Lifestyle, health and risk: Reducing risks of CVD

Question 1

Name some key ways to reduce cardiovascular disease (aim for 4)

Answer 1

1. stop smoking
2. take regular exercise
3. cut stress
4. moderate to no alchohol
5. change body from overweight to normal (waist hip/BMI measurements)
6. lower blood cholesterol levels
7. cut caffeine especially if it increases heart rate

Question 2

How can blood pressure be controlled?

Answer 2

1. change in lifestlye (eat better, sleep better, get exercise, destress)
2. sometimes medications are needed

Question 3

What kind of medications can help treat high blood pressure (and when)?

Answer 3

If systolic BP > 160 mmHg (sometimes >140)

1. ACE inhibitors - anti-hypertensive drugs that reduce synthesis of angiotensin II -> reducing vasoconstriction (side effects: dry cough, rapid fall in BP, arrhythmia, kidney issues)
2. Calcium Channel Blockers - anti-hypertensive drugs that block the calcium channels in the arterial muscle cells stopping constriction (side effects: headaches, dizziness, swollen ankles, arrhythmia, constipation…)

Question 4

What do diuretics do?

Answer 4

Increase volume of urine produced and hence rid the body of excess fluids and salts (side effects - dizziness, nausea, muscle cramps)

Question 5

How can blood cholesterol be lowered?

Answer 5

1. change of diet (changing the fats or lowering them e.g., extra virgin olive oil can be easily digested and has many beneficial effects compared to trans-fats and ‘vegetable oils’)
2. use of cholesterol lowering drugs, e.g., statins which inhibit the production of LDL cholesterol by the liver (side effects: Muscle pain, damage, and aching, Mitochondrial damage, Type 2 diabetes, Neurologic problems such as memory loss, Sexual dysfunction, also increased risk of diabetes from recent research - SOURCE)

Question 6

What would a diet to reduce CVD involve?

Answer 6

Energy balanced

Reduced saturated fats

More polyunsaturated fats

Reduced cholesterol

Reduced salt

More non-starch polysaccharides (pectins, guar gum)

Oily fish (omega-3 oils)

More fruit and vegetables

Much of this can be debated from various corners of the nutritional fields: we could add in no gluten and no dairy as both can cause inflammation (of the brain!)

SOURCE (gluten) SOURCE (dairy, gluten)

Question 7

What is anticoagulent and platelet inhibitory drug treatment used for?

Answer 7

When someone has had a heart attack or a stroke or presents with high risk for CHD they may be given drugs to prevent clots forming.

Question 8

What are the pros and cons of taking aspirin for reducing clotting? (2pt)

Answer 8

1. Aspirin reduces the stickiness of platelets and hence reduces probability of clot formation.
2. But some people are allergic to aspirin

Question 9

What is clopidogrel?

Answer 9

A platelet inhibitory drug

Question 10

What is warfarin?

Answer 10

An anticoagulent drug that interferes with Vit.K production to reduce clotting

Question 11

What is an haemorrhagic stroke and why is it dangerous? (3pts)

Answer 11

1. Blood vessels service the brain
2. When a vessel bursts, blood seeps into the brain
3. When a hemorrhage interrupts blood flow around or inside the brain, depriving it of oxygen for more than three or four minutes, the affected brain cells die.

Further details -

Intracerebral haemorrhage = when a vessel in the brain bursts

Subarachnoid haemorrhage = when a vessel burst on the brain’s surface

DETAILED VIDEO ON BRAIN’S BLOOD SUPPLY - COOL 3D IMAGES

Rick Beato on Pat Martino, a top guitarist who had to relearn to play the guitar after a stroke! (one story from many that can be picked up)

Question 12

What is the blood brain barrier and what does it do?

Answer 12

The blood-brain barrier is a block to microorganisms, such as bacteria, fungi, viruses or parasites, that may be circulating in the bloodstream and would otherwise get into the brain’s cells.

VIDEO ON BLOOD BRAIN BARRIER (BBB)