Topic 1B - Lifestyle and Disease Flashcards
EQ. Describe atherosclerosis (6 marks)
- the endothelium becomes damaged
- causes an inflammatory response causing white blood cells to move into the artery wall
- atheroma builds up which causes plaque
- as fibrous plaque builds up the artery loses elasticity, narrows and hardens
- which causes a rise in blood pressure
- which causes more damage
- this is an example of positive feedback
EQ. Describe the role of LDLs in the development of atherosclerosis (3 marks)
- LDLs carry cholesterol in the blood
- cholesterol damages the endothelium of the artery
- which causes atheroma
EQ. Explain how atherosclerosis can result in damage to heart muscle. (3 marks)
- atherosclerosis narrows the lumen of the artery
- this reduces blood flow to the cardiac muscle
- this stops aerobic respiration and therefore lactic acid accumulates
Describe the process of blood clotting
When a blood vessel becomes damaged, thromboplastin is released. Thromboplastin along with calcium ions, triggers the convertion of prothrombin to thrombin. Thrombin catalyses the convertion of fibrinogen to fibrin. Fibrin forms a mesh in which platelets and red blood cells get trapped.
Name and explain 4 factors that increase the chance of atherosclerosis (4 marks)
- age because arteries become less elastic with age, increasing blood pressure
- high cholesterol levels increases formation of plaque
- smoking because nicotine narrows arteries
- gender because oestrogen makes arteries more elastic decreasing blood pressure
Which cholesterol is the ‘bad’ one?
LDL (low density lipoproteins)
State what is meant by correlation
a relationship between variables but no causal link
EQ. Explain how smoking increases the risk of developing atherosclerosis. (3 marks)
- nicotine stimulates adrenaline release which increases heart rate and blood pressure
- toxins in cigarettes damages endothelium
- which causes inflammatory response
EQ. Explain how high blood pressure can increase the risk of developing CVD. (3 marks)
- high BP can cause damage in the endothelium of arteries
- causes inflammation response
- which causes an atheroma formation
State the role of an anticoagulants
increases the time taken for a blood clot to form
State a risk of using anticoagulants
internal bleeding
EQ. Explain the benefits of plant statins to human health. (2 marks)
- lower blood cholesterol
- inhibits cholesterol synthesis in liver
- reduces risk of atheroma formation
EQ. Explain why a patient with CVD would take platelet inhibitory drugs. (2 marks)
- stop the build up of blood clots
- to prevent a stroke
EQ. Explain why patient with CVD would take beta-blockers. (2 marks)
- reduce heart rate
- reduce blood pressure
Explain the term causal relationship
one variable results in the change of another variable
EQ. Suggest 2 reasons for the decrease in high blood cholesterol. (2 marks)
- treatments like statins
- people are more aware of the risks
State 5 factors that increase the risk of CVD. (1 mark)
- obesity
- high bp
- high blood cholesterol
- being male
- high salt intake
EQ. Explain the role of antihypertensive in reducing the risk of atherosclerosis. (4 marks)
- antihypertensives reduce blood pressure
- reduces risk of damage to the endothelium of arteries
- reduces risk of inflammatory response
- reduces risk of atheroma formation
State the role of statins
reduce blood cholesterol levels
State the role of platelet inhibitors
makes platelets less sticky
State the role of diuretics
increases volume of urine
State a risk of using statins
nausea
State a risk of using platelet inhibitors
internal bleeding
State a risk of using diuretics
muscle cramps
EQ. Compare and contrast the structures of a saturated fatty acid and an unsaturated fatty acid. (3 marks)
- both have a hydrocarbon chain
- unsaturated has a kink, saturated is a straight chain
- unsaturated has a double bond, saturated doesn’t have a double bond
What is the role of LDL cholesterol
to accumulate cholesterol and develop atherosclerosis
What is the role of HDL cholesterol
to transport cholesterol from the bloodstream to the liver
