Heart Disease Flashcards
What is atherosclerosis?
Condition in which yellow fatty deposits built up on lining of artery. This causes them to be narrowed and causes many different health problems.
Explain how atheroma forms?
Damage incurred to endothelial lining
Due to high blood pressure or smoking
WBC’s arrive at site of damage
Causes cholesterol, fibrous tissue and calcium salts to build up
Causes artery wall to harden meaning artery is less flexible
What is an aneurysm?
Occurs when artery is blocked by a plaque
Blood tends to build up behind blockage and leads to higher pressure than usual as bulge is formed
The weakened artery can then split open leading to internal bleeding
Can be treated by surgery
What is an angina?
Plaques build up in the coronary arteries reducing blood flow to the cardiac muscles
Heart muscle carries out more anaerobic respiration
Pain in chest consequently however often cases are mild
Can be helped by exercise and good diet
Symptoms can be treated by drugs that cause rapid dilation of coronary artery
A stent can also be used
What is myocardial infarction?
Branch of coronary artery becomes completely blocked
Heart muscle staved of oxygen and dies
Many heart attacks are caused due to a clot being formed after atherosclerosis
What is a thrombosis?
It is a clot that forms in a blood vessel. Can rapidly block whole blood vessel. Can lead to heart attack
Non-modifiable risk factors for atherosclerosis
Genes
Age
With age blood vessels lose elasticity and narrow slightly
Sex
(Men under 50 more likely than women, Oestrogen)
Modifiable risk factors for atherosclerosis
Smoking Exercise levels Weight Stress Diet
LDL’s vs HDL’s
LDL is considered the bad cholesterol whereas HDL is considered the good cholesterol
HDL carries cholesterol to liver to be broken down whereas LDL deposits cholesterol in arteries
