1.10 - 1.20 cardiovascular disease unit 1

anticoagulants

a class of antithrombotic drug that slows the normal process of blood clot formation and is used as a treatment for CVD

antihypertensives

a class of drug that is used as a treatment for high blood pressure (hypertension)

antioxidants

molecules that inhibit the oxidation of other molecules, oxidation can lead to chain reactions that may damage cells

atherosclerosis

a disease characterised by a buildup of plaque within arteries which narrows them and can lead to heart attacks and strokes

blood clot

a gelatinous mass of fibrin and blood cells formed by the coagulation of blood

body mass index (BMI)

a method of measuring a person’s weight with respect to their heigh to calculate wether they are of a healthy weight or not

cardiovascular disease (CVD)

a term used to describe a group of diseases related to the heart and blood vessels

cholesterol

an essential component of plasma membranes and myelin , the substance surrounding many nerve fibres , it necessary for the formation of certain hormones and vitamin D

coagulation

the process of blood turning into a gel and forming a clot , often in response to a broken blood vessel to prevent blood loss

coronary heart disease

a condition in which the blood supply to the heart is blocked or interrupted by a build up of fatty substance in the coronary arteries

endothelial dysfunction

the failure of the endothelial layer (the inner lining) of the small arteries to perform its functions normally

fibrin

an insoluble protein formed from fibrinogen under the action of thrombin which is used to seal the wound during blood clotting

fibrinogen

a soluble protein which is the precursor of insoluble fibrin which is used to seal the wound during blood clotting

high density lipoproteins (HDL)

a dense molecule made of proteins and lipids that is used to remove cholesterol from tissues and transport it to the liver for excretion

low density lipoproteins (LDL)

a lower density molecule made of proteins and lipids that is used to transport cholesterol around the body to different tissues which can cause cholesterol buildup in blood vessels

plaque

a substance containing fatty molecules, cholesterol, blood platelets, fibrin, calcium, ions and cellular debris, these attach to a roughened part of the lining of an artery

prothrombin

the inactive form of thrombin

statins

a class of drug that is used to lower cholesterol levels in the blood

thrombin

the active form of prothrombin which converts soluble fibrinogen to insoluble fibrin during the process of blood clotting

thromboplastin

a clotting factor which converts prothrombin to thrombin during the blood clotting process

waist to hip ratio

a comparison of the size of a person’s waist to their circumference of their hips which can be used to determine a person’s health risk