Treatments for cardiovascular diseaseSpec 1.20
In short
Drugs reduce the risk or effects of cardiovascular disease. Antihypertensives lower blood pressure, statins lower blood LDL cholesterol, anticoagulants reduce blood clotting and platelet inhibitors stop platelets sticking together. Each lowers the chance of heart attack or stroke but carries risks, such as dizziness, muscle pain or bleeding, so benefit and risk are weighed for each patient.
| Drug | How it works | Benefits | Risks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Antihypertensives (for example beta blockers, ACE inhibitors, calcium channel blockers, diuretics) | Lower blood pressure, by relaxing artery walls, slowing the heart or reducing blood volume | Less damage to the endothelium and less strain on the heart; lower risk of stroke and heart attack | Dizziness or fainting if blood pressure falls too far, tiredness, and other side effects specific to the drug type |
| Statins | Reduce the liver’s production of cholesterol (by inhibiting an enzyme), so the liver removes more LDL from the blood | Lower blood LDL; slow atheroma formation; lower risk of heart attack and stroke | Muscle pain, digestive upset, rarely liver damage |
| Anticoagulants (for example warfarin, heparin) | Interfere with the clotting cascade, so less fibrin is made | Reduce the risk of clots forming, for example after a previous clot or in people at risk | Bleeding and bruising, which can be serious; dose needs monitoring |
| Platelet inhibitors (for example aspirin) | Stop platelets sticking together and to damaged vessel walls | Reduce the risk of clots in arteries, so lower risk of heart attack and stroke | Bleeding, and irritation or ulcers in the stomach |
These drugs treat risk factors or reduce the effects; they do not cure atherosclerosis. Treatment is chosen by weighing the likely benefit against the risk of side effects for the individual, and is used together with lifestyle changes. Anticoagulants and platelet inhibitors act at different points: anticoagulants affect the clotting cascade, whereas platelet inhibitors stop platelets aggregating.
For 'evaluate' or 'discuss' questions on drugs, give at least one benefit and one risk for each drug named, and conclude with who is most likely to benefit.
Quick check
How do you calculate a mortality rate per 100 000?
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(Number of deaths ÷ population) × 100 000.
What is the difference between valid and reliable data?
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Valid data measure what the study claims to measure; reliable data are consistent and repeatable.
What does LDL do?
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It carries cholesterol from the liver to the body tissues; high levels raise the risk of CVD.
Give the formula for BMI.
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Mass in kg ÷ (height in m)².
How do statins reduce the risk of CVD?
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They lower blood LDL cholesterol by reducing cholesterol production in the liver.
Written and checked against the Edexcel International A Level Biology (YBI11) specification · Updated October 2026