Cardiovascular Disease Flashcards
Organisation (25 cards)
What is coronary heart disease?
A condition where coronary arteries get blocked by layers of fatty material, restricting blood flow to the heart muscle
This can lead to a lack of oxygen to the heart muscle, potentially resulting in a heart attack.
What are stents?
Tubes inserted inside arteries to keep them open, ensuring blood can pass to the heart muscles
This helps maintain heart function and keeps the person alive.
How do stents help in coronary heart disease?
They lower the risk of a heart attack by improving blood flow through narrowed arteries
Stents are effective for a long time and have relatively quick recovery times.
What are some risks associated with stent surgery?
Complications during the operation, infection, and thrombosis (blood clot near the stent)
These risks can include heart attack during surgery.
What is cholesterol?
An essential lipid produced by the body, necessary for proper functioning
However, excess ‘bad’ cholesterol (LDL) can lead to health problems.
What health problems can excess ‘bad’ cholesterol cause?
Formation of fatty deposits inside arteries, leading to coronary heart disease
This can significantly increase the risk of heart-related issues.
What are statins?
Drugs that reduce the amount of ‘bad’ cholesterol in the bloodstream
They slow down the formation of fatty deposits in arteries.
What are the advantages of statins?
They reduce the risk of strokes, coronary heart disease, and heart attacks
Statins can also increase ‘good’ cholesterol (HDL) levels.
What are some disadvantages of statins?
Potential side effects, risk of forgetting to take them, and time required for effects to manifest
Serious side effects can include kidney failure, liver damage, and memory loss.
True or False: Statins have immediate effects.
False
The effect of statins takes time to kick in.
Fill in the blank: Statins can sometimes cause _______.
adverse side effects, e.g. headaches.
What is thrombosis in relation to stents?
The development of a blood clot near the stent
This is a significant risk following stent placement.
What is the role of ‘good’ cholesterol (HDL) in the bloodstream?
It helps remove ‘bad’ cholesterol from the blood
Increasing HDL is one of the benefits of taking statins.
What is a heart transplant?
A surgical procedure to replace a diseased heart with a donor heart from a deceased person.
May include heart and lungs transplant if both are affected.
What is an artificial heart?
A mechanical device that pumps blood for a person whose own heart has failed.
Usually a temporary fix until a donor heart is available.
When are artificial hearts used as a permanent solution?
In some cases, they are used to reduce the need for a donor heart.
They can help a person recover by allowing the heart to rest and heal.
What is the main advantage of artificial hearts over donor hearts?
Less likely to be rejected by the body’s immune system.
Made from metal or plastic, which the body does not recognize as ‘foreign’.
What are some risks associated with surgery to fit an artificial heart?
Bleeding and infection.
May also include issues like blood clots and strokes.
What problems can arise with artificial hearts?
Parts can wear out, electrical motors can fail, and blood flow may not be smooth.
Patients must take blood-thinning drugs, which can lead to bleeding issues.
What can damage heart valves?
Heart attacks, infections, or aging.
Damage can cause valves to stiffen or become leaky.
What are the two types of replacement valves?
Biological valves and mechanical valves.
Biological valves can come from humans or other mammals like cows or pigs.
How does replacing a valve compare to a heart transplant?
Replacing a valve is a much less drastic procedure than a whole heart transplant.
However, it is still considered major surgery.
What is artificial blood?
A blood substitute, such as a saline solution, used to replace lost blood volume.
It can keep patients alive even after losing a significant amount of red blood cells.
What is the ideal function of an artificial blood product?
To replace the function of lost red blood cells, eliminating the need for a blood transfusion.
Research is ongoing to develop such products.
