Coronary heart disease is the UK’s biggest killer, with one in every four men and one in every six women dying from the disease. In the UK, approximately 300,000 people have a heart attack each year.
Introduction
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treating
Recovering from
Preventing
More information
Introduction
Angina affects about one in 50 people, and in the UK there are an estimated 1.2 million people with the condition. It affects men more than women, and your chances of getting it increase as you get older.
About the heart
The heart is a muscle that is about the size of your fist. It pumps blood around your body and beats approximately 70 times a minute. After the blood leaves the heart, it goes to your lungs where it picks up oxygen.
The oxygen-rich blood returns to your heart and is then pumped to the organs of your body through a network of arteries. The blood returns to your heart through veins before being pumped back to your lungs again. This process is called circulation.
The heart gets its own supply of blood from a network of blood vessels on the surface of your heart, called coronary arteries.
Coronary heart disease
Coronary heart disease is the term that describes what happens when your heart’s blood supply is blocked or interrupted by a build-up of fatty substances in the coronary arteries.
Over time, the walls of your arteries can become furred up with fatty deposits. This process is known as atherosclerosis, and the fatty deposits are called atheroma. If your coronary arteries become narrow due to a build up of atheroma, the blood supply to your heart will be restricted. This can cause angina (chest pains).
If a coronary artery becomes completely blocked, it can cause a heart attack. The medical term for a heart attack is myocardial infarction.
By making some simple lifestyle changes, you can reduce your risk of getting coronary heart disease. And if you already have heart disease, you can take steps to reduce your risk of developing further heart-related problems.
Symptoms of coronary heart disease
If your coronary arteries become partially blocked, it can cause chest pain (angina). If they become completely blocked, it can cause a heart attack (myocardial infarction).
Heart attacks
Heart attacks can cause permanent damage to the heart muscle, and if not treated straight away, can be fatal. If you think that you are having a heart attack, you should dial 999 for immediate medical assistance.
Heart palpitationsdfgh
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.
Heart failure
Heart failure can occur in people with coronary heart disease. The heart becomes too weak to pump blood around the body, which can cause fluid to build up in the lungs, making it increasingly difficult to breath. Heart failure can happen suddenly (acute heart failure) or gradually, over a period of time (chronic heart failure).
The symptoms of angina
Angina is a symptom of coronary heart disease. It can be a mild, uncomfortable feeling that is similar to indigestion. However, a severe angina attack can cause a feeling of heaviness or tightness, usually in the centre of the chest, which may spread to the arms, neck, jaw, back or stomach.
Angina is often triggered by physical activity or emotionally stressful situations. The symptoms usually pass within about 10-15 minutes and can be relieved by resting, or using a nitrate tablet or spray.
The symptoms of a heart attack
The discomfort or pain of a heart attack is similar to that of angina, but it is often more severe. During a heart attack you may also experience the following symptoms:
- sweating,
- light-headedness,
- nausea, and
- breathlessness.
The symptoms of a heart attack can be similar to indigestion. For example, they may include a feeling of heaviness in your chest, a stomach ache or heartburn. A heart attack can happen at any time, including while you are resting. If the symptoms last longer than 15 minutes, it is probably a heart attack.
Unlike angina, the symptoms of a heart attack cannot be relieved using a nitrate tablet or spray.
Causes of heart disease
Coronary heart disease (CHD) is usually caused by a build-up of fatty deposits on the walls of the coronary arteries. The fatty deposits, called atheroma, are made up of cholesterol and other waste substances.
The build up of atheroma on the walls of the coronary arteries makes the arteries narrower and restricts the flow of blood to the heart. This process is called atherosclerosis. 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, and
- have diabetes.
Other risk factors for developing atherosclerosis include:
- being obese or overweight, and
- having a family history of heart attack or angina.
