CVD Treatments

Question 1

Name the ways we can treat CVD

Answer 1

• Anticoagulants
• Statins
• Platelet inhibitors
• Antihypertensives

Question 2

What are anticoagulants ?

Answer 2

+ A type of medication that help reduce the risk of clot formation.

- Can lead to uncontrolled bleeding when people take too much. Small injuries can also lead to heavy bleeding.

• Example : Warfarin, works by inhibiting certain clotting factors in the blood. E.g The proteins such as fibrinogen and prothrombin.

Question 3

What are platelet inhibitors (aka antiplatelet drugs) ?

Answer 3

+ Medication that help prevent platelets from sticking together and forming blood clots.

- Can cause stomach bleeding as it irritates the stomach lining, as well as increased risk of bleeding and headaches.

Examples : Aspirin, clopidogrel and ticagrelor. Which are often prescribed to reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

Question 4

What are statins ?

Answer 4

+ Medication used to lower cholesterol levels By reducing cholesterol levels they help lower the risk of heart disease ad stroke.

- They can cause muscle aches, nausea, diarrhoea.

They are most effective when combined with a healthy diet.

Question 5

What are antihypertensives ?

Answer 5

+ Medication that is used to treat high blood pressure (aka - Hypertension). They work by relaxing and widening blood vessels. Which helps to lower blood pressure.

- Dizziness, fatigue, headache and digestive issues.

Examples :
- Beta blockers : They reduce the frequency if
heart contractions and make them less powerful
by blocking the response of heart to hormones.
However they might increase risk of diabetes.

- **Diuretics** : They increase the volume of   
  urine, thus lowering the blood volume and 
  pressure. However they may lead to nausea, 
  muscle cramps and dizziness.

- **ACE inhibitors** : They reduce blood pressure    
  by blocking the conversion of angiotensin I to 
  angiotensin II, which causes arterial constriction.
  May lead to dizziness, couch and heart  
  arrhythmia.

Question 6

Answer 6

A

Question 7

Answer 7

Question 8

Answer 8

Question 9

Answer 9

Question 10

Answer 10

Question 11

How does PI treatment affect people who take it and dont for heart attack.

Answer 11

The treatment with PI reduced the % of patients who had a heart attack.

As fewer blood clots were formed (in coronary arteries)

Therefore sufficient oxygen supplied to heart muscle for respiration.