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Coronary heart disease — risk factors

GCSE · Combined Science · WJEC · B4.1The heart: structure, double circulation and coronary heart disease

Question

Question 3 (4 marks)

State two lifestyle risk factors for coronary heart disease and explain how each increases the risk.

Mark scheme (B1, 4 marks — 2 per factor):

  • Smoking: nicotine raises blood pressure, increasing stress on artery walls / carbon monoxide reduces blood O₂ / chemicals damage artery lining, promoting plaque build-up (2 marks)
  • Diet high in saturated fat: raises blood cholesterol levels / cholesterol is deposited in artery walls as atheroma / narrows coronary arteries → restricts blood flow to heart muscle (2 marks)
  • Accept: obesity / lack of exercise / high blood pressure — with appropriate explanation

4 marks · take your time before peeking.

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Generated by TopMyGrade AI · cross-check official sources before relying on the mark-scheme phrasing.