Systems: Circulatory (2) Flashcards
Describe arteriosclerosis
Occurs when the walls of the arteries thicken and lose elasticity. Hardening of the arteries
What is the most common type of arteriosclerosis?
Atherosclerosis
Describe atherosclerosis
Type of arteriosclerosis in which plaque builds up on the inside walls of the arteries
What is plaque?
A mixture of fatty deposits, calcium, and fibrous tissues
What are the symptoms of arteriosclerosis?
Angina (chest pain), blood clots, shortness of breath, heart attack, heart failure, and stroke
90% of all heart attacks are the result of which circulatory system disorder?
Arteriosclerosis
What are the ways to treat arteriosclerosis?
Angioplasty, coronary bypass
Describe an angioplasty
A surgeon sticks a catheter tube with a ballon on the end through the artery. When the balloon is over the plaque, it is inflated thus forcing the artery open. Sometimes a wire mesh (stent) is put there to permanently hold the vessel open
How is arteriosclerosis treated if medication fails to remove the clot?
Angioplasty
How is arteriosclerosis treated if the artery is too blocked or weak for an angioplasty to work?
Coronary bypass
Describe a coronary bypass
Surgeons will take a healthy vein or artery from another part of the body and use it to create other pathways around the blockage
What is the medical name for a heart attack?
Myocardial infarction
Describe a heart attack
Occurs when blood flow to a part of your heart is blocked for long enough that heart muscle cells begin to be damaged or die. This is due to a blockage in the coronary arteries
What are the signs of a heart attack?
Lightheadedness, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, pain and discomfort in the chest, arm, neck, and jaw; pain and pressure in the chest, cold sweat, upset stomach, urge to throw up, fatigue
What blood vessels are used to perform a coronary bypass?
Saphenous vein (leg), internal mammery artery (chest), radial artery (arm)