Topic 1: Atherosclerosis Flashcards
What is atherosclerosis? (1 point)
- Atherosclerosis is the build up of yellowish fatty deposits, called PLAQUES, IN ARTERY WALLS.
What does atherosclerosis {lead to/cause}? (2 points)
- It leads to HARDENING OF THE ARTERY WALLS
2. and the artery lumen to become narrower.
What can plaques {do/cause}? (2 things)
- Plaques can directly block an artery
OR
- Plaques may break open, causing platelets to accumulate and stick together, which triggers the formation of a blood clot, which may block the artery.
What triggers atherosclerosis? (What are the main risk factors) (5 risk factors)
- HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE (increasing age, smoking, lack of exercise, high salt in diet, obesity)
- HIGH BLOOD CHOLESTEROL (increasing age, high saturated fat or cholesterol in diet)
- Diabetes (high blood glucose damages artery walls)
- Genetic predisposition (a family history of atherosclerosis and CVD)
- Ethnicity -(being ofsouth Asian,Africanor African-Caribbean descent)
Key Summary: Describe the process which leads to atherosclerosis (7 steps)
- DAMAGE to endothelium of artery wall
- INFLAMMATORY RESPONSE
- accumulation of white blood cells as they move into damaged wall
- build up of cholesterol IN THE LINING OF THE ARTERY at the damaged area forms an ATHEROMA
- build up of {calcium salts / fibrous tissue} around the atheroma forms a PLAQUE – atherosclerosis
- loss of ELASTICITY of artery and narrowing of lumen
- process is {self–perpetuating/positive feedback}, as it causes a further increase in blood pressure which can cause more damage to the artery
Explain how atherosclerosis is a self-perpetuating process (4 points)
- Plaques narrows the artery lumen which increases blood pressure
- The increased blood pressure increases the risk of damage to the artery endothelium in other areas and leads to more plaques forming
- Which increase blood pressure and so on
- This is called POSITIVE FEEDBACK – where a change away from the norm activates mechanisms which cause a further change from the norm
Why are only arteries usually affected by atherosclerosis? (2 points)
- Blood is under HIGHER PRESSURE in arteries, and
lower pressure in veins - THE HIGHER THE BLOOD PRESSURE, THE MORE CHANCE OF DAMAGE to artery endothelium, triggering
atherosclerosis.
Key Summary: Consequences of atherosclerosis
What can happen after atherosclerosis (hardening and narrowing)? (5 steps)
- Artery may become BLOCKED due to a plaque or blood clot
- Reduced BLOOD FLOW AND OXYGEN to {tissues/cells}
- {No/less} aerobic respiration - anaerobic respiration instead in cells – produces lactic acid – {inhibits enzymes/toxic} and causes {pain/less ATP produced}
- If prolonged may lead to {permanent damage/death of tissue/death of cells}
- Increased risk of {heart attack/stroke/aneurysm} (read the question – which part of body)
How does a stroke happen? (1 point)
- Arteries TO BRAIN blocked
How does Coronary Heart Disease Happen? (4 steps)
- CORONARY ARTERIES blocked
- reduces blood and oxygen supply to heart MUSCLE
- can lead to ANGINA (chest pain) due to lactic acid build up from anaerobic respiration
- can lead to a heart attack (myocardial infarction)
How does an aneurysm happen? (1 point)
- Pressure build up behind atheroma, can result in bursting of the artery (aneurysm)
Describe the symptoms of atherosclerosis (in 4 types of arteries) (1 point for each artery)
- Heart arteries - chest pain or pressure (angina).
- Arteries leading to your brain - sudden numbness or weakness in your arms or legs, difficulty speaking or slurred speech, temporary loss of vision in one eye, or drooping muscles in your face. These signal a transient ischemic attack (TIA), which, if left untreated, may progress to a stroke.
- Arteries in your arms and legs - symptoms of peripheral artery disease, such as leg pain when walking (claudication).
- Arteries leading to your kidneys - you develop high blood pressure or kidney failure.
What lifestyle changes can you do to reduce the risk of Atherosclerosis?
(7 points)
Decreases blood LDL cholesterol:
- Less cholesterol
- Less saturated fat
Decreases blood pressure:
- Less salt
- Reduce alcohol intake
- Stop smoking
- Reduce stress
- Increase exercise
For the 2 drugs that are used as treatment for CVD,
give the name, 1 benefit, 1 side effect (one drug has 2 side effects)
Antihypertensives - Reduce blood pressure - dizziness
Statins - reduce blood cholesterol by inhibiting cholesterol synthesis in liver - muscle inflammation & nausea
