Organisms Exchange Substances with their Environment: Mass Transport in Animals - Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease

Question 1

What is a risk factor?

Answer 1

• Something that increases your chance of developing a disease

Question 2

What are some common risk factors for cardiovascular disease?

Answer 2

• High blood pressure
• High blood cholesterol and poor diet
• Cigarette smoking

Question 3

Why is high blood pressure a risk factor?

Answer 3

• High blood pressure increases the risk of damage to artery walls
• Damaged walls have an increased risk of atheroma formation, causing a further increase in blood pressure
• Atheroma may also cause blood clots, possibly leading to myocardial infarction

Question 4

What are risk factors for high blood pressure?

Answer 4

• Anything that increases blood pressure also increases risk for cardiovascular disease

• Being overweight
• Not exercising
• Excessive alcohol consumption

Question 5

Why is high blood cholesterol a risk factor?

Answer 5

• Cholesterol is one of the main constituents of the fatty deposits that form atheromas
• Atheromas can lead to increased blood pressure and blood clots

Question 6

Why is poor diet a risk factor?

Answer 6

• A diet high in saturated fat is associated with high blood cholesterol levels
• A diet high in salt is a risk factor because it increases risk of high blood pressure

Question 7

Why is cigarette smoking a risk factor?

Answer 7

• Carbon monoxide and nicotine both are risk factors

• Carbon monoxide
- Carbon monoxide combines with haemoglobin and reduces amount of oxygen supplied to tissues - can lead to heart attack

• Antioxidants

• Smoking decreases amount of antioxidants in blood
• Important for protection cells from damage
• Fewer antioxidants means cell damage in arteries more likely, possibly leading to atheroma formation