GCSE Combined Science (AQA)

622 videos | 38 hours

Stents & Statins

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Organisation Animal Tissues, Organs and Organ Systems

Stents & Statins

2:23 Heart Disease Treatments
Spec 4.2.2.4
Previous Faulty Heart Valves Next Heart Transplants
  • Stents are used to keep coronary arteries open.
  • Fatty material can accumulate and narrow arteries.
  • A stent is a wire mesh inserted to expand the artery's lumen and improve blood flow.
  • Stent insertion is a simple procedure where the patient can remain awake.
  • The stent is inserted through a small cut into a blood vessel in the arm or leg.
  • Advantages of stents include improved blood flow to the heart muscle.
  • Disadvantages include the potential need for additional stents if more fatty material builds up.
  • Lifestyle changes are necessary to prevent further buildup, as stents do not address the underlying cause.
  • Multiple operations to fit extra stents can be a disadvantage.
  • Statins are drugs that help reduce cholesterol levels in the blood and are taken once a day.
  • Statins slow the rate of fat buildup in the arteries.
  • Advantages of statins include being cost-effective, reducing the risk of further heart disease, and decreasing bad cholesterol.
  • Disadvantages of statins include the need for long-term use, potential side effects like headaches, and unsuitability for people with liver disease or those who are breastfeeding or pregnant.

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