Heart Disease

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.

Approximately six in 1,000 men in the UK who are between 30-69 years of age have a heart attack each year.

For women, the figure is much lower, at two in 1,000. Men are therefore three times more likely to suffer from a heart attack than women.

A heart attack can cause serious complications, and be potentially fatal. Half of those who die, do so from cardiac arrest (when the heart stops completely) within three to four hours of the start of the attack.

Signs

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 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 (see below for signs and symptoms).

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 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).

Symptoms

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 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
• 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.