Heart and Lung Disease

Question 1

What is an atheroma?

Answer 1

• The presence of fatty material (esp cholesterol) within the wall of an artery, underlining the vessel.
• As it builds up, it bulges out the lumen and narrows the artery so that blood flows is reduced and pressure increases.
• Reduced supply of O2 may cause heart attack, heart tissue is deprived of oxygen and dies.
• Increase risk of thrombosis and aneurysm.

Question 2

What is thrombosis?

Answer 2

-Blood clot inside a blood vessel. It reduces blood flow along the coronary artery and the heart tissue dies/ heart attack.

Question 3

What is an aneurysm?

Answer 3

• Atheromas that form into blood clots that weaken the artery walls. These weakened points swell to from a balloon-like filled structure called an aneurysm.
• Often burst, leading to haemorrhage and blood loss to the body part.

Question 4

What are the risk factors that increase CHD?

Answer 4

• Increased blood cholesterol= E.G intake of animal fat
• High blood pressure= diet and all above raises it
• Smoking= nicotine increases heart rate/ pressure
• Lack of exercise= No decrease of lipids or fat build
• Age= Fat deposited throughout life
• Genetic factors/ hereditary= Liver could overproduce cholesterol

Question 5

What is the transmission, and course of infection of Pulmonary Tuberculosis?
.

Answer 5

• Disease caused by bacterium: Mycobacterium tuberculosis
• Transmitted by: droplet in the air from coughing/ sneezing
• Course of infection: Upper area of lungs, phagocytic white blood cells ingest the bacteria, which are encased in tubercles.
• In immunosuppressant people, bacteria may become active and replicate
• Results in fibrosis and a reduction in gas exchange
• TB bacteria might spread to other parts of the body.

Question 6

What are the symptoms of TB?

Answer 6

• Persistent coughs
• Breathing difficulties and chest pains
• Fatigue and loss of appetite leads to weight loss
• Fever and night sweats

Question 7

How can you prevent TB?

Answer 7

• Vaccination
• Better education about TB/ completing medication
• Isolate TB sufferers
• Improved healthcare/facilities
• Netter nutrition so immune systems aren’t weak

Question 8

What is asthma?

Answer 8

• A disease that affects the bronchioles
• When irritated by pollen, animal fur, dust etc, the bronchiole muscle contracts so they become narrower.
• Lining of bronchiole become inflamed and swell.
• The lining overproduces mucus which also obstructs the flow of air into alveoli

Question 9

What does the inhaler do?

Answer 9

The drug causes the bronchioles to relax and widen so that a greater volume of air (thus 02) can reach the lungs.

Question 10

What are the symptoms of asthma?

Answer 10

• Shortness of breath
• Wheezing noise
• Tightness of chest
• Coughing

Question 11

What is Pulmonary Fibrosis?

Answer 11

-Scarring of lung tissue as fibrous connective tissue forms due to e.g. TB damage
-Scarring causes:
the lining of the alveoli to thicken
-the lungs to become less elastic

Question 12

What are the symptoms of fibrosis?

Answer 12

• Shortness of breath= reduced 02/ ATP
• Chronic dry cough
• Pain and discomfort in the chest
• Weakness and fatigue= lack of 02 and respiration

Question 13

What is Emphysema?

Answer 13

• Disease caused by smoking or air pollution. Leads to irreversible lung damage
• SA of the alveoli is reduced and alveolar walls become damaged and thicken.
• Gas exchange is less efficient, loss of elasticity

Question 14

What are the symptoms of Emphysema?

Answer 14

• Shortness of breath
• Chronic cough
• Bluish skin colouration