E&T: Cardiovascular Disease Flashcards
What do most heart diseases start with?
Atheroma formation
Describe atheroma formation:
- Damage to endothelium causes WBC (mostly macrophages) and lipids clump together under lining.
- Forms fatty streaks
- Overtime, WBC, lipids and connective tissue build + harden forming a fibrous plaque.
Atheroma
Fibrous plaque that can form under the lining of the artery.
Describe a healthy arterial endothelium:
Smooth + unbroken
What does an atheroma do to the artery?
Partially blocks lumen + restricts blood flow.
Blood pressure increases.
Coronary Heart Disease
A cardiovascular disease which occurs when the coronary arteries have lots of atheromas.
Restricts blood flow and can lead to a myocardial infarction.
What are the two types of diseases that affect the arteries?
Aneurysm
Thrombosis
Aneurysm
Ballon-like swelling of the artery
Thrombosis
The formation of a blood clot
Explain how an atheroma can increase the risk of an aneurysm:
- Atheroma plaque damages, weakens + narrows arteries.
- Increases blood pressure
- When blood travels through, may push inner layers through outer elastic layers.
- Causes an aneurysm.
What can an aneurysm lead to?
A haemorrhage if it bursts
Explain how an atheroma can lead to an increased risk of thrombosis:
- Atheroma plaque can rupture the arterial endothelium
- Damages wall and leaves rough surface
- Platelets and fibrin accumulate = blood clot forms
What can a blood clot do?
Complete blockage of artery
Dislodge and cause a blockage elsewhere
What causes a myocardial infarction?
- Interrupted blood flow means heart receives no oxygen
What are the symptoms of a heart attack?
Pain in chest/upper body
Shortness of breath
Sweating
What are some risk factors of cardiovascular disease?
- High blood cholesterol + poor diet
- Cigarette smoking
- High blood pressure
How can high cholesterol and poor diet increase the risk of cardiovascular disease?
Cholesterol is a main constituent of fatty deposits that form atheromas.
How can cigarette smoking increase the risk of cardiovascular disease?
- Nicotine increases risk of high blood pressure
- CO combines with haemoglobin + reduces oxygen transported in blood to heart tissues.
- Decreases amount of antioxidants in blood, which protect cell wall from damage.
How can high blood pressure increase the risk of cardiovascular disease?
- Increases risk of damage to arterial walls = increases atheroma formation risk
