1.4 - Reducing the risk of CVD? Flashcards
What ways are there to reduce CVD?
- Stop smoking
- Maintain a resting bp below 140/85mmHg
- Maintaining low blood cholesterol levels
- Maintaining a normal BMI
- Doing more exercise
- Reduce alcohol intake
What are antihypertensives?
used for people with sustained high blood pressure:
Either systolic above 160mmHg
Diastolic adobe 100mmHg
Or combined 140/90mmHg
ACE inhibitors - what are they? How do they work? Benefits and risks?
- Effective antihypertensive drugs which reduce synthesis of angiotensin II. This hormone causes blood vessels to vasoconstrict to control blood pressure
- Prevent the hormone being produced, therefore reducing the vasoconstriction and increasing blood pressure through the vessels
- Benefits: for people with kidney disease the drug can reduce the effects
- Risks: Many side effects including dizziness, dry cough, abnormal heart rhythms and even kidney failure
Calcium channel blockers - what are they? How do they work? Benefits and risks?
- Antihypertensive drugs that block the calcium channels in the muscle cells in the lining of arteries. Failure of the calcium to enter the muscle cells will reduce the contraction force of the muscle.
- Benefits: Improve muscle strength
- Risks: Headaches, dizziness, constipation, irregular heart rhythms and swollen limbs due to a buildup of fluid
Diuretics - what are they? How do they work? Benefits and risks?
- Diuretics increase the volume of urine produced by the kidneys and therefore rid the body of excess fluids and salt. This leads to a decrease in blood plasma volume and cardiac output which lowers blood pressure
- Increase the volume of urine produced by the kidneys and therefore rid the body of excess fluids and salt. This leads to a decrease in blood plasma volume and cardiac output which lowers blood pressure
- Benefits: controls blood pressure and excretion
- Risks: Dizziness, nausea or muscle cramps. Having a high salt diet can counteract the effect of diuretics
Statins - what are they? How do they work? Benefits and risks?
- cholesterol lowering drug
- They work by inhibiting the enzyme involved in the production of LDL cholesterol by the liver
- Benefits: Reduces the risk of CVD and the production of LDLs
- Risks: Disturbed sleep, feeling sick, vomiting, diarrhea, headaches and muscle weakness. Can increase the risk of having cancer or risk of death
Asprin - what are they? How do they work? Benefits and risks?
- Thins blood, reduces the stickiness of platelets and the risk of blood clots
- Reduces the stickiness of platelets and reduces the risk of blood clots
- Benefits: can reduce the risk of blood clot
- Risks: could be allergic and is sometimes only partially effective
Clopidogrel - what are they? How do they work? Benefits and risks?
- reduces the stickiness of platelets and reduces the risk of blood clots. Mostly used for people who are allergic to aspirin.
- Benefits: combination of aspirin and clopidogrel have a dramatic effect
- Risks: high risk of internal bleeding when aspirin and clopidogrel are used in combination.
Warfarin - what are they? How do they work? Benefits and risks?
- Anticoagulant drug and it interferes with the production of vitamin K and therefore affects the synthesis of clotting factors
- Interferes with production of vitamin K and therefore affects the synthesis of clotting factors
- Benefits: prevents blood clotting in the arteries
- Risks: risk of bleeding is higher than the risk with aspirin
What is a hemorrhagic stroke?
Blood vessels in the surface in the brain and those within the brain are prone to bursting resulting in a stroke. A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel supplying blood to the brain bursts. If the burst occurs inside the brain it is known as an intracerebral haemorrhage, whereas the bursting of a vessel on the surface is known as subarachnoid hemorrhage.
