When Things Go Wrong

Question 1

What can lead to disease in the circulatory system

Answer 1

Lack of physical activity
Poor diet
Smoking
Stress
Genetics

Question 2

Exercise

Answer 2

The heart is like any muscle in the body – the more you use it, the stronger it will become. Regular exercise will strengthen the heart muscle and it will also increase the amount of energy you use – meaning less will be stored as fat.

Question 3

Poor Diet

Answer 3

A diet with high levels of salt is linked to increased blood pressure – this puts more strain on the walls of arteries.

A diet with high levels of fat and cholesterol – the excess fat and cholesterol can build in arteries to form plaques – these narrow the blood vessels

A diet high in sugar – the excess sugar is converted into fat by your body

Question 4

Smoking

Answer 4

Cigarette smoke contain many chemicals linked with heart disease. These can cause heart rate to increase or make clots inside blood vessels more likely to happen

Question 5

Stress

Answer 5

When we are stressed the body releases chemicals such as the hormone adrenaline. These hormones can increase heart rate and can narrow our vessels.
Over time high levels of these stress hormones can make a heart attack much more likely.

Question 6

Genetics

Answer 6

Heart disease is also linked to genetics. There is no “heart attack gene” but certain people can inherit genes that makes heart disease more likely.

Question 7

How can you monitor the health of your circulatory system

Answer 7

Medical professionals like nurses and doctors can gain an understanding to the health of your circulatory system through monitoring key “biomarkers”
These include:
•Heart rate
•Blood pressure
•BMI

Question 8

How does a heart attack occur

Answer 8

A heart attack occurs when there is a blockage in the coronary arteries leading to the heart muscle. A lack of glucose and oxygen reaching the muscle could result in death of the tissue.

Question 9

How does a stroke occur

Answer 9

the blockage occurs in an artery leading to the brain. The nerve tissue of the brain also requires oxygen and glucose to function so a stroke can affect things like speech and coordination.

Question 10

Why are the heart and brain affected rather than other organs

Answer 10

because the arteries leading to these organs are narrower and therefore more likely to become blocked with a build up of fatty materials.

Question 11

What happens to your body during excerise

Answer 11

your heart contracts faster and increases blood circulation, resulting in oxygenated blood, reaching the muscles more quickly. As the body moves, it requires more energy. Energy is released during respiration.
Equation -> Oxygen + glucose ->carbon dioxide + water + energy
Hence the heart will have to meet the demand by pumping more blood, carrying both oxygen and glucose to the muscles which increases the heart rate.