Edexcel Biology Gcse - Non-Communicable Diseases Part 5

Coronary heart disease occurs when a waxy plaque builds up inside the coronary arteries that supply the heart with oxygen. Drugs and surgery can help to control cardiovascular disease.

Statins are drugs that help to lower cholesterol in the blood. They do this by lowering the production of cholesterol in the liver.

Statins are prescribed for people with heart disease or who have a high risk of developing it. They need to be taken long-term. Cholesterol levels will rise again if a person stops taking them.

Statins are not suitable for everyone - they should not be prescribed for people with liver disease, or pregnant or breast feeding women.

Some patients taking statins often experience side-effects such as headaches and memory loss. There have been reports of statins being linked with type 2 diabetes and liver damage.

Coronary arteries that are blocked or have become narrow can be stretched open and a stent inserted to restore and maintain blood flow.

They can be used in instances where drugs are less effective, and offer a longer term solution. Stents are made from metal alloys and do not lead to an immune response in the patient.

age

general health

whether they have had a heart attack

The operation is safe as it does not involve surgery, but there is a risk of bleeding, heart attack or stroke.

A heart transplant is required in cases of heart failure. Coronary heart disease can lead to heart failure. The heart fails to pump sufficient blood and organs are starved of oxygen. There will be degrees of severity of heart failure.

A donor heart is transplanted. In rare cases, a heart is transplanted along with lungs.

A consultant assesses the patient's condition. If other treatments are not managing the heart condition, a transplant may be recommended and a patient will be put on a waiting list. A transplant puts major strain on the body, and the benefits and risks will be evaluated including whether the patient's condition is sufficiently severe and other health factors.

Artificial hearts are plastic devices used occasionally to keep patients alive whilst waiting for a heart transplant. They can also be used to allow a patient's heart to rest to help it recover.

need time to heal, recover and build up strength

have to take drugs called immunosuppressant drugs for the rest of their life - this prevents the person's immune system from rejecting the donor heart

have an increased risk of infection because of these drugs

Reduce the risk of heart attack.

Studies have shown a decrease in 'bad cholesterol' and an increase in 'good cholesterol'.

Used to reduce high cholesterol levels that have genetic causes.

May have beneficial effects on other conditions.

Not suitable for people with liver disease.

Some side effects.

Must be taken for life.

Should not be taken if pregnant or breastfeeding.

improve quality of life

Few donor hearts are available.

Recovery time is long.

There is a risk of rejection by the body's immune system.

Widen coronary arteries that have not responded to drug treatment. The recovery time is short following insertion of the stent.

Widen coronary arteries that have not responded to drug treatment.

The recovery time is short following insertion of the stent.

These include stopping smoking, reducing alcohol intake, eating a balanced diet and regular exercise. These changes will improve the health of all people; those with and without cardiovascular disease.

These include stopping smoking, reducing alcohol intake, eating a balanced diet and regular exercise.

These changes will improve the health of all people; those with and without cardiovascular disease.

These include stopping smoking, reducing alcohol intake, eating a balanced diet and regular exercise.

These changes will improve the health of all people; those with and without cardiovascular disease.

Tar

Liver

Depressant

To establish that one variable causes a change in another, a possible causal mechanism must be looked for.