For men, the likelihood of developing atherosclerosis is increased if you have a close family member (father or brother) who has had a heart attack or angina before the age of 55. For women, the risk is increased if you have a close family member (mother or sister) who has had a heart attack or angina before the age of 65.
Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a fat that is made by the liver from the saturated fat that we eat. Cholesterol is essential for healthy cells, but if there is too much in the blood it can lead to coronary heart disease.
Cholesterol is carried in the blood stream by molecules called lipoproteins. There are several different types of lipoproteins, but two of the main ones are low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and high-density lipoproteins (HDL).
LDL, often referred to as ‘bad cholesterol’, takes cholesterol from the liver to the cells. LDL cholesterol tends to build up on the walls of the coronary arteries, increasing your risk of heart disease. HDL, often referred to ‘good cholesterol’, carries cholesterol away from the cells and back to the liver, where it is broken down or passed from the body as a waste product.
Normally, the blood contains about 70% of LDL, but the amount will vary from person to person. However, if your LDL cholesterol level is too high, the HDL will not be able to remove it sufficiently.
The total amount of cholesterol in the blood can range from 3.6-7.8mmol/litre (milli-molecules per litre). A level above 6mmol/litre is considered to be high, and a risk factor for arterial disease. Government advice recommends a target total blood cholesterol level of less than 5.
High blood pressure
Hypertension (high blood pressure) puts a strain on your heart and can lead to coronary heart disease.
Blood pressure is measured at two points during the blood circulation cycle. The systolic pressure is a measure of your blood pressure as the heart contracts and pumps blood out. The diastolic pressure is a measure of your blood pressure when your heart is relaxed and filling up with blood.
Blood pressure is measured in terms of millimetres of mercury (mmHg). When you have your blood pressure measured, the systolic pressure is the first, higher number to be recorded. The diastolic pressure is the second, lower number to be recorded. High blood pressure is defined as a systolic pressure of 140mmHg or more, or a diastolic pressure of 90mmHg or more.
Smoking
Smoking is a major risk factor. Carbon monoxide (from the smoke) and nicotine both put a strain on the heart by making it work faster. They also make it more likely that your blood will clot. Other chemicals in cigarette smoke damage the lining of your coronary arteries, leading to furring of the arteries. Around 20% of CHD-related deaths in men and 17% in women are attributable to smoking.
Thrombosis
A thrombosis is a blood clot within an artery (or a vein). If a thrombosis occurs in a coronary artery (coronary thrombosis), it will cause the artery to narrow, increasing your chance of having a heart attack.
A coronary thrombosis occurs when blood turns from liquid form to solid in one of the heart’s arteries. The blood clot prevents the blood supply from reaching the heart muscle. Coronary thrombosis usually happens at the same place as where atherosclerosis is forming (furring of the coronary arteries).
Diagnosis and risk assessment
A number of different tests are used to diagnose heart-related problems including:
- coronary angiogram,
- electrocardiogram (ECG),
- magnetic resonance imaging (MRI),
- radionuclide tests, and
- electrophysiological testing.
Coronary angiogram
A coronary angiogram, also known as a catheter test, is usually performed under local anaesthetic. As well as providing information about your heart’s blood pressure and how well your heart is functioning, an angiogram can also identify whether the coronary arteries are narrowed and how severe any blockages are.
In an angiogram, a catheter (flexible tube) is passed into a vein or artery in your groin or arm, and using X-rays, it is guided into the coronary arteries. A dye is injected into the catheter to show up the arteries supplying your heart with blood. A number of X-ray pictures are taken, which will highlight any blockages.
A coronary angiogram is a relatively safe procedure, and serious complications are very rare. The risk of having a heart attack, stroke or dying during the procedure is estimated at about one or two in every 1,000. However, after having a coronary angiogram, you may experience some minor side effects including:
- a slightly strange sensation when the dye is put down the catheter,
- a small amount of bleeding when the catheter is removed, or
- a bruise in your groin or arm.
