Your heart can be ill too
Unfortunately many people do not realise that this may be a problem until they experience symptoms such as
angina or even a
heart attack. Although this can happen without warning, the condition will have taken years to develop.
Angina
Gradually, fatty deposits build up on the inside of the
coronary arteries. These arteries supply blood to the heart and if they become narrowed the heart will not get enough oxygen, which may lead to
angina.
Heart attack
A
heart attack occurs when the narrowed artery becomes blocked causing a part of the heart muscle to be completely starved of oxygen.
Atherosclerosis
The fatty deposits or 'furring up' of the arteries is called
atheroma and the hardening of these deposits is called
sclerosis.
Coronary heart disease is a result of
atherosclerosis, the gradual narrowing and hardening of the arteries over time.
Preventing heart disease
Research has shown that, in most instances,
coronary heart disease is preventable and that by making the right lifestyle changes we can dramatically reduce the risk factors of heart disease.
