Treatments for CVD: Benefits & Risks (Edexcel International A Level Biology)

• While reducing the risk factors and lowering the risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the best option, CVD is still very common and treatment options are needed
• There are a number of different treatment options for cardiovascular disease, many of which involve taking medication
• Types of medication for the treatment of CVD include
  • Antihypertensives
  • Statins
  • Anticoagulants
  • Platelet inhibitors

Antihypertensives

• These drugs work by lowering blood pressure
  • High blood pressure is also known as hypertension
• Lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of arterial endothelial damage and therefore reduces the risk of atheromas and thrombosis
• Beta blockers, vasodilators and diuretics act as antihypertensives
  • Beta blockers prevent increases in heart rate
  • Vasodilators increase the diameter of the blood vessels
    • ACE inhibitors are a type of drug that block the production of angiotensin, a hormone that causes constriction of the blood vessels
    • This keeps the arteries dilated, which lowers the blood pressure
  • Diuretics reduce blood volume by decreasing the amount of sodium reabsorbed into the blood by the kidneys, therefore decreasing the volume of water reabsorbed into the blood

Statins

• These drugs work by lowering blood cholesterol 
  • They block an enzyme in the liver which is needed to make cholesterol
• This lowers the LDL concentration in the blood therefore reducing the risk of atheroma formation
  • LDLs are sometimes known as 'bad' cholesterol; at high levels they increase the risk of atheromas forming
• Statins also reduce inflammation in the arterial lining, which lowers the risk of atherosclerosis

Anticoagulants

• These drugs reduce blood clotting
  • Blood clotting can be referred to as blood coagulation
  • Warfarin is an anticoagulant that decreases the level of prothrombin in the bloodstream
• Reduced formation of blood clots decreases the likelihood of thrombosis and therefore reduces the risk of blood vessels being blocked by blood clots

Platelet inhibitors

• These are also substances which reduce blood clotting
  • Platelet inhibitors are a type of anticoagulant
  • Aspirin and clopidogrel are the most commonly used examples of these drugs
• They prevent the clumping together of platelets, so preventing the formation of blood clots

Benefits and Risks of Cardiovascular Disease Drugs Table