Zusammenfassung der Ressource
AQA biology 5.3 heart disease
- Atheroma
- start as fatty streaks of white blood cells that take up LDL's
- LDL = low-density lipoproteins
- grows and forms and atheromatous plaque
- made up of cholesterol, fibres and dead muscle cells
- bulges into lumen of artery
- this narrows the artery
- this reduces the blood flow
- this increases risk of aneurysm and thrombosis
- thrombosis
- when an atheroma breaks through the lining of a blood vessel.
- this rough surface interrupts smooth blood flow
- this leads to formation of a thrombus (blood clot)
- this thrombus may block blood vessels
- this reduces/prevents blood flow to tissues beyond
- tissue deprived of blood often dies
- this is due to lack of oxygen and glucose and other nutrients.
- sometimes, they are carried by the blood and become lodged in another artery
- aneurysm
- form because atheromas weaken artery walls.
- weakened points swell to for a balloon-like structure
- these are filled with blood
- this is the aneurysm
- they frequently burst
- this causes a haemorrhage
- this causes a loss of blood to the region of body served my that artery
- a brain aneurysm is known as a cerebrovascular accident (CVA)
- better known as a stroke
- myocardial infarction
- commonly known as a heart attack
- reduced supply of oxygen to the heart muscle
- result of blockage in coronary arteries
- blockage close to junction of aorta and coronary artery will stop the heart
- because blood supply will be completely cut off
- blockage further down coronary artery, symptoms are milder
- because a smaller area of the muscle will suffer oxygen deprivation
- risk factors
- smoking
- carbon monoxide
- combines easily to haemoglobin
- forms carboxyhaemoglobin
- reduces oxygen-carrying capacity of haemoglobin
- to supply sufficient oxygen to tissues, the heart has to work harder
- this leads to raised blood pressure
- this increases risk of CHD and strokes.
- can also cause insufficient supply of oxygen to heart during exercise
- this leads to chest pain and in severe cases, a myocardial infarction
- chest pain is know as angina
- nicotine
- stimulates production of adrenaline
- this increases heart rate and raises blood pressure
- this increases risk of CHD
- makes red blood cells 'sticky'
- makes them coagulate
- higher risk of thrombosis, hence strokes or myocardial infarction
- high blood pressure
- can be due to genes
- there are lifestyle factors
- prolonged stress
- certain diets
- lack of exercise
- high pressure in arteries makes them more likely to develop an aneurysm and burst
- to resist higher pressure, artery walls thicken and harden, restricting blood flow
- blood cholesteral
- high-density lipoproteins
- remove cholesteral and transport it to liver for excretion
- help protect arteries from heart disease
- low-density lipoproteins
- transport cholesterol from liver to tissue
- this infiltrates and builds up in artery walls
- this leads to the development of atheromas
- Diet
- high levels of salt
- raises blood pressure
- high levels of saturated fat
- increase LDL's
- this increases blood cholesterol concentration