Find out more about heart disease and find out how you can minimise the risk of developing the disease.

Heart and circulatory disease is the UK's biggest cause of death, according to the British Heart Foundation. And despite the fact that death rates for CHD have been falling in the UK since the 1970s, death rates from CHD in the UK are still amongst the highest in Western Europe.

Coronary heart disease causes over 117,000 deaths a year in the UK, approximately one in five deaths in men and one in six deaths in women.

Currently, just under 2.7 million people in the UK have Coronary Heart Disease, and one in five adults are obese. Death rates are higher in Scotland than the South of England and in manual workers than in office workers.

Coronary heart disease is not only the most common cause of death in the UK; it is also expensive, adding a huge burden to the UK economy every year. The costs of healthcare alone are over £1.7 billion a year.

Who is at Risk?

Men over 65 have the highest risk of CHD. About 65 per cent of heart attacks and 85 per cent of CHD are in people over 65, and the death rate at all ages is twice as high for women. However, women are not immune to heart disease, especially as they approach menopause and lose the defensive effect of oestrogen. In fact, women are three times more likely to die of heart disease than breast cancer.

The majority of cases begin after the age of 35 for men, and after menopause for women. The mortality rate is higher for less economically privileged groups, and death rates are higher among black people than white people. Family history appears to predispose a person to heart premature disease, probably due to both genetics and a lifestyle high in risk factors.

Reducing your Risk

Reduce your vulnerability to heart disease by eliminating these major risk factors:

• Minimise high blood pressure to maintain heart muscle efficiency - aim for below 140/85. You can do this by taking medication, reducing your salt and alcohol intake and stepping up the exercise.
• Stop smoking. Your risk of a heart attack is reduced as soon as you stop, halving within a year.
• Lower your cholesterol - cut down on saturated fats.
• Exercise - aerobic physical activity like brisk walking, dancing or bicycling reduces heart attack risk and helps control diabetes, cholesterol and blood pressure.
• Cut down on salt and alcohol.
• Get to a healthy weight. Obesity is a risk factor.
• Eat healthily - especially fruit, vegetables and oily fish to prevent blood clots.
• Control your blood sugar. Women with diabetes are four times more likely to have a heart attack, men three times.
• Try to reduce feeling stressed, anxious or depressed - these emotions are linked to heart disease.

Atrial Fibrillation

The heart beats in a steady, even rhythm, about 60 to 100 times each minute and 100,000 times each day, pumping blood around the body.
Sometimes the heart will beat faster (‘sinus tachycardia’) or more slowly (‘sinus bradycardia’), depending on your fitness and whether you have been exercising or resting, but these are normal heart rhythms.

Atrial fibrillation is the most common type of abnormal heartbeat (arrhythmia). Many competing impulses result in a very quick and chaotic heartbeat. Blood is pumped less efficiently, increasing the likelihood of blood clots and strokes, and may eventually cause heart failure. Risk may be decreased by using blood thinning medications.

In rare cases, atrial fibrillation is unrelated to heart disease, caused instead by excessive alcohol or caffeine intake, stress, drugs or infections.

Symptoms

• Heart palpitations - a trembling, racing or throbbing feeling in the heart
• Tiredness and loss of energy
• Dizziness, fainting
• Chest pain or pressure
• Shortness of breath

There may, however, be no symptoms at all.

Read More

Heart Disease: Currently, just under 2.7 million people in the UK have coronary heart disease, the most common type of heart disease, of which there are several different types.

Types of Heart Disease: There are many types of heart disease, each with their own unique symptoms. Read on to learn....

Reduce Your Risk of Heart Disease: Find out more about heart disease and find out how you can minimise the risk of developing the disease.

Understanding Heart Attacks: Find out more about the symptoms of a heart attack.