More On Cardiovascular Disease

Question 1

What is an artificial heart

Answer 1

They are mechanical devices that pump blood for a person who’s own heart has failed. They are temporary and are only used until donor heart can be found or to help a person recover by allowing the heart to test and heal

Question 2

Advantages of artificial hearts

Answer 2

Less likely to be rejected by body’s immune system than a donor heart as it is plastic so it isn’t seen as foreign by the body

Question 3

Disadvantages of artificial heart

Answer 3

Leads to bleeding and infection
Not as good as natural healthy hearts
Parts can wear out
Electrical motor can fail
Blood doesn’t flow as smoothly leads to blood clots and strokes
Drugs are used to thin blooded

Question 4

How can valves be damaged

Answer 4

Heart attacks infection or old age
This causes valve tissue to stiffen so it doesn’t open properly
This means that blood can flow in both directions if it becomes leaky l. Blood won’t circulate as effectively as normal

Question 5

How can valves be replaced

Answer 5

Biological valves from humans or other mammals like cows and pigs
Mechanical valves that are man made

Question 6

Any ad or disads or replacing valve

Answer 6

Less drastic procedure that heart transplant

Major surgery and can still be blood clot problems

Question 7

What is artificial blood

Answer 7

It is a blood substitute used to replace the lost volume of blood. It is safe and keeps people alive even if 2/3 of bc are lost. This gives patient new time to produce more blood cells