Cardiovascular disease Flashcards
What is cardiovascular disease?
A term used to describe conditions affecting the heart or blood vessels.
What is coronary heart disease?
When the coronary arteries narrow because of a build-up of fatty deposits.
Reduces blood flow and leads to a lack of oxygen being supplied to the heart muscle - can result in a heart attack.
What are the problems with faulty heart valves?
They are leaky and allow the backflow of blood.
They don’t fully open and obstruct blood flow.
How are faulty heart valves treated?
By replacing them with animal or mechanical valves.
How can heart failure be treated?
By having a heart transplant or using an artificial heart.
What are the advantages of artificial hearts?
They are unlikely to be rejected by the patients immune system so immunosuppressants are not necessary.
What are the disadvantages of artificial hearts?
Can result in long and expensive stays in hospital.
Can cause blood clotting.
What are the advantages of heart transplants?
Most heart transplant patients live longer and enjoy a better quality of life.
What is a disadvantage of heart transplants?
There are long waiting lists and the heart can be rejected.
What 2 treatments are used for coronary heart disease?
Stents and statins.
What are stents?
Tubes that are inserted to keep the coronary arteries open.
What are the advantages of stents?
They allow blood to flow normally through the artery.
What are the disadvantages of stents?
A blood clot may develop near the stent.
What do statins do?
Reduce cholesterol in the blood.
What are the advantages of statins?
They reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.
