1.5 Understand the course of events that leads to atherosclerosis (endothelial dysfunction, inflammatory response, plaque formation, raised blood pressure).

atherosclerosis: disease, where arteries become clogged by fatty deposits (plaque/atheroma)
atheroma: degeneration of the walls of the arteries caused by accumulated fatty deposits and scar tissue

events that lead to atherosclerosis 

1.  damage to endothelium 
2.  inflammatory response White blood cells and cholesterol move into the wall of the blood vessel
3. plaque formation Calcium salts and fibrous tissue build up causing the atheroma to go hard and to form a plaque
4. raised blood pressure blood vessel is narrower                                                                     

 note: the raised blood pressure can then cause another atheroma.

blood clotting process

1. injury 
2. platelets clump at wound 
3. platelets release thromboplastin 
4. this converts Prothrombin into Thrombin
5. Thrombin then converts soluble fibrinogen into insoluble fibrin

link to CV: atheroma narrows the artery, in addition a blood clot could completely block the blood flow, thus preventing oxygenated blood from providing cells with oxygen- this is CVD

prevention

risk factors:

• smoking 
• high fat diet/overweight
• age
• genetics 
• high cholesterol 
• lack of exercise 
• high blood pressure 

treatment of CVD

antihypertensives good/bad:

dry cough 
drowsy, dizzy, faint
foot swelling 
reduces CVD risk, heart attack stroke