Flashcards on Coronary Heart Disease: Stents and Statins

Coronary Heart Disease: Stents & Statins Explained

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What is coronary heart disease and how does it lead to a heart attack?

Coronary heart disease is when fatty material builds up in the coronary arteries, narrowing them so blood flow (and oxygen) to the heart muscle is res

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Coronary heart disease treatments

14 cards

Card 1

Question: What is coronary heart disease and how does it lead to a heart attack?

Answer: Coronary heart disease is when fatty material builds up in the coronary arteries, narrowing them so blood flow (and oxygen) to the heart muscle is res

Card 2

Question: How do stents reduce the risk of heart attacks in people with coronary heart disease?

Answer: Stents are tubes inserted inside arteries that keep them open so blood can pass through to the heart muscle, maintaining blood supply and reducing hea

Card 3

Question: What are two advantages of using stents for coronary heart disease?

Answer: They lower the risk of heart attack and are effective for a long time; recovery time from the surgery is relatively quick.

Card 4

Question: What are three possible disadvantages or risks associated with stent surgery?

Answer: Risks include complications during the operation (e.g., heart attack), infection from surgery, and development of a blood clot near the stent (thrombo

Card 5

Question: What is cholesterol and which type is considered 'bad' in relation to coronary heart disease?

Answer: Cholesterol is an essential lipid the body produces, but low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol is the 'bad' type that, when too high, can cause he

Card 6

Question: How do fatty deposits from high 'bad' cholesterol contribute to coronary heart disease?

Answer: Too much 'bad' cholesterol in the bloodstream can cause fatty deposits to form inside arteries, narrowing them and leading to coronary heart disease.

Card 7

Question: How do statins help prevent coronary heart disease?

Answer: Statins are drugs that reduce the amount of 'bad' (LDL) cholesterol in the bloodstream, slowing the formation of fatty deposits in arteries.

Card 8

Question: Name two cardiovascular outcomes that statins can reduce the risk of.

Answer: Statins can reduce the risk of strokes and heart attacks (and coronary heart disease).

Card 9

Question: Besides lowering 'bad' cholesterol, what beneficial effect can statins have on other cholesterol types?

Answer: Statins can increase the amount of 'good' (HDL) cholesterol, which helps remove 'bad' cholesterol from the blood.

Card 10

Question: What are three disadvantages or limitations of taking statins?

Answer: They must be taken long-term and regularly (risk of forgetting), can cause side effects (from headaches to serious effects like kidney failure, liver