Coronary Heart Disease – Ischaemic heart disease – British …

Over time, fatty material called atheroma can build up inside the walls of your arteries. This is known as atherosclerosis.If this build up happens in the arteries that supply your heart with blood, it is called coronary heart disease.

Eventually, your arteries may become so narrow because of this build up that they cannot deliver enough oxygen-rich blood to your heart. The pain and discomfort you may feel as a result of this is called angina.

If a piece of atheroma breaks off it may cause a blood clot (blockage) to form. If it blocks your coronary artery and cuts off the supply of oxygen-rich blood to your heart muscle, your heart may become permanently damaged. This is known as a heart attack.

A risk factor is something that increases your likelihood of getting a disease. There are several factors that can increase the risk of developing CHD. The main ones are:

The more risk factors you have, the more likely you are to develop CHD. Even though you cant change all your risk factors, there is plenty you can do to reduce your risk and help to protect your heart.

You can have a freeNHS health check to assess your risk of coronary heart disease if:

Free NHS health checks to assess your risk of CHD are not currently offered in Wales, but you can still discuss any concerns with your GP or another healthcare professional.

The health check usually takes place at your GP surgery. Your healthcare professional will check yourblood pressure andcholesterol levels and talk to you about your lifestyle. Based on the results, they will give you practical advice about keeping your heart healthy.

Some people think that CHD only affects men, but it affects women as well.

Whether you've lived with a heart condition all your life, have just been diagnosed, or decided you want to make your heart health a priority, you can find everything you need in our Womens Room.

Your doctor will discusstreatment options with you, depending on the type of heart problem that you have. These may vary from taking medication, to havingsurgery or a medical procedure.

Even if you already have a heart condition its still really important protect your heart by living a healthy lifestyle.

Yourdonations helpus fund hundreds of top scientists all over the UK, working on more than a thousand different research projects.

They're researching cures and treatments for conditions like coronary heart disease. With your help, our research could save and improve the lives of people you love.

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Coronary Heart Disease - Ischaemic heart disease - British ...