Depending on the result of the coronary angiogram, medication or further procedures may be recommended.
Electrocardiogram (ECG)
An electrocardiogram, or ECG, records the rhythms and electrical activity of your heart. A number of electrodes (small, sticky patches) are put on your arms, legs and chest. The electrodes are connected to a machine that records the electrical signals of each heartbeat.
Although an ECG can detect problems with your heart rhythms, an abnormal reading does not always mean that there is anything wrong. Therefore, as well as an ECG, you may need to have some other tests, such as:
- An exercise ECG – an electrocardiogram recording is taken while you are exercising (usually on a treadmill or exercise bike). If you experience pain while exercising, the test can help to identify whether your symptoms are caused by angina, which is usually due to coronary heart disease.
- 24-hour ECG recording – an electrocardiogram recording is taken continuously over 24 hours. It can be used to diagnose symptoms that do not occur regularly, such as palpitations. You can usually do the test at home, as an outpatient.
Magnetic resonance testing (MRI)
MRI can be used to produce very detailed pictures of your heart. During an MRI scan, you lie inside a ‘tunnel-like’ scanner that has a magnet around the outside. The scanner uses a magnetic field and radio waves to produce detailed images.
See the ‘useful links’ section for more information about MRI scans.
Radionuclide tests
Radionuclide tests are used to diagnose coronary heart disease. They can also indicate how strongly your heart pumps, and show the flow of blood to the muscular walls of your heart. Radionuclide tests are safe and provide more detailed information than the exercise ECG test.
During a radionuclide test, a small amount of a radioactive substance, called an isotope, is injected into your blood (sometimes during exercise). If you have difficulty exercising, you may be given some medication to make your heart beat faster. A camera placed close to your chest picks up the gamma rays transmitted by the isotope as it passes through your heart.
Electrophysiological testing
Electrophysiological testing is a relatively new method of understanding and treating fast, abnormal heart rhythms. A catheter (flexible tube) is inserted into a vein in your arm or groin. The catheter is gently passed into your heart, where it stimulates the heart and measures its electrical activity.
As well as identifying abnormal heart rhythms, electrophysiological testing can determine whether they are being effectively controlled by medication. It can also confirm whether abnormal heart rhythms are causing palpitations. If they are, it may be possible to treat the problem at the same time using radio-frequency electrical energy to destroy the parts of the heart that are causing the abnormal heart rhythm. This procedure is known as radiofrequency ablation.
There are a few risks associated with electrophysiological testing. In rare cases, the atrio-ventricular node (the heart’s ‘electrical wiring system’) may be damaged.
Blood test
A blood test is used to measure the amount of cholesterol in your blood. Before having the test, you may be asked not to eat for 12 hours to ensure that all food is completely digested and will not affect the results. Your GP, or practice nurse, can carry out the blood test, and will take a sample either using a needle and a syringe, or by pricking your finger.
The blood test will show the amount of LDL (‘bad cholesterol’) and HDL (‘good cholesterol’) that is in your blood. Blood cholesterol is measured in units called millimoles per litre of blood (mmol/litre). In the UK, the current government recommendation is that you should have a total blood cholesterol level of less than 5 mmol/litre, and an LDL cholesterol level of under 3 mmol/litre.
Anyone can have their blood cholesterol level tested, but it is particularly important to have it checked if:
- you are over 40 years of age,
- you have a family history of cardiovascular disease – for example, if your father, or brother, developed heart disease, or had a heart attack, or a stroke before the age of 55, or if your mother, or sister, had these conditions before the age of 65,
- a close family member has a cholesterol related condition, such as familial hyperchloresterolaemia, or combined hyperlipidaemia,
- you are overweight or obese,
- you have high blood pressure (hypertension), or
- you have another medical condition, such as a kidney condition, an under-active thyroid gland, or acute inflammation of the pancreas (acute pancreatitis). These conditions can cause an increased level of cholesterol.
