Coronary Heart Disease, what is it and who’s affected?

Coronary Heart Disease, previously referred to as ischaemic heart disease, is the leading cause of death, worldwide.

You might be surprised to learn that most people are unaware as to what CHD is, even though it is the leading cause of death, here in the UK.

So, to shed some light on Coronary Heart Disease, we’re going to give you an overview of the condition, the causes behind CHD and who can be affected.

The Essentials on Coronary Heart Disease

Your heart is one of your vital organs and supplies the other organs and muscles around the body. Blood is pumped into your lungs where oxygen it collected and sent back to the heart to be pumped around the body to the other organs and muscles.

CHD is the term used when an individual’s heart’s blood supply is interrupted or even blocked by a fatty buildup or plaque in the coronary arteries.

Over time, the coronary arteries can become laced with fatty build-ups known as atheroma which can lessen the amount of oxygenated blood that reaches the heart. The pain and discomfort individuals may experience from this is called angina.

If a piece of atheroma breaks off from the wall of the artery, a blockage (blood clot) could occur which, if it occurs in your coronary artery, oxygen supply could be cut off completely, causing permanent damage to the heart. This event is more commonly known as a heart attack.

Risk Factors

Unlike other heart-related diseases, there are multiple risk factors for coronary heart disease. These can include:

Smoking
High blood pressure
High cholesterol level
Overweight or obese
Physically inactive
Diabetes
Family background
Age
Gender

The more risk factors an individual has, the more likely you are to develop CHD. Admittedly, there are some risk factors in that list which are out of your control and cannot be overlooked. Family history plays a huge part in determining your risk for CHD. Your risk increases if your father or brother was diagnosed before 55 or if your mother or sister was diagnosed before 65.

Also, as you get older your risk for developing CHD increases because – in part – of the slow build-up of fatty deposits inside your arteries which can, in fact, start during childhood.

However, there are some factors which you can take control of. Taking control of these can help you improve your overall and heart health. A few ideas to help you lower your risk of CHD are:

Quit smoking
Go for a 30-minute walk every day
Be mindful about what you’re eating

Healthy Heart

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle can significantly reduce your risk of developing CHD and helps you to ensure your heart is working as effectively as it should be.

What do you do to look after your heart? Let us know in the comments section below, or alternatively, head on over to our Twitter page, @defibshop and share your tips and tricks for maintaining a healthy lifestyle.