7.2.4

Cardiovascular Disease

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Atheromas

Atheromas are the deposition of materials in the walls of the arteries causing a blockage. Atheromas can cause a number of cardiovascular diseases.

Deposition

Deposition

  • The endothelium of arteries can become damaged by the deposition of white blood cells and lipids.
  • If white blood cells and fatty materials continue to be deposited in the artery walls, the materials will begin to form hard, fibrous plaque.
Narrow lumen

Narrow lumen

  • As the fibrous plaque builds up, the lumen of the artery becomes narrower.
  • The flow of blood through the arteries is restricted.
  • The narrower lumen also increases blood pressure.
  • The presence of the fibrous plaque is called an atheroma.
Coronary heart disease

Coronary heart disease

  • Atheromas can cause diseases of the heart.
  • Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a type of disease that is associated with many atheromas.

Aneurysm & Thrombosis

Atheromas can increase the risk of two types of diseases:

Aneurysm

Aneurysm

  • Atheromas damage the artery walls and increase blood pressure.
  • The increased blood pressure can cause the elastic fibres in the artery wall to swell in balloon-like structure.
  • This swelling is an aneurysm.
Thrombosis

Thrombosis

  • Atheromas can damage the artery walls, causing them to burst open.
  • Platelets are transported in the bloodstream to the damaged part of the artery wall.
  • The platelets accumulate and form a clot called a thrombus.
  • A thrombus can block blood flow in the artery.

Risk Factors

There are certain risk factors that can increase the chance of developing cardiovascular disease. These include:

Diet

Diet

  • A diet that is high in saturated fat and salt can lead to high blood cholesterol levels.
  • Cholesterol in the blood can contribute to the formation of atheromas in the arteries.
Smoking

Smoking

  • Smoking cigarettes increases the risk of high blood pressure.
  • Carbon monoxide found in cigarettes reduces the amount of oxygen that can be carried by haemoglobin in the blood.
  • Reduced transport of oxygen can increase the risk of a heart attack.
High blood pressure

High blood pressure

  • High blood pressure can be inherited or it can be caused by being overweight and consuming excessive alcohol.
  • High blood pressure can contribute to the formation of atheromas.
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Enzymes

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Photosynthesis

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Practice questions on Cardiovascular Disease

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  1. 1
    Which of the following statements about atheromas are true?True / false
  2. 2
    What causes the lumen of arteries to narrow in the formation of an atheroma?Multiple choice
  3. 3
    Which of the following statements about aneurysms and thrombosis are true?True / false
  4. 4
    What structure of the arteries swells to form an aneurysm?Multiple choice
  5. 5
    Which of these is NOT a risk factor that increases the chance of developing cardiovascular disease?Multiple choice
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Blood Vessels

Xylem Structure