Topic 1B - Lifestyle and Disease

Question 1

EQ. Describe atherosclerosis (6 marks)

Answer 1

• 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

Question 2

EQ. Describe the role of LDLs in the development of atherosclerosis (3 marks)

Answer 2

• LDLs carry cholesterol in the blood
• cholesterol damages the endothelium of the artery
• which causes atheroma

Question 3

EQ. Explain how atherosclerosis can result in damage to heart muscle. (3 marks)

Answer 3

• atherosclerosis narrows the lumen of the artery
• this reduces blood flow to the cardiac muscle
• this stops aerobic respiration and therefore lactic acid accumulates

Question 4

Describe the process of blood clotting

Answer 4

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.

Question 5

Name and explain 4 factors that increase the chance of atherosclerosis (4 marks)

Answer 5

• 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

Question 6

Which cholesterol is the ‘bad’ one?

Answer 6

LDL (low density lipoproteins)

Question 7

State what is meant by correlation

Answer 7

a relationship between variables but no causal link

Question 8

EQ. Explain how smoking increases the risk of developing atherosclerosis. (3 marks)

Answer 8

• nicotine stimulates adrenaline release which increases heart rate and blood pressure
• toxins in cigarettes damages endothelium
• which causes inflammatory response

Question 9

EQ. Explain how high blood pressure can increase the risk of developing CVD. (3 marks)

Answer 9

• high BP can cause damage in the endothelium of arteries
• causes inflammation response
• which causes an atheroma formation

Question 10

State the role of an anticoagulants

Answer 10

increases the time taken for a blood clot to form

Question 11

State a risk of using anticoagulants

Answer 11

internal bleeding

Question 12

EQ. Explain the benefits of plant statins to human health. (2 marks)

Answer 12

• lower blood cholesterol
• inhibits cholesterol synthesis in liver
• reduces risk of atheroma formation

Question 13

EQ. Explain why a patient with CVD would take platelet inhibitory drugs. (2 marks)

Answer 13

• stop the build up of blood clots

- to prevent a stroke

Question 14

EQ. Explain why patient with CVD would take beta-blockers. (2 marks)

Answer 14

• reduce heart rate

- reduce blood pressure

Question 15

Explain the term causal relationship

Answer 15

one variable results in the change of another variable

Question 16

EQ. Suggest 2 reasons for the decrease in high blood cholesterol. (2 marks)

Answer 16

• treatments like statins

- people are more aware of the risks

Question 17

State 5 factors that increase the risk of CVD. (1 mark)

Answer 17

• obesity
• high bp
• high blood cholesterol
• being male
• high salt intake

Question 18

EQ. Explain the role of antihypertensive in reducing the risk of atherosclerosis. (4 marks)

Answer 18

• antihypertensives reduce blood pressure
• reduces risk of damage to the endothelium of arteries
• reduces risk of inflammatory response
• reduces risk of atheroma formation

Question 19

State the role of statins

Answer 19

reduce blood cholesterol levels

Question 20

State the role of platelet inhibitors

Answer 20

makes platelets less sticky

Question 21

State the role of diuretics

Answer 21

increases volume of urine

Question 22

State a risk of using statins

Answer 22

nausea

Question 23

State a risk of using platelet inhibitors

Answer 23

internal bleeding

Question 24

State a risk of using diuretics

Answer 24

muscle cramps

Question 25

EQ. Compare and contrast the structures of a saturated fatty acid and an unsaturated fatty acid. (3 marks)

Answer 25

• 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

Question 26

What is the role of LDL cholesterol

Answer 26

to accumulate cholesterol and develop atherosclerosis

Question 27

What is the role of HDL cholesterol

Answer 27

to transport cholesterol from the bloodstream to the liver