Lesson 7 - Atherosclerosis Flashcards
(30 cards)
meaning cardiovascular disease
disease of the heart and circulatory system, many of which are linked to atherosclerosis
meaning atherosclerosis
a condition in which yellow fatty deposits build up on the lining of the arteries, causing them to be narrowed and resulting in many different health problems
meaning plaques
yellowish fatty deposits that form on the inside of arteries in atherosclerosis
meaning atheroma
another term for a plaque formed on the arterial lining
meaning aneurysm
as a plaque develops in an artery, blood tends to build up behind the plaque, causing the artery to bulge and the wall is put under more pressure, so weakens. The weakened artery may split open, causing internal bleeding
meaning angina
a condition in which plaques build up in the coronary arteries, reducing blood flow to the cardiac muscle of the heart. It results in pain during exercise as the narrowed coronary arteries can’t supply enough oxygenated blood to the heart, so the cardiac muscles undergo anaerobic respiration
meaning myocardial infarction (heart attack)
takes place when atherosclerosis leads to the formation of a clot that blocks the coronary artery entirely and deprives part of the heart muscle of oxygen so it dies. It can stop the heart from functioning
meaning anaerobic respiration
cellular respiration that takes place in the absence of oxygen
meaning stent
a metal or plastic mesh tube that is inserted into an artery affected by atherosclerosis to hold it open and allow blood to pass through freely
meaning thrombosis
a clot that forms in a blood vessel
meaning premature deaths
people dying younger than expected
describe the development of a plaque
- slight damage may occur to the endothelial cells lining the artery. They can lead to a build-up of lipids, which start the deposit of plaque
- blood platelets form a cap over the fatty plaque, which narrows the artery
- any further damage causes a clot to form and this can block the whole artery, leading to a stroke or heart attack
what are 2 factors that may cause plaque formation
- high blood pressure
- chemicals in tobacco smoke
why does atherosclerosis form in arteries rather than veins
because the blood in arteries flows faster under a higher pressure, than in veins, there’s more strain on the endothelium lining the vessels. So, small areas of damage in the endothelium is much more likely to occur
how does damage in the endothelium cause the formation of a plaque
when damage has occured in the endothelium lining, the body’s inflammatory response begins and white blood cells arrive at the site of damage. The white blood cells produce chemicals such as cholesterol, which leads to the formation of a plaque
how does a plaque cause atherosclerosis
fibrous tissue and calcium salts build up around the plaque, hardening the plaque. This means the artery walls are less elastic than it should be. This also causes the lumen of the artery to become smaller. This increases pressure, making it harder for the heart to pump blood around the body. The raised blood pressure puts more strain on the endothelium lining, making more areas of damage, so more plaques. This causes atherosclerosis
what are the 4 effects of atherosclerosis
- aneurysms
- raised blood pressure
- heart disease
- strokes
where does aneurysms usually occur
in blood vessels supplying the brain or in the aorta
how does atherosclerosis cause a raised blood pressure
as the arteries become smaller, the blood pressure increases. This can cause damage to organs such as the kidneys, eyes and brain.
how does a raised blood pressure affect your kidneys
the high blood pressure damages small blood vessels where your kidneys filter out urea and other substances from the blood. If the vessels supplying the kidneys become narrower, the pressure inside them increases, forcing proteins out through its walls
how does a raised blood pressure affect your eyes
if the blood vessels supplying the retina of your eye are blocked or are leaking, the retinal cells don’t get any oxygen and die, causing blindness
what are the 2 main heart diseases
- angina
- myocardial infarction
(heart attack)
what are the symptoms of angina
when exercising, a gripping pain in the chest occurs which can extend into the arms and the jaw. It also causes breathlessness. Once exercise stops, the pain stops.
how is relatively mild angina treated
- doing regular exercise
- losing weight
- stop smoking
- take drugs which cause rapid dilation of the coronary blood vessels so that they supply the cardiac muscle with enough oxygen
