Cardivascular Disease Flashcards
What is coronary heart disease
When the coronary arteries get blocked by layers of fatty material
Causes the arteries to become narrow and restrict blood flow leading to a heart attack
What are stents
Tubes inserted into arteries to keep them open by squashing the fatty material inside
Why are stents good
They are effective for a long time and recovery time from surgery is quick
What does having too much bad cholesterol in the blood stream lead to
A build up of fatty material in arteries leading to coronary heart disease
What are statins
Drugs that can reduce the amount of bad cholesterol in the blood
What are advantages of statins
- Reduce risk of coronary heart disease, stokes and heart attacks
- Increase the amount of good cholesterol
What are disadvantages of statins
- Long term drug that must be taken regularly
- Side effects - headaches, kidney failure, liver damage
- Takes time for them to kick in
What are artificial hearts
Mechanical device used to pump blood around the heart for someone who’s heart has failed
What is an advantage of an artificial heart
Less likely to be rejected by the body’s immune system than a donor heart
What are disadvantages of an artificial heart
- Surgery can lead to bleeding or infection
- Electrical motor could fail
- Patient has to take drugs to thin blood to make sure blood doesn’t clot which can cause problems with bleeding when in an accident
How can valves in the heart be damaged
Heart attacks, infection or old age
What can valve damage lead to
Valve tissue to stiffen or valve to leak
So blood can flow in both directions and doesn’t circulate as effectively
What are biological replacement valves
Valves taken from humans or other mammals
What are man made valves
Mechanical valves
What is artificial blood
A salt solution which is used to replace lost volume of blood
May give a person enough time to produce new red blood cells
