You or someone else has symptoms like:
Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a term used to describe what happens when the blood flow to the heart is interrupted or reduced. It is also known as ischaemic heart disease.
Often, the reduction or blockage in blood flow is caused by atherosclerosis. This is when a fatty material called atheroma builds up inside the coronary arteries. This can narrow the coronary arteries, reducing the blood flow.
If a piece of atheroma breaks off, this can cause a blockage and cut off blood supply to the heart. This is known as a heart attack.
Further information is available about the diagnosis, treatment and management of:
The main symptoms of coronary heart disease are:
Heart failure can sometimes occur in people with CHD. This is when the heart becomes too weak to pump blood around the body. This can cause fluid to build up in the lungs, making it increasingly difficult to breathe.
Microvascular angina is a problem with tiny blood vessels that supply blood to your heart. It may be caused when these tiny blood vessels:
The main symptom of microvascular angina is chest pain. You may feel it at any time.
Lifestyle changes can often improve symptoms.
Further information is available on the impact of heart disease on women
Many different tests may be used to diagnose coronary heart disease, including:
There are various risk factors for heart disease, some of which you have control over and others that you don’t.
Uncontrollable risk factors for heart disease include:
Your risk can also be increased by certain lifestyle factors. These are sometimes called controllable risk factors. For example, your diet, level of physical activity and smoking habits.
You can make lifestyle changes to reduce your risk of heart disease, including:
If you’ve been diagnosed with some other health conditions, you might also be at increased risk of heart disease. These conditions include:
You might find support groups useful if you:
Your GP or specialist should be able to provide you with details about your nearest support group. You can also search Scotland’s Services Directory.
Information and support for people living with a heart condition is also provided by:
Last updated:
07 February 2024