Cardiovascular diseases
Cardiovascular diseases are diseases of the heart and blood vessels.
The effect of this is to reduce the flow of blood through the coronary arteries.
They are not infectious. They cannot be passed from person to person.
The coronary arteries branch out of the aorta and spread out into the heart muscle.
The oxygen is used in respiration to provide the energy for contraction.
This results in a lack of oxygen for the heart muscle.
Cardiovascular diseases are non-communicable.
In coronary heart disease, layers of fatty material build up inside the coronary arteries. This cause the coronary arteries to narrow.
The purpose of the coronary arteries is to provide oxygen to the muscle cells of the heart.
In extreme cases, this can result in a heart attack, where the heart is starved of oxygen.
Stains are drugs which reduce the level of cholesterol in the blood.
In some people, coronary heart disease can cause almost a total blockage of a coronary artery.
Statins have been proven to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.
Other times the valves are leaky which can cause the patient to feel weak and tired.
The advantage of inserting a stent is that the blood can flow normally through the artery.
Statins have unwanted side-effects eg liver problems
These people can be treated using a stent. A stent is a tube which can be inserted into the coronary artery to keep it open.
A stent will not prevent other regions of the coronary arteries from narrowing. It does not underlying causes of the disease.
This slows down the rate that fatty materials build up in the arteries.
Sometimes the heart valves do not fully open so the heart has to pump extra hard to get the blood through. This can cause the heart to enlarge.
When heart valves are faulty we can replace them either with a mechanical value made of metal or a valve from an animal such as a pig.
Mechanical valves can last a lifetime but they increase the risk of bloodclots. Patients have to take anticlotting drugs.