4.3.1-4.4.2 conclusion questions

Explain why a patient would most likely prefer their blocked vessels be treated by angioplasty and stents versus bypass surgery.

Angioplasties and stents preserves the artery. Bypasses, however, makes a new kind of artery by changing the path of blood flow. It can be risky if the stitches break open because they are not as strong as the original artery. They angioplasty and stent are more convenient.

Explain how atherosclerosis can impact the heart itself. What happens if plaque blocks blood flow in the coronary arteries?

Atherosclerosis can stop enough blood from flowing to the heart then it usually gets. If plaque gets in the way, organs have the possibility of shutting down. This makes the heart work harder to pump because it needs more blood. This would cause a heart attack.

Discuss the impact that blocked vessels have on blood pressure. How would this impact overall health?

Blocked blood vessels raise blood pressure because blood is not flowing through them as well so the heart has to work harder than usual. It is more difficult for blood to flow through the vessels/arteries because they are narrowed. This can cause a heart attack or stroke as well.

Explain the relationship between cholesterol and atherosclerosis. How does atherosclerosis impact blood flow? Use the results of your experiment to help explain your answer.

Cholesterol builds up fat and plaque in the arteries which leads to atherosclerosis. When the arteries harden and plaque forms, it creates a blockage in the arteries which decreases the amount of blood flow.

A person may experience a stroke, a rapid loss of brain function due to a decreased blood supply to the brain. Explain how a stroke can be linked to cholesterol and conditions such as atherosclerosis.

Cholesterol builds up on the artery walls and creates the potential for atherosclerosis. The artery that is blocked and has atherosclerosis can be going towards the brain. If this happens the brain won't be getting enough oxygen or blood which would result in a stroke.

Outline the rationale a doctor should use for deciding whether to put a patient on blood pressure or cholesterol-lowering medications.

Doctors should check blood pressure and cholesterol and check levels of LDL, HDL, and the total amount and triglyceride levels to see what needs to be modified to reach the correct range. Medication should be given depending on the results that came up.

Erin is only seventeen years old and her total cholesterol is 600 mg/dL. Why do you think her cholesterol is so much higher than the others in her family who have familial hypercholesterolemia?

Erin could be homozygous for the dominant allele of "F" while her family could only be heterozygous having one dominant "F" and one normal recessive "f".

Which risk factors for heart disease are also risk factors for the development of diabetes?

Hypertension, low amounts of exercise, being overweight, and high cholesterol levels are risk factors for both heart disease and diabetes.

Describe how each professional researched in this activity may have helped diagnose, treat, or counsel Anna Garcia.

Nurses would help take blood pressure and run cholesterol level tests. Nutritionists would help the patient determine how they should eat in response to their needs. Physical therapists/trainers would assist in maintaining healthy weight and a regular exercise schedule. Natural medicine practitioners would help the patient relieve stress. Cardiologists diagnose and treat diseases in the cardiovascular system. All the listed professionals above help, in one way or another, diagnose or prevent heart disease.

Explain how cholesterol plays an important role in at least two different human body systems.

One system that cholesterol plays a role in is the digestive system. In the digestive system cholesterol creates bile acids. These acids help break down food to be digested before it is taken into the intestines. Another system that cholesterol plays a role in is the endocrine system. Cholesterol creates certain steroid hormones which are released in the endocrine system.

Explain how the use of Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphisms to diagnosis genetic disease differs from its use in forensic investigations.

RFLP's are used in forensics so they are able to examine which DNA samples match. They use ends that are sticky to work with pairs of DNA. To diagnose a genetic disease they cut DNA into different sizes to look at how far they go in gel electrophoresis to see if they match with the disease

Explain the role that stress can play on the development of disease. Describe at least three strategies or interventions a person could employ to control stress.

Stress can increase the risk for different diseases. One way to reduce stress would be to get the proper amount of sleep at night. Another way to relieve stress is to balance out your schedule so you do not get overwhelmed with all that you have to do. Lastly, activities such as reading or doing yoga can reduce stress.

Explain how the class of medications called statins works to lower cholesterol levels in the body.

The medications stop the production of cholesterol in the body which would then lower the levels of cholesterol.

What do you feel are the pros and cons of using cholesterol-lowering drugs to treat high cholesterol?

The pros of taking cholesterol lowering medication would be that it would lower LDL, absorb the cholesterol build up on the artery walls, and it would stop any blockage in the arteries that could cause a heart attack or stroke. The cons of cholesterol lowering medication are muscle problems, liver damage, type 2 diabetes, and neurological side effects

List five factors or behaviors that affect cholesterol levels in the body, how these factors affect cholesterol levels, and whether the effect is positive or negative with regards to a person's health.

Things that could change a person's cholesterol levels are eating a healthy diet, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, smoking, and taking medication. Eating a healthy diet would be positive because it would be keeping the cholesterol in the right amounts for the body. Maintaining a healthy weight and exercising regularly would be positive because it would raise HDL levels and lower LDL levels. Smoking would be a negative because it raises LDL levels. Lastly, taking medication would be a positive because it keeps your cholesterol at the proper levels.

Explain how cholesterol levels could be linked to health events such as strokes and heart attacks.

When there is a lot of cholesterol in your body, it starts to build up, in the form of plaque, on your arteries. This can cause atherosclerosis, the narrowing and hardening of the arteries. If the arteries are blocked off then blood cannot flow throughout the heart which would then cause a heart attack.

How does smoking relate to risk of heart attack and atherosclerosis?

When you smoke it releases harmful chemicals into your blood cells. The chemicals reduce the amount of oxygen in the red blood cells which can damage the function of your heart. This would cause the heart to be weak and can cause a heart attack. Atherosclerosis can also be caused by smoking because smoking causes a tar like substance to build up and it can block the arteries if it builds up enough.