2.14 Cardiovascular Disorders

Cardiovascular disorders (CVD) are diseases of the heart and blood vessels. They are the leading cause of untimely death worldwide. This topic covers thrombosis, embolism, atherosclerosis, arteriosclerosis, angina pectoris, heart attack, heart failure, and congenital heart problems.

Definition

Cardiovascular Disorders (CVD): Cardiovascular disorders or diseases are the diseases of the heart and blood vessels. They are the leading cause of untimely death.

Thrombosis: The formation of a clotted mass of blood within a vessel or the heart during life is called thrombosis.

Thrombus: The clotted mass of blood within a vessel or the heart during life is called a thrombus.

Embolism: The occlusion (a closing of an opening) of some part of the cardiovascular system by any mass transported to the site through the bloodstream is called embolism.

Embolus: An embolus (plural: emboli) is a detached intravascular solid, liquid, or gaseous mass that is carried to a site distant from its point of origin.

Main Idea

• Thrombosis and embolism — blood clots and traveling masses
• Atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis — plaque buildup and hardening of arteries
• Angina pectoris — chest pain due to reduced blood flow
• Heart attack (myocardial infarction) — death of heart muscle
• Heart failure — inability to pump enough blood
• Congenital heart problems — abnormalities present at birth

Core Concept

• Thrombosis = clot formation within a vessel
• Thrombus = the clot itself
• Embolism = blockage by a traveling mass
• Embolus = the traveling mass
• Atherosclerosis = plaque deposition of cholesterol
• Arteriosclerosis = hardening of arteries
• Angina pectoris = chest pain
• Heart attack = myocardial infarction
• Heart failure = inability to pump
• Congenital = present at birth

Detailed Explanation

Thrombosis and Embolism

• The formation of a clotted mass of blood within a vessel or the heart during life.
• The clotted mass is called a thrombus.

• The occlusion of some part of the cardiovascular system by any mass transported to the site through the bloodstream.
• Embolus = a detached intravascular solid, liquid, or gaseous mass carried to a site distant from its point of origin.
• About 99% of emboli arise from dislodgement of thrombi and are therefore called thromboemboli.

Consequences: - Thrombus and embolus cause death.

Atherosclerosis and Arteriosclerosis

• The plaque deposition of cholesterol in the arteries resulting in the narrowing of the arteries lumen.
• Later, fibres are deposited in the cholesterol and these often start to calcify and become hard.

• The process of hardening of arteries due to calcification.
• The plaque first forms thrombus and may detach to form embolus.

Major Factors Causing Atherosclerosis and Arteriosclerosis:

Stages of Cardiovascular Disease Development

• Due to atherosclerosis, a person may feel occasional chest pain.
• Angina is most likely to occur when the heart is labouring hard because of physical or emotional stress.
• Angina is a signal that part of the heart is not receiving a sufficient supply of oxygen.
• It indicates that a heart attack could occur in the future.

• Many heart attacks occur without warning.
• A blood clot may completely block a coronary artery.
• Atherosclerosis may reach a critical level causing massive damage to the heart muscle.
• Symptoms:
• Heavy squeezing ache or discomfort in the centre of the chest.
• Pain may radiate to shoulder, arm, neck, or jaw.
• Sweating, nausea, shortness of breath, dizziness, or fainting.
• The whole process is called myocardial infarction (heart muscle death due to lack of oxygen).
• When heart muscles die, they are not replaced because cardiac muscles do not divide.
• Scar tissue grows into the areas where the heart muscles have died.
• Scar tissue cannot contract as cardiac muscle.
• The damaged heart is permanently weakened.

• Congestive heart failure is the inability of the heart to pump all the blood coming to it.
• The cardiac output is unable to keep pace with the venous return.

• Congenital heart problems result from abnormalities in the embryonic development.
• It can be related to the malfunctioning of cardiac valves e.g., valvular stenosis.

Intermediate Level

Thrombosis vs Embolism

Atherosclerosis vs Arteriosclerosis

Stages of Cardiovascular Disease

Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease

Formula / Mathematical Form

Not applicable to this topic.

Solved Example

Not applicable to this topic (descriptive topic).

Important Points

• 1. CVD are diseases of the heart and blood vessels.
• 2. CVD are the leading cause of untimely death.
• 3. Thrombosis = clot formation within a vessel.
• 4. Thrombus = the clot itself.
• 5. Embolism = blockage by a traveling mass.
• 6. Embolus = the traveling mass.
• 7. 99% of emboli arise from thrombi.
• 8. Atherosclerosis = plaque deposition of cholesterol.
• 9. Arteriosclerosis = hardening of arteries.
• 10. Major factors: hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, smoking, diabetes.
• 11. Angina = chest pain due to reduced blood flow.
• 12. Heart attack = myocardial infarction.
• 13. Heart failure = inability to pump enough blood.
• 14. Congenital = present at birth.
• 15. Valvular stenosis = congenital heart problem.

Remember

• - **CVD** = cardiovascular disorders
• - Thrombosis = clot formation
• - **Thrombus** = clot
• - Embolism = blockage by traveling mass
• - Embolus = traveling mass
• - Atherosclerosis = plaque deposition
• - Arteriosclerosis = hardening of arteries
• - Angina = chest pain
• - Heart attack = myocardial infarction
• - Heart failure = pump failure
• - Congenital = present at birth
• - Valvular stenosis = congenital heart problem

Common Mistakes

• 1. Confusing thrombosis and embolism — Thrombosis = clot formation; embolism = traveling mass.
• 2. Mixing up thrombus and embolus — Thrombus = clot; embolus = traveling mass.
• 3. Confusing atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis — Atherosclerosis = plaque; arteriosclerosis = hardening.
• 4. Thinking angina is a heart attack — Angina is chest pain; heart attack is muscle death.
• 5. Forgetting the risk factors — Hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, smoking, diabetes.
• 6. Mixing up the stages — Angina → heart attack → heart failure.
• 7. Thinking heart muscle regenerates — Cardiac muscle does not divide.
• 8. Believing congenital means acquired — Congenital means present at birth.
• 9. Confusing heart failure with heart attack — Heart failure = pump failure; heart attack = muscle death.
• 10. Forgetting the role of scar tissue — Scar tissue cannot contract.

Quick Revision

Cardiovascular disorders (CVD) are diseases of the heart and blood vessels. They are the leading cause of untimely death. Thrombosis is the formation of a clotted mass of blood within a vessel; the clot is called a thrombus. Embolism is the occlusion of a blood vessel by a mass transported through the bloodstream; the mass is called an embolus. About 99% of emboli arise from dislodged thrombi. Atherosclerosis is the plaque deposition of cholesterol in arteries, causing narrowing. Arteriosclerosis is the hardening of arteries due to calcification. Major factors include hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, smoking, and diabetes. Angina pectoris is chest pain due to reduced blood flow. Heart attack (myocardial infarction) is the death of heart muscle due to lack of oxygen. Heart failure is the inability of the heart to pump all the blood coming to it. Congenital heart problems result from abnormalities in embryonic development, such as valvular stenosis.

60-Second Revision

• CVD = cardiovascular disorders
• Thrombosis = clot formation
• Thrombus = clot
• Embolism = blockage by traveling mass
• Embolus = traveling mass
• Atherosclerosis = plaque deposition
• Arteriosclerosis = hardening of arteries
• Angina = chest pain
• Heart attack = myocardial infarction
• Heart failure = pump failure
• Congenital = present at birth
• Warning: 99% of emboli arise from thrombi

NEXT TOPIC

• Chapter:
• 2. Blood Circulatory System of Man

• Topic:
• 2.15 HEART PROBLEMS

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