Cardiovascular Disease
Chapter 11
Terminology Review:
1. Carviovascular Disease (CVD) - disease of the heart and blood vessels.
2. Lipoproteins - Blood fats formed in the liver that carry cholesterol throughout the body.
3. LDLs (Low-density lipoproteins) - Blood fats that transport cholesterol to organs and
tissues; excess amounts result in the accumulation of deposits on artery walls. (Bad Cholesterol)
4. HDLs (High-density lipoproteins) - Blood fats that help transport cholesterol out of the
arteries and thus protect against heart disease. (Good Cholesterol)
5. Platelets - Microscopic disk-shaped cell fragments in the blood that disintegrate on contact
with foreign objects and release chemicals that are necessary for the formation of blood clots.
6. Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) - Smoke that enters the atmosphere from the burning end of the
cigarette, cigar, or pipe, as well as smoke that is exhaled by smokers; also called second-hand smoke.
7. Hypertension - Sustained abnormally high blood pressure.
8. Atherosclerosis - Cardiovascular disease in which the inner layers of artery walls are made
thick and irregular by deposits of a fatty substance. The internal channels of arteries become
narrowed, and blood supply is reduced.
9. Glymemic index (GL) – A measure of how high and how fast a particular food raises blood sugar.
10. Glycemic load – A measure of how a particular food affects blood glucose levels, calculated by
multiplying the glycemic index of a food by its carbohydrate content.
11. Plaque - A deposit of fatty (and other) substances on the inner wall of the arteries.
12. Coronary arteries - two arteries branching from the aorta that provide blood to the heart
muscle.
13. Coronary heart disease - (CHD) heart disease caused by hardening of the arteries that
supply oxygen to the heart muscle.
14. Pacemaker - The natural “pacemaker” consists of a small bundle of specialized cells in the
right atrium that emits electrical signals that cause the heart to contract. An artificial
pacemaker is an electrical device that can regulate heartbeat by emitting rhythmic electrical
impulses.
15. Angina Pectoris - A condition in which the heart muscle does not receive enough blood,
causing severe pain in the chest and often in the left arm and shoulder.
16. Arrhythmia - An irregularity in the force or rhythm of the heartbeat that often precedes a
heart attack.
17. Sudden cardiac death – A nontraumatic, unexpected death from sudden cardiac arrest, most
often due to arrhythmia; in most instances, victims had underlying heart disease.
18. Stroke - An impeded bloody supply to some part of the brain resulting in the destruction of
brain cells.
19. Congestive Heart Failure - A condition resulting from the heart’s inability to pump out all
the blood that returns to it. Blood backs up in the veins leading to the heart, causing an
accumulation of fluid in various parts of the body.
20. Rheumatic Fever - A disease, mainly of children, characterized by fever, inflammation, and
pain in the joints; often damages the heart muscle.
Study Questions:
1. How much control does an individual have over CVD risk?
2. How is the heart supplied with oxygen?
3. How does cigarette smoking increase an individual’s risk for CVD?
4. What is hypertension, and how does it affect CV health?
5. How can hypertension be controlled?
6. What is cholesterol, and why can it be harmful?
7. What is the difference between HDL and LDL, and what is the risk each poses for CVD?
8. What impact does regular exercise have on CVD risk?
9. How does being overweight and obese affect CVD risk?
10. What effect does socioeconomic status and educational level have on CVD risk?
11. What risk factors for CVD are outside of a person’s control?
12. How can hypertension damage the CV system?
13. What is the difference between atherosclerosis and heart attack?
14. What treatment option does a person with heart disease have?
15. What is a stroke, and what are some of the long-term effects?
16. What can a person do to protect him/herself from CVD?