Practice Questions

1.Describe what is meant by the term coronary heart disease

In coronary heart disease layers of fatty material build up inside the coronary arteries, narrowing them. This process occurs over many years and will reduces the flow of oxygenated blood through the coronary arteries, resulting in a lack of oxygen for the heart muscle.

2. State 3 ways which can be used to treat coronary heart disease

1.Use of statin medication

2.Use of stents within blood vessels

3.Bypass surgery

3. What could happen to a person if they have untreated coronary heart disease?

If the coronary artery is partly blocked there will be reduced blood flow to the heart muscle. The heart muscle cells will need to partly respire by anaerobic respiration, producing lactic acid. Lactic acid is a mild poison causing muscle fatigue and angina pain.

If the coronary artery is completely blocked the heart muscle cells will not be able to carry out aerobic respiration to release energy and die, this is when a heart attack occurs.