Other factors
In assessing your risk of cardiovascular disease, heart attack or stroke, your cholesterol ratio should not be taken on its own. A number of other factors should also be taken into consideration including:
- smoking,
- diet,
- body mass index (BMI), which is a measure of your weight in relation to your height,
- treatable risk factors, such as high blood pressure (hypertension) and diabetes, and
- fixed risk factors, such as your age, sex, and ethnicity.
Treating heart disease
Coronary heart disease cannot be cured, but recent progress in the research and development of new medicines and significant improvements in surgical procedures have meant that the condition can now be managed more effectively. With the right treatment, the symptoms of coronary heart disease can be reduced and the functioning of the heart improved.
Medicines
Many different medicines are used to treat coronary heart disease. This gives doctors a wide choice and means that a medication can be prescribed to meet your particular circumstances and needs. Some heart medicines have side effects, so it may take a while to find one that works for you. Your GP or specialist will be able to discuss the various options with you.
Some of the medicines that are commonly used to treat heart conditions are outlined below.
Low-dose aspirin and ‘clot-busting’ medication
Blood clots in the coronary arteries are a major cause of heart attacks. A low-dose aspirin and/or a clot-busting medicine may be prescribed for you by your doctor, unless there are reasons not to – for example, if you have a bleeding disorder. This type of medicine will help prevent your blood clotting, reducing your risk of heart attack and angina.
Anticoagulants
Anticoagulants such as warfarin are sometimes used to stop the blood clotting. However, they can cause bleeding, or increase bleeding from cuts or during menstruation (a woman’s period). As a result of this, your GP may advise you to have regular blood tests. It is also a good idea to carry a card with you stating that you are taking anticoagulants.
Statins
A high level of ‘bad cholesterol’ (LDL) in your blood can cause a build-up of atheroma (fatty deposits) in your arteries, increasing your risk of heart attack or stroke. If you have a high blood cholesterol level, cholesterol-lowering medicine called statins may be prescribed. They work by blocking the formation of cholesterol and increasing the number of LDL ‘receptors’ in the liver, which help to remove the LDL cholesterol from your blood. This helps to slow the progression of coronary heart disease, and will make having a heart attack less likely.
Beta blockers
Beta blockers are often used to prevent angina and treat high blood pressure. They work by blocking the effects of stress hormones, which make your heart beat faster and harder. This slows down your heartbeat, improves blood flow and helps your heart to pump more effectively. Beta blockers are usually taken in small doses alongside ACE inhibitors (see below) and diuretics (medicine that helps your body get rid of extra fluid). However, beta blockers are not suitable if you have respiratory problems, such as asthma, or diabetes.
ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) inhibitors
ACE inhibitors are commonly used to treat heart failure and high blood pressure. They block the activity of a hormone called angiotensin II, which narrows blood vessels. As well as stopping the heart working so hard, ACE inhibitors improve the flow of blood around the body.
Your blood pressure will be monitored while you are taking ACE inhibitors, and regular blood tests will be needed to check that your kidneys are working properly. Around one in 10 people have kidney problems as a result of taking ACE inhibitors.
If ACE inhibitors have been prescribed for you, do not stop taking them without first consulting you doctor. If you do, it is very likely that your symptoms will get worse quickly. Common side effects of ACE inhibitors include a dry cough, dizziness and fainting.
Angiotensin II receptor antagonists
Angiotensin II receptor antagonists work in a similar way to ACE inhibitors. They are used to lower your blood pressure by limiting angiotensin II. Angiotensin II receptor antagonists have fewer side effects than ACE inhibitors, and are often prescribed as an alternative. Mild dizziness is usually the only side effect.
Anti-arrhythmic medicine
Anti-arrhythmic medicine is sometimes used to control the rhythm of your heart. However, this type of medicine is most effective when exactly the right level is in your bloodstream, so it is important that the correct dosage is taken.
