E&T: Cardiovascular Disease

Question 1

What do most heart diseases start with?

Answer 1

Atheroma formation

Question 2

Describe atheroma formation:

Answer 2

• Damage to endothelium causes WBC (mostly macrophages) and lipids clump together under lining.
• Forms fatty streaks
• Overtime, WBC, lipids and connective tissue build + harden forming a fibrous plaque.

Question 3

Atheroma

Answer 3

Fibrous plaque that can form under the lining of the artery.

Question 4

Describe a healthy arterial endothelium:

Answer 4

Smooth + unbroken

Question 5

What does an atheroma do to the artery?

Answer 5

Partially blocks lumen + restricts blood flow.

Blood pressure increases.

Question 6

Coronary Heart Disease

Answer 6

A cardiovascular disease which occurs when the coronary arteries have lots of atheromas.

Restricts blood flow and can lead to a myocardial infarction.

Question 7

What are the two types of diseases that affect the arteries?

Answer 7

Aneurysm

Thrombosis

Question 8

Aneurysm

Answer 8

Ballon-like swelling of the artery

Question 9

Thrombosis

Answer 9

The formation of a blood clot

Question 10

Explain how an atheroma can increase the risk of an aneurysm:

Answer 10

• Atheroma plaque damages, weakens + narrows arteries.
• Increases blood pressure
• When blood travels through, may push inner layers through outer elastic layers.
• Causes an aneurysm.

Question 11

What can an aneurysm lead to?

Answer 11

A haemorrhage if it bursts

Question 12

Explain how an atheroma can lead to an increased risk of thrombosis:

Answer 12

• Atheroma plaque can rupture the arterial endothelium
• Damages wall and leaves rough surface
• Platelets and fibrin accumulate = blood clot forms

Question 13

What can a blood clot do?

Answer 13

Complete blockage of artery

Dislodge and cause a blockage elsewhere

Question 14

What causes a myocardial infarction?

Answer 14

• Interrupted blood flow means heart receives no oxygen

Question 15

What are the symptoms of a heart attack?

Answer 15

Pain in chest/upper body

Shortness of breath

Sweating

Question 16

What are some risk factors of cardiovascular disease?

Answer 16

• High blood cholesterol + poor diet
• Cigarette smoking
• High blood pressure

Question 17

How can high cholesterol and poor diet increase the risk of cardiovascular disease?

Answer 17

Cholesterol is a main constituent of fatty deposits that form atheromas.

Question 18

How can cigarette smoking increase the risk of cardiovascular disease?

Answer 18

• Nicotine increases risk of high blood pressure
• CO combines with haemoglobin + reduces oxygen transported in blood to heart tissues.
• Decreases amount of antioxidants in blood, which protect cell wall from damage.

Question 19

How can high blood pressure increase the risk of cardiovascular disease?

Answer 19

• Increases risk of damage to arterial walls = increases atheroma formation risk