2.2c Lifestyle Diseases

Atherosclerosis

• The build up of fatty deposits in the arterial walls, forming hardened plaque. Over time this narrows the lumen and reduces the blood flow through the arteries

• Increases the chance of blood clots forming as blood cannot move freely through the blood vessels

• The walls become thick and hardened, which reduces their ability to vasodilate and constrict

• Blood pressure increases as the walls cannot regulate appropriately and hypertension occurs

Coronary Heart Disease

• Build up of fatty plaque in the coronary arteries that supply the heart muscle with oxygenated blood

• Reduced blood and oxygen flow which reduces the cardiac muscle’s ability to respire and work effectively

• Often leads to a heart attack or development of angina

Heart Attack

• A piece of plaque breaks away from the artery wall and encourage a blood clot to form

• Can totally or partially block a coronary artery, and will then block the floe of oxygenated blood to the cardiac muscle

• Causes death of the cells and permanent damage to the heart

Stroke

• Ischaemic stroke - a blockage in the cerebral artery, cutting off the blood supply to the brain (85% of strokes)

• Haemorrhagic stroke - a blood vessel bursts and causes a bleed on the brain (15% of strokes)

Effects of Training on the Cardiovascular System

• reduces blood lipids and cholesterol levels - slows the development of atherosclerosis

• decrease in blood viscosity - prevents blood clots forming and reduces BP

• prevents the hardening of artery walls and improves their elasticity - slows the development of atherosclerosis and hypertension

• increased coronary circulation as arterioles increase in diameter and density - reduces risk of a heart attack

• cardiac hypertrophy and increased stroke volume - increases efficiency of the heart, lowers resting HR, lowers BP, reduces strain on the heart

• increases blood flow and O2 transport to muscle cells - easier to perform exercise, reduced onset of fatigue, reduces strain on heart, reduced BP

• decreased body fat - reduces strain on the heart

• reduced BP and weight maintenance - reduces chance of a stroke by 72%

Asthma

• Constriction of the bronchial airways and inflammation of mucus membranes which restricts and limits breathing

• shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing

• made worse by pollution, allergies, pollen/ dust, exercise (cold and dry air)

COPD - Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

• airways become inflamed and narrow

• thickening of bronchiole walls

• increased mucus production

• damage to alveoli

• decreased lung tissue elasticity

Effects of Training on the Respiratory System

• increased respiratory muscle strength - decreases respiratory symptoms and alleviates asthma symptoms

• decreased resting breathing rate - reduces onset of fatigue

• increases surface area of alveoli and pulmonary capillaries - maximises the efficiency of gaseous exchange and increases health of respiratory membranes

• inspiratory muscles are more effective - increases airflow, reduces breathlessness, reduces need for medication

• maintains full use of lung tissue and elasticity - decreases the risk of infection associated with COPD