Coronary Heart Disease
Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a major cause of death globally, and remains the most common cause of death in Ireland. The main symptoms of CHD are:
- Angina (chest pain)
- Heart attacks
- Heart failure
However, not everyone has the same symptoms and some people may not experience any before CHD is diagnosed. For this reason, it is important to be aware of the risk factors.
Risk factors for developing CHD:
- High cholesterol
- Overweight or obese
- Unhealthy diet and lifestyle
- Smoking
- High blood pressure
- High blood glucose (sugar) readings
Coronary heart disease can't be cured, but treatment can help manage the symptoms and reduce the chances of problems such as heart attacks.
You can reduce your risk of developing CHD by making some simple lifestyle changes. These include:
- Eating a healthy, balanced diet
- Being physically active
- Giving up smoking
- Controlling blood cholesterol and sugar levels