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Cancer and cardiovascular disease - Non-communicable - OCR GatewayEvaluation of cardiovascular disease treatments

The chance of developing a non-communicable disease can be increased or decreased depending upon a person’s lifestyle or the genes they inherit. Two common types are cancer & cardiovascular disease.

Part of Biology (Single Science)Global challenges

Evaluation of different cardiovascular disease treatment methods

Drugs used alongside heart conditions and transplants prolong life.

NHS data shows the life expectancy of heart transplant patients:

Life expectancypatient %
> 1 year80% to 90%
> 5 years70% to 75%
> 10 years50%
Life expectancy> 1 year
patient %80% to 90%
Life expectancy> 5 years
patient %70% to 75%
Life expectancy> 10 years
patient %50%

Evaluating the treatment methods

TreatmentAdvantageDisadvantage
Change in lifestyle eg change in diet, stopping smoking, exercisingReduces the risk of developing cardiovascular disease; very little cost to patient or NHS; has other health benefitsSome people may find making changes difficult.
Drugs - statinsReduce the risk of heart attack - studies have shown a decrease in cholesterol in the blood; used to reduce high cholesterol levels that have genetic causes; may have beneficial effects on other conditionsNot suitable for people with liver disease; some side effects; must be taken for life; should not be taken if pregnant or breastfeeding
Heart transplantImprove quality of lifeFew donor hearts are available; recovery time is long; risk of rejection by the body's immune system
Stents Widen coronary arteries that have not responded to drug treatment; recovery time is short following insertion of the stentIn a minority of cases, further treatment is required
TreatmentChange in lifestyle eg change in diet, stopping smoking, exercising
AdvantageReduces the risk of developing cardiovascular disease; very little cost to patient or NHS; has other health benefits
DisadvantageSome people may find making changes difficult.
TreatmentDrugs - statins
AdvantageReduce the risk of heart attack - studies have shown a decrease in cholesterol in the blood; used to reduce high cholesterol levels that have genetic causes; may have beneficial effects on other conditions
DisadvantageNot suitable for people with liver disease; some side effects; must be taken for life; should not be taken if pregnant or breastfeeding
TreatmentHeart transplant
AdvantageImprove quality of life
DisadvantageFew donor hearts are available; recovery time is long; risk of rejection by the body's immune system
TreatmentStents
AdvantageWiden coronary arteries that have not responded to drug treatment; recovery time is short following insertion of the stent
DisadvantageIn a minority of cases, further treatment is required
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