Topic 1: MTAH - 1.10-1.20: Cardiovascular Disease Flashcards
Define Anticoagulants
A class of antithrombotic drugs that slows the normal process of blood clot formation and is used as a treatment for CVD.
Antihypertensives
A class of drug that is used as a treatment for high blood pressure (hypertension).
Antioxidants
Molecules that inhibit the oxidation of other molecules. Oxidation can lead to chain reactions that may damage cells.
Aterosclerosis
A disease characterised by a buildup of plaque within arteries which narrows them and can laed to heart attacks and strokes.
Blood clot
a gelatinous mass of fibrin and blood cells formed by the coagulation of blood.
Define gelatinous
having the consistency of jelly
Define BMI, and what does it stand for?
Body mass index refers to a method of measuring a person’s weight with respect to their height to calculate whether they are of a healthy weight or not.
Dfine CVD, and what does it stand for?
A term used to describe a group of diseases related to the heart and blood vessels.
Cholesterol
An essential component of plasma membranes and myelin, the substance surrounds many nerve fibres. It is necessary for the formation of certain hromones and vitamin D.
Coagulation
The process of blood turning into a gel and forming a clot, often in response to a broken blood vessels to prevent blood loss.
Coronary Heart Disease
A condition in which the blood supply to the heart is blocked or interrupted by a buildup of fatty substances in the coronary arteries.
Endothelial dysfunction
the failure of the endothelial layer (the inner lining) of the small arteries to perform its function normally.
Fibrin
An insoluble protein formed from fibrinogen under the action of thrombin which is used to seal the wound during blood clotting.
Fibrinogen
a soluble protein which is the precursor of insoluble fibrin, which is used to seal the wound during blood clotting
Define precursor
A precursor is a substance that comes before and is transformed into another substance during a biological process.
Dfine HDL and what does it stand for?
High-densit lipoproteins are dense molecule made of proteins and lipids that is used to remove cholesterol from tissues and transport it to the liver for excretion.
Define LDL and what does it stand for?
High-density lipoproteins are lower-density molecules made of proteins and lipids that are used to transport cholesterol around the body to different tissues, which can cause cholesterol buildup in blood vessels.
Inflammatory response
A response triggered by the buildup of cholesterol and fatty acids which involves white blood cells arriving at the site of endothelial damage.
Plaque
A substance containing fatty molecules, cholesterol, blood platelets, fibrin, calcium ions, and cellular debris. These attach to a roughened part of the lining of an artery.
Platelet inhibitor
A class of antithrombotic drug which makes platelets less likely to coagulate and is used as a treatment for CVD.
prothombin
the inactive form of thrombin
statins
A class of drug that is used to lower cholesterol levels in the blood.
thrombin
the active form of prothrombin, which converts soluble fibrinogen to insoluble fibrin during the process of blood clotting.
thromboplastin
a clotting factor which converts prothombin to thrombin during the blood clotting process.
