heart disease

Coronary heart disease is the term that describes what happens when your heart's blood supply is blocked, or interrupted, by a build up of fatty substances in the coronary arteries.

Over time, the walls of your arteries can become furred up with fatty deposits. This process is known as atherosclerosis, and the fatty deposits are called atheroma. If your coronary arteries become narrow, due to a build up of atheroma, the blood supply to your heart will be restricted. This can cause angina (chest pains).

If a coronary artery becomes completely blocked, it can cause a heart attack. The medical term for a heart attack is myocardial infarction.

Coronary heart disease is the UK's biggest killer, with one in every four men, and one in every six women dying from the disease. In the UK, approximately 300,000 people have a heart attack each year.

Angina affects about 1 in 50 people and, in the UK, there are an estimated 1.2 million people with the condition. It affects men more than women, and your chances of getting it increase as you get older.

By making some simple lifestyle changes, you can reduce your risk of getting coronary heart disease. And, if you already have heart disease, you can take steps to reduce your risk of developing further heart-related problems.

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