Coronary heart disease is the biggest killer in the UK. But medical advances mean that having heart disease is no longer a death sentence and there are lots of things that you can do to reduce your risk.
Heart disease
Understanding heart disease
The signs and symptoms of coronary heart disease, one of the most common diseases to affect the heart.
Heart conditions
Common conditions affecting the heart.
- Angina - an indication of heart disease
- Aortic stenosis - can be present at birth but it's more common in older people
- Arrhythmia - an abnormal heartbeat is common and not always dangerous
- Atrial fibrillation - this is the most common cause of the heart beating irregularly
- Cardiomyopathy - where the structure of the heart muscle changes or weakens
- Cardiovascular disease - a group of conditions including stroke and heart disease
- Congenital heart defects - present in about six out of every 1,000 babies
- Hardening of the arteries - often the result of high cholesterol
- Heart attack - occurs when blood flow to part of the heart is blocked
- Heart attack recovery - the first 48 hours after a heart attack are critical
- Heart failure - one in 20 admissions to hospital is the result of heart failure
- Heart murmurs - about 30 per cent of children have an innocent heart murmur
- Heart problems in babies - most heart problems in babies are due to faulty genes
- Heart valve disease - can develop over years or in a matter of days
- High blood pressure - hypertension increases the risk of a heart attack
- Palpitations - when you describe your heart as 'racing', 'thumping' or 'pounding'
Preventing heart disease
Becoming more active, improving your diet and cutting out smoking reduces your risk of coronary heart disease.
- Activity for a healthy heart - are you exercising enough to protect your heart?
- Lifestyle for a healthy heart - how your lifestyle affects your health
- Diet and heart disease - why you should eat more vegetables and less salt
Heart disease treatment
The treatments available, from drugs to surgery.
Investigating heart disease
When symptoms such as chest pain, breathlessness or a build up of fluid point toward heart problems, you'll need some tests.
Heart disease - useful contacts
Find details of organisations who can provide further information or support.
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