Cardiovascular Diseases Flashcards
Describe cardiovascular diseases
- non communicable
- not infectious
How is coronary heart disease caused
Layers of fatty materials build up inside coronary arteries
= causes arteries to narrow
= reduce blood flow through arteries
= lack of oxygen from heart muscle
Describe statins
Drugs which reduce level of cholesterol in the blood
= slows down rate that fatty materials build up in the arteries
Adv of statins
- proved to be an effective treatment
- better for people with inherited high cholesterol
Dis of statins
- cause unwanted side effects eg liver problems or muscle damage
- must take for rest of life
- can cause death
Describe a stent
Tube which can be inserted into coronary artery to keep it open
Adv of stent
Blood can flow normally through artery
Dis of stent
Won’t prevent other regions of coronary arteries from narrowing
Doesn’t treat underlying causes of disease
Adv of mechanical valves
- last longer
Dis of mechanical valves
Increase risk of blood clots
= can take anti clotting drugs
Medication can lead to excessive bleeding
Patients must take medicine for rest if life
Describe heart failure
Patient can’t pump enough blood around the body
How to treat heart failure
Donated heart
Problems with donated heart
- not enough donated hearts available to treat every patient
- patient must take drugs to stop heart being rejected by body’s immune system
Risk of artificial heart
Increase risk of blood clotting
= not a long term solution to heart failure
Adv of biological valve
- no additional meds needed
