Drugs Flashcards

1
Q

What is cholesterol?

A

A fatty substance made by the liver that is essential for good health(makes hormones, bile and vitamin D)
Too much can cause risk of heart disease

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2
Q

What is the drug called that can help with high cholesterol levels?

A

Statins

They block the enzyme that produces Cholesterol in the liver

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3
Q

What are statin?

A

Prescribed drugs that lower the risk of heart and circulatory disease, they also control blood cholesterol

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4
Q

What is an HDL?

A

High density lipoprotein (good cholesterol that is used in the cells)

Helps remove excess cholesterol and returns it up the liver to remove from body

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5
Q

What is an LDL?

A

Low density lipoprotein ( bad cholesterol that layers the arteries making them narrow reducing blood flow to heart (lack of oxygen and glucose)

LDL in artery wall causes fatty deposit called plaque to build up

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6
Q

What type of cholesterol do statins help lower?

A

LDL

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7
Q

What are the three main stages in drug testing?

A
  1. Drugs are tested on human cells and tissue in the lab
  2. The drug is tested on love animals
  3. Tested on human volunteers in a clinical trial
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8
Q

What happens in a drugs clinical trial?

A

The drug is tested on healthy people to check for side affects
The drug is then tested on people suffering from the illness, the optimum dosage is found
Patients are put into two groups one give the drug and one a placebo (allows for the placebo affect)
Trials are often blind or double blind so doctors analysis isn’t subconsciously influenced by their knowledge

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9
Q

Why do people become addicted to drugs?

A

Chemical changes caused by drugs can lead to body becoming addicted to the drug
This can lead to withdrawal Symptoms

Heroin cocaine nicotine caffeine = very addictive

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10
Q

What three types of drugs are there?

A

Medicinal(used in medicine)
Recreational (used for fun)
Performance enhancing (often in sport)

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11
Q

What are the two main types of performance enhancing drugs?

A
Anabolic steroids (increase muscle size)
Stimulants (increase heart rate)
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12
Q

What can steroids cause?

A

High blood pressure

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13
Q

What is the against argument for performance engaging drugs?

A

It’s unfair if people gain ad angel by taking drugs instead of through training

Athletes may not be fully informed of the serious health risks of the drugs they take

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14
Q

What is the for argument for performance enhancing drugs?

A

Athletes have the right to make their own decision about whether taking drugs is worth the risk

Drug free sport isn’t fair anyway as different athletes have access to different training facilities coaches and equipment

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15
Q

What is a negative of drugs being tested on human cells in the lab?

A

You can’t use it to test drugs that affect whole or multiple body systems

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16
Q

What was thalidomide initially used for and what was it later found to help?

A

As a sleeping pill (this is what it was tested for)

Later found to be Relieving morning sickness in pregnant women

17
Q

What issues were there due to thalidomide not being tested for morning sickness?

A

It wasn’t known it could pass through the placenta and into the foetus causing abnormal climb developments

18
Q

How many babies were affected by thalidomide?

A

About 10,000 babies and only half survived

The drug was banned and more thorough tests were done

It more recently treats leprosy and some cancers

19
Q

What two categories can recreational drugs be put into?

A
Soft drugs (less harmful and addictive)
Hard drugs (more harmful and addictive) 

However heroin (a hard drug) and cannabis (a soft drug) can both cause heart and circulatory problems

20
Q

Why do people use recreational drugs?

A

Enjoyment
Relaxation
Stress relief

21
Q

Most hard drug users have tried cannabis first what are the three explanations for this?

A

Cannabis is a ‘stepping stone’ (effects of cannabis create desire to try harder drugs)
Cannabis is a gateway ‘drug’ (puts you in contact with a drug dealer)
It’s down to genetics (some people are more likely to take drugs generally so cannabis users are likely to try other drugs)

22
Q

What impacts does smoking have?

A

Causes disease of the heart, blood vessels and the lungs

Tobacco smoke causes cancer

Nicotine is a drug found in cigarettes and is addictive making it hard to stop smoking

23
Q

What impacts does alcohol have?

A

Affects the nervous system and slows down body’s reactions

Too much alcohol leads to impaired judgement e.g. Poor coordination and unconsciousness

Excessive drinking can cause Liver disease and brain damage

Very addictive

24
Q

Why are alcohol and smoking such a big issue in the U.K.?

A

So many people take them
NHS spend loads on treating people because of them
Big impact on crime and economy (due to lost working days of ill people)

25
Q

What are the pros of statins?

A

Successfully lowers LDL’s (sometimes to 0)
Decreases risk of stroke, heart attack
Good for people with high cholesterol due to genetics

26
Q

What are the cons of statins?

A
We need some cholesterol for hormones 
Can have potentially fatal side effects e.g. 
Type two diabetes
Liver damage 
Muscle and kidney damage
27
Q

What is a cholesterol blocker?

A

A drug that lowers cholesterol by reducing dietary absorption

28
Q

What affects cholesterol level?

A

Diet
Genes

(Saturated fats e.g. Meat and dairy contain high cholesterol whereas unsaturated e.g. Olive oil and peanuts don’t)

29
Q

Where is cholesterol made?

A

In the liver

Also found in some foods

30
Q

What are the pros of cholesterol blockers?

A

Good for people with hush cholesterol due to diet

Less side effects than statins

31
Q

What are the cons of cholesterol blockers?

A

Can interact badly with other drugs

Can cause diarrhoea

32
Q

What is the British law about testing animals?

A

It must be tested on two

33
Q

What is a placebo?

A

A tablet or injection with no active drug in