organisation - cardiovascular disease Flashcards
what are cardiovascular disease?
diseases of the heart and blood vessels
cardiovascular diseases are ____-______
non-communicable so are not infectious and can’t be spread from one person to another
what happens in coronary heart disease?
layers of fatty material build up inside the coronary arteries, causing coronary arteries to narrow. effect of this is to reduce flow of blood through the coronary arteries. results in lack of oxygen for the heart muscle. could result in a heart attack
what are the two treatments of coronary heart disease?
statins and stents
what is the purpose of the statins?
drugs which reduce the level of cholesterol in the blood slowing down the rate that fatty materials build up in the arteries
what are the advantages and disadvantages of statins
advantages:
-reduce risk of coronary heart disease
disadvantage:
-unwanted side effects e.g liver problems
when is a stent used?
if nearly a total block of coronary artery
what is a stent?
a tube which can be inserted into the coronary artery to keep it open
advantages and disadvantages of using a stent
advantage:
- blood can flow normally
disadvantage:
-doesn’t prevent other regions of coronary arteries from narrowing
-doesn’t treat underlying cause of disease
what problems can valve cause?
- don’t fully open so heart has to pump extra hard to get blood through. causing heart to enlarge
- valves are leaky causing patient to feel weak and tired
what is the positive and risk of mechanical valves?
last a lifetime but increase risk of blood clots so patients have to take anticlotting drugs
what can you replace fault heart valves with?
mechanical valves made of metal or a valve from an animals such as a pig
advantage and disadvantage of using animal valves?
they don’t last as long as mechanical but patients do not need to take drugs
what is heart failure?
a type of cardiovascular disease where the heart can’t pump enough blood around the body
what is used to treat heart failure?
a donated heart or donated heart and lungs
or artificial heart until heart transplant or let damaged heart rest
