http://www.ck12.org Chapter 1. Human Biology
1.29 Cardiovascular Diseases
- Describe the various types of cardiovascular disease.
How do you "fix" arteries?
When a blood vessel gets clogged, there is no medical equivalent of "Drano" that will clear it out. There is, however,
a procedure known as angioplasty. A thin tube with a balloon is threaded through the blood vessels. Once in place,
the balloon is inflated to compress the clog against the artery wall.
Cardiovascular Diseases
Acardiovascular disease (CVD)is any disease that affects the cardiovascular system. But the term is usually used
to describe diseases that are linked to atherosclerosis.
Atherosclerosis(Figure1.51) is an inflammation of the walls of arteries that causes swelling and a buildup of
material called plaque.Plaqueis made of cell pieces, fatty substances, calcium, and connective tissue that builds up
around the area of inflammation. As a plaque grows, it stiffens and narrows the artery, which decreases the flow of
blood through the artery.
Atherosclerosis normally begins in late childhood and is typically found in most major arteries. It does not usually
have any early symptoms. Causes of atherosclerosis include a high-fat diet, high cholesterol, smoking, obesity, and
diabetes. Atherosclerosis becomes a threat to health when the plaque buildup prevents blood circulation in the heart
or the brain. A blocked blood vessel in the heart can cause a heart attack. Blockage of the circulation in the brain
can cause a stroke.