CARDIOVASCULAR
Lipids
Cholesterol is a waxy substance similar to fat which is found in all the cells in your body. Your liver produces cholesterol. It is also found in some foods, such as meat and dairy products. Your body needs some cholesterol to work properly. However, if you have too much cholesterol in your blood, you are more at risk of coronary heart disease.
Hypertension
Hypertension is persistent high pressure of the blood in your arteries. This condition may be occasional or permanent, and occurs when the interior pressure is permanently above 140/85 when at rest. Hypertension does not cause any symptoms in the first fifteen years and will go unnoticed if blood pressure is not checked. Only in advanced cases, but not always, will there be symptoms such as severe headaches, nosebleeds, dizziness, rapid breathing, reddening of the face, fainting and ringing in the ears.
Antiaggregation
Platelets are a component of the blood designed to prevent haemorrhaging through the formation of a blood clot in any area of bleeding, thus stopping the loss of blood and beginning the repair work. However, this defence mechanism can be very harmful if it starts inside a blood vessel, as the clot could obstruct the flow of blood. If the clot forms in a coronary artery, it will result in a heart attack due to the interruption of the flow of blood to the heart, hence the importance of antiaggregant drugs. Antiplatelet drugs act on the platelets, preventing the start of the processes which lead to the formation of a thrombus. They are therefore a fundamental element of the treatment of cardiovascular disease.
Type II diabetes
Type 2 diabetes, the most common type of diabetes, is a disease that occurs when the level of glucose in the blood, also called 'sugar in blood', is too high. Insulin, which is a hormone produced by the pancreas, helps glucose enter cells to be used for energy. In type 2 diabetes, the body doesn't make enough insulin or doesn't use it well. Therefore, too much glucose remains in the blood and not enough reaches the cells.
Steps can be taken to prevent or delay the development of type 2 diabetes.
