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Angina causes symptoms and GTN
Angina is a condition many people get as coronary heart disease (CHD) develops. Angina can cause chest pain and tiredness.
People with angina are sometimes treated with a drug called GTN. GTN widens the coronary arteries.
Explain:
- the causes and symptoms of angina
- how GTN reduces the symptoms of angina.
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Marking points
- 1 Includes relevant causes/risk factors for CHD and angina.
- 2 Explains how fatty deposits/narrow coronary arteries reduce blood, oxygen or glucose supply and cause chest pain/tiredness through reduced respiration or increased anaerobic respiration/lactic acid/fatigue.
- 3 Explains how GTN widens coronary arteries, increasing blood/oxygen/glucose delivery and aerobic respiration in the heart.
- 4 Links the causes, physiological effects, symptoms, and treatment into a clear detailed account.
Full-mark answer
Risk factors such as a diet high in saturated fat, smoking, lack of exercise, obesity, age and family history can increase fatty deposits in the coronary arteries. The deposits narrow the arteries, so less blood reaches the heart muscle and it receives less oxygen and glucose. Aerobic respiration is reduced and anaerobic respiration may increase, producing lactic acid; this contributes to chest pain and tiredness. GTN widens the coronary arteries, so more blood carries more oxygen and glucose to the heart muscle. Aerobic respiration can increase and the angina symptoms are reduced.
Why this answer loses marks
Smoking and obesity cause angina, and GTN cures it.
This lists risk factors but omits artery narrowing, reduced oxygen and glucose supply, and the respiration link; GTN improves flow and symptoms rather than curing the deposits.