vessels.
What are the three major forms of CVD?
- Coronary heart disease (ischaemic heart disease)
- Stroke (cerebrovascular)
- Peripheral vascular disease
What is coronary heart disease?
Poor supply of blood to the muscular walls of heart by the coronary arteries.
What is stroke?
An interruption of supply of blood to the brain
What is peripheral vascular disease?
Diseases of the arteries, arterioles and capillaries, which affect the limbs, usually reducing blood supply to legs
What is atherosclerosis?
The build up of fatty/fibrous material on the interior walls of arteries.
How does atherosclerosis lead to detrimental health?
- The build up of fatty materials → decreased blood flow → increased BP
What are factors that speed up atherosclerosis?
- High BP
- Smoking
- Fat rich diets
What is Arteriosclerosis?
The hardening of the arteries
How is Arteriosclerosis developed?
- Mainly through the aging process
- Develops as the fatty deposits of Atherosclerosis build-up and arteries become harder and less
elastic
Difference between Atherosclerosis and Arteriosclerosis?
Atherosclerosis → Blocked
Arteriosclerosis → Hard
What casues coronary heart disease (ischaemic heart disease)?
A reduction in the supply of blood to the heart as coronary arteries narrow
- Can be a result of atherosclerosis
How does a heart attack occur?
Occurs when a coronary artery becomes completely blocked and the heart is deprived of oxygenated blood , which is needed for proper function.
Why is oxygenated blood needed for the heart?
Lack of oxygenated blood causes tissues in the heart muscle to die leading to heart damage, heart attacks or sudden death.
What is Angina pectoris?
Chest pain that occurs when the heart has insufficient supply of oxygenated blood
- Can be the result of coronary heart disease
How does a stroke occur?
A stroke occurs either when the blood supply to the brain is interrupted by a clot or atherosclerosis, or when the burst blood vessel hemorrhages into the brain.
What are the effects of a stroke?
- The effect of a stroke on the functioning of the body can be severe, even though the damaged area appears to be quite small
- If the affected artery is large, then paralysis of one side of the body may occur.
How does heart failure occur?
Heart failure is a reflection of the heart’s inability to cater for the demands placed on it during everyday life
- It can also be the result of atherosclerosis, heart attacks, high BP, defective heart valves and infections of the heart.
What does failure to the left side of the heart mean?
Blood accumulates in the lungs and the sufferer may experience repeated breathlessness
What does failure to the right side of the heart mean?
Causes pressure to build up in the right atrium, so blood
cannot return to the heart from the body in the usual way
- Blood may accumulate in the veins and an excess of fluid accumulates in the body’s tissues.
What is the extent of CVD?
- The National health survey 2007-08 found that 3.4 million Australians have CVD and it is a leading cause of death (32% of all deaths in 2010, dropped from 42% in 1996)
- Leading cause for males (2020)
What are non-modifiable risk factors for CVD?
- Age: risk increases with age as a result of progression of atherosclerosis
- Heredity: family history of disease increases risk
- Gender: males more likely to develop CVD
What are modifiable risk factors for CVD
- Smoking (most significant)
- 5 times more likely
- Chemicals (eg. Nicotine and carbon monoxide increases heart rate, constricts vessels, which reduces blood flow and oxygen carrying capacity in blood.) - Hypertension (high blood pressure):
- Most common cause of heart disease as it can overload the heart and blood vessels
- Linked to high salt intake and overweight
- Also increase risk of stroke - Lack of physical activity: develop less efficient heart, high levels of blood fats and propensity to gain
weight - Overweight (obesity):
- Increase risk by extra burden on heart and lungs
- Linked to high blood pressure and high levels of blood fats - High cholesterol: high levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in blood can significantly increase chances of developing CVD
What are protective factors for CVD?
- Blood pressure and cholesterol checks
- Quit smoking
- Enjoy healthy eating
- Visit the doctor regularly
- Be physically active
- Achieve and maintain a healthy weight
What are the main sociocultural determinants for CVD?
- Males
- Asians
How are males a sociocultural determinant for CVD?
Males are more likely to ignore early warning signs and less likely to access health services
- Due to cultural expectations (masculinity) or genetic/biological characteristics in males
How are asians a sociocultural determinant for CVD?
Asians are less prone to getting CVD due to low fat diets
What are socio-economic determinants for CVD?
Socio-economically disadvantaged people are more likely to drink, smoke and purchase fast food
What are environmental determinants for CVD?
Rural and remote areas have lack of access to appropriate health services, information and technology
What are the groups at risk of CVD?
- Smokers
- Low SES
- Males
- People with high fat diets
- People with hypertension
- People over 65 years
- People with high cholesterol
- People with a family history
