the blood

Red blood cells characteristics

• Half our bodies volume

• Carry oxygen for respiration

• No nucleus and bi concave shape to increase surface area

• Cary oxy haemoglobin

White blood cells characteristics

• Fight off pathogens using phagositosis to engulf the pathogen

• Make up 1% of our blood

• Antibodies attached to pathogens and kill them

Platelet characteristics

• The least common

• Go to cuts, clot blood, and form scabs

• No nucleus

• Prevent microorganisms entering blood stream and causing infection

• No nucleus

Plasma characteristics

• 50% of the bloods volume

• Makes blood watery to flow

• Carries the nutrients, waste products, proteins, antibodies, antitoxins, and hormones

What does CHD stand for

Coronary heart disease

Where does chd occur

Not in the heart, but in the arteries, and blood vessels leading to the heart

Effects of heart attacks

• Arrhythmia

• Leaky valves

• Heart failure

What causes heart attacks

Build up of fat within walls of blood vessels to the heart

Heart fallilure cam cause

Coma, unconsciousness and death

Arrhythmia is

Problems with the hearts rhythm

How can cholesterol cause heart attacks

Once on bit of cholesterol sticks to the wall of a blood vessels, they pile up and can cause a blockage, increasing the pressure to the heart as it has to work harder to get the blood through. And is receiving less blood back

What is a stent

A very thin wire inserted at the arm or thigh against blood flow, pushes down to a blockage, and opened up in order to scrape away blockage, and such it away.

What happens after a stent removes a blockage

A metal cage is left in the vessel for it to heal round and to prevent another blockage

What are statins

Drugs used to reduce cholesterol levels in blood, usually used to prevent a blockage

The most severe/ high risk way to fix a blocked valve is to

Cut open the chest, cut out gunky artery, and replace it with a new one, an alternative rout for the blood

How to fix Leaky valves

Mechanical of biological valve replacement

Mechanical valves pros + cons

Last a long time, but can cause blood clots, so patient has to take blood thinning drugs

Biological valves pros vs cons

Not drugs, but they only last 12-15 years, come from pigs or humans, So some people have religious objections