Heart Disease
Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) is caused by the gradual build up of fatty deposits on the walls of the coronary arteries in the heart, which makes them narrow and difficult for the artery to then supply blood and oxygen to the heart muscle. The process of the build up of fatty deposits is called atherosclerosis and the fatty material is called atheroma.
Angina is the pain or discomfort in the chest usually caused by CHD as a result of atherosclerosis. A heart attack occurs when a piece of atheroma breaks off the artery wall and causes a blockage in the artery, which then starves the heart muscle of blood and oxygen.
While you cannot reverse the underlying damage caused by CHD, you can prevent it from getting worse. The following resources will give you information on keeping your heart healthy and reducing the risk of future problems.
Advice to help keep blood clotting times stable.
Eating for a Healthy Heart
A patient information leaflet.
Eating for a Healthy Heart
For the South Asian Diet.
Eating for a Healthy Heart
A patient information booklet on a cardio-protective diet.
Approximate values of fat per 100g of cheese.
Making Sense of Fats
Information on how different types of fatt affect cholesterol levels.
Link to fact sheet produced by the British Dietetic Association on Heart Disease