lifestyle changes, such as regular exercise and stopping smoking.Treating coronary heart disease (CHD)Ĭoronary heart disease cannot be cured but treatment can help manage the symptoms and reduce the chances of problems such as heart attacks. Read more about how coronary heart disease is diagnosed. They'll ask you about your medical and family history and your lifestyle, and they'll take a blood test.įurther tests may be needed to confirm coronary heart disease, including: If a doctor feels you're at risk of coronary heart disease, they may carry out a risk assessment. You're also more at risk of getting atherosclerosis if you have conditions like high cholesterol, high blood pressure (hypertension) or diabetes. This process is known as atherosclerosis and the fatty deposits are called atheroma.Ītherosclerosis can be caused by lifestyle factors, such as smoking and regularly drinking excessive amounts of alcohol. Over time, the walls of your arteries can become furred up with fatty deposits.

Causes of coronary heart disease (CHD)Ĭoronary 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. The main symptoms of coronary heart disease are:īut not everyone has the same symptoms and some people may not have any before coronary heart disease is diagnosed. CHD is sometimes called ischaemic heart disease or coronary artery disease. Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a major cause of death in the UK and worldwide.

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