About Health

Heart Disease

Coronary heart disease is caused by the oxidisation of LDL (low density lipoproteins) which produces fatty deposits (atheroma) on the walls of your coronary arteries – a process called atherosclerosis. The gradual build up of these deposits causes the arteries to narrow and harden, restricting the flow of blood oxygen to the heart muscle. This can cause angina and if a coronary artery becomes completely blocked, it can cause permanent damage to the heart muscle or heart attack.

If you have coronary heart disease, you may experience heart palpitations. Heart palpitations occur when your heart beats irregularly, or harder than normal. It is important to realise that heart palpitations are not necessarily linked to coronary heart disease, and if you experience them, you should not worry unduly. However, it is always best to have it checked out by your GP.

Your risk of developing atherosclerosis is significantly increased if you:

Smoke
Have high blood pressure
Have a high blood cholesterol level
Do not take regular exercise
Have a thrombosis
Are obese or overweight
Have a family history of heart attack or angina, and
Have diabetes

You can reduce the risk of developing coronary heart disease and other medical problems by making some simple lifestyle changes. And if you already have heart disease, you can take steps to reduce your risk of developing further heart-related problems. These changes include: