Topic 1- Lifestyle, health and risk Flashcards
(32 cards)
What is Atherosclerosis?
Fatty deposits that block an artery, directly or can lead to thrombosis (blood clots).
What can atherosclerosis cause?
Thrombosis (blood clots), CHD (Coronary heart disease) and strokes.
What is Myocardial Infraction?
A heart attack.
What is a Stroke?
When blood flow to the brain is restricted or when the brain isn’t receiving enough blood, it leads to a stroke.
What is Gangrene?
The decay of a body part or cavity.
What is Endothelium?
The delicate layer of cells that line the inside of an artery and separates the blood that flows along the artery from the muscular wall.
What is an Inflammatory Response?
It is when the inner lining of the artery is breached, white blood cells leave the blood vessel and move to the artery wall. This cause the cells to build up chemicals from the blood (especially cholesterol).
What is Plaque?
Calcium salts and fibrous tissue built up at the site of atherosclerosis.
What are Platelets?
A type of blood cell without a nucleus.
What is Thromboplastin?
An enzyme released from damaged cells which converts prothrombin during early stages of blood clotting.
What is Prothrombin?
A protein present in blood plasma which is converted into active thrombin during blood clotting.
How do we identify risk factors?
Epidemiology- study of patterns
Cohort study- studying a large group of people over time to see who develops the disease and who doesn’t
Case-control studies- a group of people with the disease are compared to a group of people who don’t have the disease
What are some risk factors for CVD?
High blood pressure Obesity Blood cholesterol and other dietary factors Smoking Inactivity Genetic Inheritance
What is Hypertension?
High blood pressure.
What happens when you have hypertension?
Increased risk of atherosclerosis, one of the most common ways of developing CVD.
What is blood pressure like in arteries?
It is fastest in arteries as the transport blood to various different parts of the body in high speeds in order to get the minerals and oxygen to its target location. Highest during systolic pressure (ventricles contract –> pushing blood to arteries) and lowest during diastolic pressure (when both ventricles are relaxed).
Why is water a good solvent?
- When solutes dissolve they are free to move
- has a polar arrangement
- hydrogen bonds form that binds water molecules loosely together due to opposite charges attracting each other
- dipole nature because they’re charged, oxygen slightly - and hydrogen slightly +
- almost all chemical reactions of life take place in aqueous solutions
- polar molecules (e.g., salts, sugars) dissolve easily in water and are called hydrophilic (“water loving”)
- non-polar molecules (e.g., lipids) don’t dissolve easily making them hydrophobic (“water fearing”)
What is the structure of a capillary?
Capillaries have no collagen in its walls Small endothelium (one cell thick)
What is a capillary’s function?
Smallest blood vessels, serves as a connection between arteries and veins. Exchange materials between blood and tissue cells.
What is the structure of arteries?
Narrow lumen
Thicker walls
More collagen, smooth muscle and elastic fibres
No valves
What is an artery’s function?
Carry deoxygenated blood AWAY from the heart to the lungs, carry oxygenated blood AWAY from the heart to the target tissue.
What is the structure of a vein?
Wide lumen
Thinner walls
Less collagen and smooth muscle, fewer elastic fibres
Valves
What is a vein’s function?
Take deoxygenated blood BACK TO the heart after going around the body, take oxygenated blood BACK TO the heart to be pumped around the body.
What is a Hazard?
The possibility of something bad happening.