Nitrates
Nitrates are used to widen your blood vessels. Doctors sometimes refer to nitrates as vasodilators. They are available in a variety of forms, including tablets, sprays, skin patches and ointments. They work by relaxing your blood vessels, letting more blood pass through them. This lowers your blood pressure and relieves any heart pain that you have. Nitrates can have some mild side effects, including headaches, dizziness and flushed skin.
Cardiac glycosides
Cardiac glycosides, such as digoxin, strengthen and slow the heartbeat. By making the heart muscles contract (squeeze together) more strongly, blood is pushed around the body with more force. Cardiac glycosides are usually only taken in addition to other medicine, such as ACE inhibitors and diuretics.
Surgical procedures
If your blood vessels are very narrow due to a build up of atheroma (fatty deposits), or if your symptoms cannot be controlled using medication, surgery may be needed to open up or replace the blocked arteries. Some of the main surgical procedures that can be used to treat blocked arteries are outlined below.
Coronary angioplasty
Coronary angioplasty is sometimes used to treat mild coronary heart disease. An angioplasty opens up a blocked or narrowed coronary artery, improving the blood flow to the heart.
Coronary artery bypass
A coronary artery bypass is a procedure that allows the blood flowing through the coronary artery to bypass (get round) the part of the artery that is blocked.
Heart transplant
In a small number of cases, when the heart is severely damaged and medicine is not effective, or when the heart becomes less efficient at pumping blood around the body (heart failure), a heart transplant may be needed. A heart transplant involves replacing a heart that is damaged or is not working properly with a healthy donor heart.
Not all people are suitable candidates for having a heart transplant and finding a suitable donor may take many months. However, the success rate of heart transplant surgery has improved significantly over the past few decades, and many people who have had transplants more than ten years ago are still going strong.
Although heart transplant surgery is usually a successful procedure, afterwards you will need to take medicine to control your immune system’s reaction to having a ‘foreign heart’. The medicine can cause your immune system to become weaker, making you more vulnerable to illness and infection. Your doctor may also prescribe medicine to help reduce your risk of a having heart attack.
Laser surgery
Laser surgery is a technique that creates channels in the heart to allow blood to flow more easily. Using a catheter (thin wire) with a laser attached, the surgeon makes lots of tiny holes in your heart muscle. The holes encourage new blood vessels to grow in the diseased heart muscle. This procedure is sometimes carried out on its own, or in conjunction with coronary bypass surgery.
The future
Research into heart-related problems is ongoing and doctors are looking at new ways of preventing the body rejecting donor hearts, as well as developing new treatments so that people with heart conditions can live long, healthy lives. In the future, cardiologists (heart doctors) hope to be able to investigate, diagnose and treat heart conditions without the need for using surgical procedures.
Recovering from heart disease
The purpose of cardiac rehabilitation is to help you to recover and resume a normal life as soon as possible after having a heart transplant, a coronary angioplasty, or coronary artery bypass surgery. It may also be useful if you have other heart-related conditions, such as a heart attack, angina or heart failure.
Cardiac rehabilitation programme
If you have heart surgery, a member of the cardiac rehabilitation team may visit you in hospital to give you information about your condition and the procedure that you are having. This care will usually continue after you have left hospital. For the first few weeks following your surgery, a member of the cardiac rehabilitation team may visit you at home, or call you to check on your progress.
Cardiac rehabilitation programmes vary widely throughout the country but most will cover the following basic areas:
- exercise,
- education,
- relaxation and emotional support.
Once you have completed your rehabilitation programme, it is very important that you continue to take regular exercise and lead a healthy lifestyle, in order to protect your heart and reduce the risk of further heart-related problems.
Support groups
If you have or have had a heart condition, or if you are caring for someone with a heart condition, you might find it useful to meet other people in your area who are in a similar situation. There are a number of heart support groups around the country that organise regular exercise sessions, such as walking groups, and other social activities. Your GP or specialist should be able to provide you with details about your nearest group.
