Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)
Reducing the risk in our district.
The heart is a muscle that is about the size of an adult fist. It contracts about 70 times a minute to pump blood around the body. Like any other muscle, the heart needs a good supply of oxygen (which is carried by the blood). The blood supply to the heart comes from the coronary arteries that fan out over the surface of the heart.
Over a period of many years the walls of the coronary arteries can become furred-up with a fatty deposit. This is called atherosis and it restricts the flow of blood through the arteries. This reduces the amount of oxygen to the heart. This condition can lead to angina or a heart attack.
The condition is quite common in people living in our district and we are working to reduce the risk of this disease, along with other local organisations.
Five facts about coronary heart disease:
- it is the UK's biggest killer;
- one in four men and one in every six women die from the disease each year;
- in the UK, 300,000 people have a heart attack every year;
- angina affects about 1 in 50 people; and
- there are about 1.2 million people with angina.
By making some simple lifestyle changes, you can reduce your risk of getting coronary heart disease. And, if you already have heart disease, you can take steps to reduce your risk of developing further heart-related problems.
For more information, please contact:
- Ann-Marie Johnson (pictured)
CHD Programme Manager
Tel: 01977 665754
