Coronary heart disease is when fatty material, known as plaque, builds up over your lifetime in the arteries causing them to narrow, which reduces the blood flow to the heart. It is associated with old age and affects many people.
Plaque can start to appear when you are young and continue to build up as you get older.
Over time the plaque can harden or rupture. If the plaque ruptures, a blood clot can form, which can completely block the arteries, which can be very serious. Ultimately, is the blood flow to the heart is interrupted you could experience
angina or a
heart attack. Over time, coronary heart disease can lead to
heart failure and
arrhythmia.
There is no cure for coronary heart disease but it is possible to reduce the risk by choosing
a healthy lifestyle. You should be smoke free, eat a healthy diet with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, minimal saturated fats and trans fats and a low salt intake, and you should exercise regularly – every day for 30 minutes is the minimum advisable.