Returning to work
After recovering from heart surgery, you should be able to return to work, but it may be necessary to change the type of work that you do. For example, you may not be able to do a job that involves heavy physical exertion. Your specialist will be able to advise you about when you can return to work, and what type of activities you should avoid.
Financial support
If you are unable to work after having heart surgery, you may be entitled to financial support, such as:
- severe disability allowance,
- Disability Living Allowance,
- attendance allowance, and
- statutory sick pay and short-term incapacity benefit.
To find out if you are entitled to financial support, you can contact your local Social Security department.
Sex
If you have coronary heart disease or you have recently had heart surgery, you may be concerned about having sex. This is an area that your GP or specialist will be able to advise you about. However, if you find talking about it difficult, leaflets and DVDs are available from organisations such the British Heart Foundation
Preventing heart disease
The best way to prevent coronary heart disease is to make sure that your ‘bad cholesterol’ (LDL) level is low and that your ‘good cholesterol’ (HDL) level is high. There a number of ways you can do this, including:
Eat a healthy, balanced diet
Your diet should be low in saturated fat, sugar and salt, and contain plenty of fruit and vegetables (at least five portions a day).
Fish, such as herrings, kippers, mackerel, pilchards, salmon, sardines and trout, contain oils that can reduce the risk of thrombosis. Many vegetables, fruit and cereals contain antioxidant vitamins (beta-carotene and vitamins C and E) that prevent saturated fats from being changed into cholesterol. Other foods that may help to lower your cholesterol level are beans, peas, lentils and oats, because they contain soluble fibre, and Brazil nuts.
Be more physically active
Make sure that you take regular aerobic (cardiovascular) exercise, for a minimum of 30 minutes a day, at least three to four times a week. Exercise is known to increase ‘good cholesterol’ (HDL), which helps to keep your ‘bad cholesterol’ (LDL) levels down. As exercising burns calories, it can help you to control your weight and reduce stress.
Keep to a healthy weight
Your GP or practice nurse will be able to tell you what your ideal weight is in relation to your build and height. Alternatively, find out what your BMI (body mass index) is by using the BMI calculator below.
Give up smoking
If you smoke, giving up will reduce your risk of developing coronary heart disease. Smoking is a major risk factor for developing atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). It also causes the majority of cases of coronary thrombosis in people under the age of 50.
Reduce your alcohol consumption
If you drink, make sure that you stick to the recommended guidelines for alcohol consumption. The recommended daily amount of alcohol for men is three to four units a day, and it is two to three units for women. You should always avoid binge drinking.
Keep your blood pressure under control
You can keep your blood pressure under control by eating a healthy diet that is low in saturated fat, exercising regularly, and if required, taking appropriate blood-pressure-lowering medication. Your target blood pressure should be below 140/85mmHg. If you have high blood pressure, ask your GP to check your blood pressure regularly.
Keep your diabetes under control
If you are diabetic, you have a greater risk of developing coronary heart disease. You can reduce your chances of developing diabetes by being physically active, controlling your weight, and keeping your blood pressure under control. If you have diabetes, these three things will help you to keep control of your blood sugar level. If you are diabetic, your target blood pressure level is below 130/80mmHg.
Take any medication that is prescribed for you
If you have coronary heart disease, you may be prescribed medication to help relieve your symptoms and stop further problems developing. If you do not have coronary heart disease but you have high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or a history of family heart disease, your doctor may prescribe medication to prevent you developing heart-related problems.
If you are prescribed medication, it is vital that you take it and follow the correct dosage. Do not stop taking your medication without consulting your doctor first, as doing so is likely to make your symptoms worse and put your health at risk.
More Information
Heart Disease – Wikipedia
British Heart Foundation – proactive heart disease organisation
About.com : Heart Health Center – lots of heart related topics