Coronary heart disease

What is coronary heart disease?

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is when your coronary arteries become narrowed by fatty material within their walls. These arteries supply your heart with blood containing high levels of oxygen.

Over time, a fatty material called atheroma (sometimes known as plaque) can build up inside your coronary arteries. This process is called atherosclerosis. Eventually, your arteries may become so narrow that they cannot get enough blood to your heart.  

If a piece of atheroma breaks off, a blood clot (clump of blood) forms around this to try and repair the damage to the artery wall. This clot can block your coronary artery and cut off the supply of blood and oxygen to your heart muscle. This is known as a heart attack.

Learn more about the signs and symptoms of a heart attack.

What are the symptoms of coronary heart disease?

CHD develops slowly over time and the symptoms can be different for everyone. Some people do not know they have CHD before they have a heart attack.

Angina is the name given for chest pain or an uncomfortable feeling that happens when blood flow to your heart muscle is reduced. It is a common symptom of CHD.

You might also feel pain or an uncomfortable feeling in your;

• shoulders
• arms
• neck
• jaw
• back
• stomach.

Other symptoms of coronary heart disease include;

• shortness of breath
• feeling faint
• feeling sick.

Coronary heart disease treatment

• medications
• coronary angioplasty with or without a stent
• heart bypass surgery.

In addition to medications and procedures, your doctor will likely recommend lifestyle changes to improve the health of your heart. These include stopping smoking, eating a balanced diet, and staying physically active.

Speak to your doctor if you’re having any concerns about your treatment. You can ask about anything from side effects to worries about your surgery.

What causes coronary heart disease?

There are different things that increase your risk of CHD. These include;

• high blood pressure
• high cholesterol
• diabetes
• smoking
• living with excess weight or obesity
• not doing enough physical activity
• family history of CHD
• getting older
• your assigned sex at birth.

How to prevent coronary heart disease

Living a healthy lifestyle can help lower your risk of developing CHD. There are lots of changes you can make. These include;

• eating a healthy diet
• staying physically active
• quitting smoking
• maintaining a healthy weight
• reducing how much alcohol you drink.  

How is coronary heart disease diagnosed?

Your doctor will need to carry out a few tests to diagnose CHD. These tests are very common. Some of the tests include;

• electrocardiogram (ECG)
• echocardiogram
• chest x-ray
• coronary angiogram
• exercise stress tests
• blood tests
• radionuclide tests
• MRI scans
• CT scans.

If you have any questions about these tests, speak to your healthcare professional.

You can have a free NHS health check to assess your risk of CHD if you’re between 40 and 74 years old and live in England.

If you live in Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales, please check with your GP about assessing your risk of CHD.

The health check usually takes place at your GP surgery. It lasts about 20 minutes. A healthcare professional such as a nurse, doctor, pharmacist or healthcare assistant will check your blood pressure and cholesterol levels. They will also take a measurement of height, weight, and waist. Based on your results and lifestyle choices, they will give you practical advice about keeping your heart healthy.

Coronary heart disease in women

Some people think that CHD only affects men, but it affects women as well. There are around 800,000 women living with CHD in the UK.

Learn more about heart disease in women.

Heart Helpline and other support

• Speak to our cardiac nurses for free on our Heart Helpline by phone, email or online chat (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm).
• Speak to others with heart conditions by joining a support group or online community.
• Sign up to our Heart Matters magazine for health information, inspiration and expert support.