The Heart

Question 1

What is an artificial pacemaker?

Answer 1

An electrical device used to correct irregularities in the heart rate

Question 2

What is coronary heart disease?

Answer 2

Layers of fatty material build up inside the coronary arteries and harden to form plaque (atheroma)

This narrows the arteries and reduces the flow of blood, resulting in a lack of oxygen for the heart muscle.

Question 3

Why does coronary heart disease occur?

Answer 3

Too much cholesterol and saturated fat

Question 4

What can coronary heart disease cause?

Answer 4

. Chest pain when exercising (angina)
. Myocardial infraction (heart attack)

Question 5

What are treatments of coronary heart disease?

Answer 5

. Stents
. Bypass surgery
. Statins

Question 6

What is bypass surgery?

Answer 6

. When a section of a vein taken
. Used to form a diversion around the area of the heart where the coronary artery is blocked
. Needs general anaesthetic
. 3 month recovery

Question 7

What are stents?

Answer 7

Wire mesh tubes

Question 8

What is angioplasty?

Answer 8

. Stent inserted at the same time as balloon catheter
. Expands when balloon is inflated
. Balloon is removed
. Stent left permanently
. Takes 1-2 hours
. 1 week recovery

Question 9

What are statins?

Answer 9

Drugs prescribed to reduce high blood cholesterol levels.

Usually taken for the rest of their life.