Smoking - Nicotine and Carbon Monoxide Flashcards
How do the gases enter the body?
Pass into lungs, and into the blood. Lead to increased cardiovascular risk, atherosclerosis, CHD and stroke.
What does Nicotine do?
Mimics action of transmitter substances at synapse between nerves – makes nerve system more sensitive and so smoke is more alert, Nicotine release adrenaline – variety of impacts including constriction of arterioles raising blood pressure in arteries, causes constriction of arterioles of extremities of body, makes platelets more sticky leading to a blood clot or thrombus.
What does Carbon Monoxide do?
Reduces Oxygen carrying capacity and so heart rate increases, damage the linings of arteries.
What is CHD?
CHD is a multifactorial disease.
How does Atherosclerosis work?
Atherosclerosis: Endothelium damaged by carbon monoxide (worsened by high blood pressure). Damage repaired by the action of phagocyte, encouraging growth of smooth muscle, and deposition of fatty substances. Deposits include cholesterol from LDLs (high blood pressure increases deposition). Build-up of atheroma under endothelium – grows to break through lining artery – forms plaque narrowing the lumen of the artery.
What is Thrombosis?
Blood flowing past plaque may clot especially due to increased stickiness of platelets from nicotine. May stick to fatty deposits - clot known as thrombosis.
What is CHD?
Coronary arteries are prone to breaking as carry blood at high pressure – this restricts blood flow, and consequently oxygen flow, to the heart. In 1 of 5 forms – Angina which is severe pain in chest to arm or neck. Myocardial infarction – death of part of the heart from a clot. Heart failure – when it cannot sustain its pumping action.
What is a Stroke?
Death of part of brain tissue. Thrombus flows and blocks artery leading to brain or an artery bursts –haemorrhage.
