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B2 L) Cardiovascular Disease
B2 L) Cardiovascular Disease
A heart attack is where the supply of blood and oxygen to the muscles of the heart is suddenly blocked. Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of heart attacks.
The coronary arteries supply blood to the muscles of the heart. They can easily become blocked due to the build-up of fatty substances on the walls of the coronary arteries (this is coronary heart disease). The fatty substances on the walls of the coronary arteries include cholesterol known as plaques and the accumulation of degenerative material. The build-up of fatty substances in the coronary arteries decreases the size of the cavity/ lumen in the coronary arteries, which results in less blood travelling through the coronary arteries to the muscles in the heart. A reduction in blood travelling to the muscles in the heart reduces the amount of oxygen that the heart muscles receive. If the muscles in the heart are supplied with so little oxygen, they cannot respire, which may result in a heart attack. A heart attack will significantly damage the muscles in the heart, which may even result in death.
The diagram below shows a normal coronary artery and a coronary artery with a build-up of fatty deposits.
The coronary arteries supply blood to the muscles of the heart. They can easily become blocked due to the build-up of fatty substances on the walls of the coronary arteries (this is coronary heart disease). The fatty substances on the walls of the coronary arteries include cholesterol known as plaques and the accumulation of degenerative material. The build-up of fatty substances in the coronary arteries decreases the size of the cavity/ lumen in the coronary arteries, which results in less blood travelling through the coronary arteries to the muscles in the heart. A reduction in blood travelling to the muscles in the heart reduces the amount of oxygen that the heart muscles receive. If the muscles in the heart are supplied with so little oxygen, they cannot respire, which may result in a heart attack. A heart attack will significantly damage the muscles in the heart, which may even result in death.
The diagram below shows a normal coronary artery and a coronary artery with a build-up of fatty deposits.
From the two diagrams, you can see that the fatty deposits decrease the size of the central cavity/ lumen in the artery, which means that less blood will flow to the muscles in the heart. As less blood flows through the coronary arteries, less oxygen is delivered to the muscles in the heart. If the reduction in oxygen is so great, it will result in a heart attack.
Heart attacks damage the muscles in the heart. Severe heart attacks can be fatal as a large amount of heart muscle is affected. However, many heart attacks are less severe, meaning that a smaller amount of heart muscle is affected, and the person will recover with treatment immediately after the heart attack. The recovery process aims to reduce the risks of a heart attack happening again and to gradually restore physical fitness.
Heart attacks damage the muscles in the heart. Severe heart attacks can be fatal as a large amount of heart muscle is affected. However, many heart attacks are less severe, meaning that a smaller amount of heart muscle is affected, and the person will recover with treatment immediately after the heart attack. The recovery process aims to reduce the risks of a heart attack happening again and to gradually restore physical fitness.
Reducing the Risk of Heart Attacks
We can reduce the risks of an individual having a heart attack by using stents and statins.
Stents
A stent is a tiny wire mesh tube that is inserted into the coronary arteries. The stent pushes against the walls of the artery, which keeps the coronary arteries open, thus making sure that sufficient blood can pass through the coronary arteries to the muscles in the heart. This means that the muscles in the heart are supplied with plenty of oxygen from blood, which reduces the risk of a heart attack occurring.
We can reduce the risks of an individual having a heart attack by using stents and statins.
Stents
A stent is a tiny wire mesh tube that is inserted into the coronary arteries. The stent pushes against the walls of the artery, which keeps the coronary arteries open, thus making sure that sufficient blood can pass through the coronary arteries to the muscles in the heart. This means that the muscles in the heart are supplied with plenty of oxygen from blood, which reduces the risk of a heart attack occurring.
Stents are very effective at reducing the risk of a heart attack for individuals who have coronary heart disease. Stents have an effect for a long period of time. The surgical procedure used to insert the stents usually has a short recovery time. However, with all surgical procedures, there is a risk of complications and infection, but these risks are fairly low. A negative of stents is that there is a risk of the individual with a stent developing thrombosis, which is a blood clot near the stent.
Statins
Statins are drugs that lower LDL cholesterol in blood (LDL stands for low density lipoprotein). High levels of LDL cholesterol in blood leads to fatty deposits developing in arteries, which can block the arteries resulting in coronary heart disease and an increased risk of heart attacks. This is why LDL cholesterol is known as the “bad type” of cholesterol. However, we do need a certain amount of LDL cholesterol in our bodies, but not too much of it.
Individuals who have high levels of LDL cholesterol can take statins. Statins are drugs that lower the levels of LDL cholesterol in blood, which reduces the build-up of fatty deposits in coronary arteries. This lowers the risk of an individual having coronary heart disease, a heart attack and a stroke. As well as reducing the amount of LDL cholesterol in blood, statins increase the amount of HDL cholesterol (HDL stands for high density lipoprotein). HDL cholesterol is nicknamed ‘good’ cholesterol because it removes LDL (the ‘bad’) cholesterol from blood.
Statins are drugs that must be taken every day – if an individual regularly forgets to take the statins, they will not receive the benefits, which may result in the individual having a heart attack or stroke. Also, there can be some side effects from taking statins. Some of these side effects aren’t too serious (such as headaches), but others are more serious (such as liver damage and kidney failure). A final negative is that statins take a while to have their desired effect, which means that an individual taking statins will have to wait a while before they see the benefits (whereas stents will have a quicker effect).
Statins
Statins are drugs that lower LDL cholesterol in blood (LDL stands for low density lipoprotein). High levels of LDL cholesterol in blood leads to fatty deposits developing in arteries, which can block the arteries resulting in coronary heart disease and an increased risk of heart attacks. This is why LDL cholesterol is known as the “bad type” of cholesterol. However, we do need a certain amount of LDL cholesterol in our bodies, but not too much of it.
Individuals who have high levels of LDL cholesterol can take statins. Statins are drugs that lower the levels of LDL cholesterol in blood, which reduces the build-up of fatty deposits in coronary arteries. This lowers the risk of an individual having coronary heart disease, a heart attack and a stroke. As well as reducing the amount of LDL cholesterol in blood, statins increase the amount of HDL cholesterol (HDL stands for high density lipoprotein). HDL cholesterol is nicknamed ‘good’ cholesterol because it removes LDL (the ‘bad’) cholesterol from blood.
Statins are drugs that must be taken every day – if an individual regularly forgets to take the statins, they will not receive the benefits, which may result in the individual having a heart attack or stroke. Also, there can be some side effects from taking statins. Some of these side effects aren’t too serious (such as headaches), but others are more serious (such as liver damage and kidney failure). A final negative is that statins take a while to have their desired effect, which means that an individual taking statins will have to wait a while before they see the benefits (whereas stents will have a quicker effect).