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Risk Factors for Heart Disease Flashcards

1
Q

What is riks?

A

The likelihood of something unfavourable happening

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2
Q

What are the risk factors for heart disease (lifestyle factors)?

A

Diet (saturated fat and salt)

Smoking

High blood pressure caused by:

  • Obesity/diet
  • Excessive alcohol consumption
  • Stress
  • Lack of exercise
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3
Q

What are the risk factors for heart disease (non-lifestyle factors)?

A

Age
Sex
Genetics

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4
Q

Why does a diet high in saturated fats increase the risk of CVDs?

A

It increases the blood cholesterol which increases the rate of atheroma formation

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5
Q

Why does a diet high in salt increase the risk of CVDs?

A

It increases the risk of blood pressure

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6
Q

What are lipoproteins?

A

Special particles made up of a single layer of phospholipids, proteins and cholesterol

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7
Q

What are the two types of lipoproteins that carry cholesterol around in theblood?

A

LDLs (low density lipoproteins)

HDLs (high density lipoproteins)

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8
Q

Why is cholesterol important and needs to be delivered to cells?

A

It is an important component of cell membranes

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9
Q

What happens to excess cholesterol that is not needed by cells?

A

Is transported to the liver where it is broken down

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10
Q

Describe in detail HDLs (helpful lipoproteins)

A

They transport cholesterol from cells back to the liver to be broken down

They have more protein and have less cholesterol than the LDLs

They reduce blood cholesterol when the levels are too high and are thus helpful

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11
Q

Which lipoproteins help reduce blood cholesterol levels?

A

HDLs

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12
Q

Which lipoproteins have more cholesterol and less proteins?

A

LDLs

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13
Q

Describe in detail HDLs (lowsy lipoproteins)

A

LDLs transport cholesterol from liver back to cells and thus raise blood cholesterol

LDLs are made out of lipid, little protein and lots of cholesterol

They increase blood cholesterol level when the level is too low

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14
Q

Why is the concentration of cholesterol in the blood largely determined by your genetics?

A

Because the HDLs:LDLs is determined by your genes

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15
Q

What increases the rate of LDL:HDL ratio (this is bad)

A

Increased saturated fat in diet

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16
Q

What reduces the rate of LDL:HDL ratio (this is good)

A

Increased (poly)unsaturated fat in diet

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17
Q

How do saturated fats increase the LDL:HDL ratio?

A

They reduce the activity of LDL receptors so LDLs are not removed from the blood

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18
Q

What factors increase blood pressure?

A

Excess:

  • Alcohol
  • Stress
  • Salt
  • Obesity
  • Lack of exercise
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19
Q

What does a high blood pressure increase the risk of?

A

Increases the risk of damaging the endothelium of arteries

If this happens, atheromas may start to build up underneath leading. to CVD

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20
Q

Which organs does excessive intake of alcohol affect?

A

Liver, brain and heart

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21
Q

How does alcohol affect the liver?

A

It damages liver cells so glucose and lipids can’t be removed from the blood

22
Q

What does the liver do?

A

It processes carbs, fats and proteins and detoxification

23
Q

Where is alcohol broken down and what is it broken down into?

A

Into ethanal in the liver

24
Q

Why is too much ethanal (formed from breakdown of alcohol in the liver) bad?

A

It may end up in vLDLs increasing the risk of plaque formation

25
What does alcohol contribute to?
Obesity Irregular heart beat Raises blood pressure
26
How does stress cause an increased blood pressure?
When you are stressed you release adrenaline causing arteries and arterioles to constrict raising bp
27
Which other risk factors can stress lead to?
Poor diet - Over eating - High alcohol consumption
28
Which diseases can obesity contribute to?
CHD and atheroma
29
How does obesity contribute to greater chance of atheroma and CHD?
When someone has a greater mass, they have more tissue Blood has to be pumped around at higher pressure so it can circulate the tissues Higher blood pressure damages the endothelial lining
30
How does moderate exercise (walking, cycling, swimming) prevent high bp?
By strengthening the heart muscle and raising HDLs
31
Does moderate exercise affect LDLs?
No
32
Moderate exercise reduces the chance of developing type ___ diabetes.
II
33
How many hours a week of vigorous activity does the Department of Health recommend?
2-2.5 hours
34
What are a good source of antioxidants and how many a day is recommended?
Fruit and vegetables | 5 a day
35
How do superoxide radicals (which are formed during chemical reactions) increase the chance of developing CHD, cancers and premature ageing?
They can damage cell components
36
Which vitamins can help against radicals formed in chemical reactions? What are they also called?
Beta carotene, vitamin C and E | Also called antioxidants
37
How does nicotine smoking raise the blood pressure?
Nicotine triggers adrenaline to be released which increases the heart rate and cause the smooth muscle in the arteries and arterioles to constrict
38
How does CO gas released in cigarettes increase the likelihood of heart attack or stroke?
CO can bind to haemoglobin and prevent oxygen from binding | Therefore, the oxygen levels in blood is reduced
39
Why are many chemicals in cigarette smoke damaging?
They damage the endothelium and trigger atherosclerosis
40
What affect does smoking have on HDLs and LDLs?
It reduced HDLs
41
How does age affect the likelihood of CVDs?
CVDs increase with age
42
How does gender affect the likelihood of CVDs?
Men are 3x more likely to suffer from CVD than women.
43
What is the apolipoprotein gene cluster and what is is associated with?
Apolipoprotein A, B and E | Associated with CHD
44
What is apolipoprotein A (APOA)
Gene that codes for the major protein in HDLs
45
What effect does mutations in the APOA gene have?
Low HDL levels and higher CHD
46
What is apolipoprotein B (APOB)
Gene that codes for the major protein in LDLs
47
What effect does mutations in the APOB gene have?
High LDL levels and higher CHD
48
What is apolipoprotein E (APOE)
Major component of HDLs and LDLs
49
What are the three common alleles of APOE?
E2, E3 and E4
50
What does the E4 allele in APOE do?
Slows the removal of cholesterol from the blood | Thus, increases the risk of CHD

Biology Circulatory System (6 decks)

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