A short and simple introduction to CHD

1. Coronary
Heart
Disease
Vėjūna Guzulaitytė

2. Vocabulary:
• CHD – coronary heart disease.
• Plaque – a waxy substance that builds up in coronary
arteries.
• Atheroma – fatty deposits.
• Atherosclerosis – condition, when plaque builds up inside
arteries.

3. • Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a disease in which a waxy
substance called plaque builds up inside the coronary arteries.
Plaque is made up of fat, cholesterol, calcium, and other
substances found in the blood. Over time, plaque hardens (or
ruptures) and narrows the arteries.
• When plaque builds up in the arteries, the condition is
called atherosclerosis.

6. • If the plaque ruptures, a
blood clot can form on its
surface. A large blood clot
can mostly or completely
block blood flow through a
coronary artery. Over
time, ruptured plaque also
hardens and narrows the
coronary arteries.

7. • Atherosclerosis can affect any artery in the body, including
arteries in the heart, brain, arms, legs, pelvis, and kidneys. As
a result, different diseases may develop based on which
arteries are affected.
• This condition can lead to other serious
problems, including heart attack, stroke, or even death.

8. What causes
atherosclerosis?
• smoking
• high cholesterol (LDL)
• hypertension
• diabetes
• irregular exercise
• obesity
• family history of CHD

9. Diagnostics
If your doctor feels you are at risk of CHD, they may carry out a
risk assessment. Further tests may be needed to confirm a
diagnosis of CHD, including:
• echocardiogram
• blood tests
• radionuclide tests
• magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans
• computerised tomography (CT) scans
• coronary angiography
• an electrocardiogram (ECG)
• an X-ray

10. Standards that define good
heart disease care:
• tackling factors that increase the risk of heart disease, such as
smoking, poor diet and little physical exercise
• preventing CHD in high-risk patients and, where patients have
CHD, avoiding complications and tackling the progression of
the disease
• rapid treatment for heart attack, including the choice of
angioplasty in a specialist cardiac centre
• rapid diagnosis of heart disease and access to diagnostic tests
• rapid access and choice of treatment centre for specialised
cardiac care

11. Treatment
• Although coronary heart disease cannot be
cured, treatment can help manage the symptoms and
reduce chances of problems such as heart attacks.
• CHD can be managed effectively with a combination of
lifestyle changes, medicine and, in some cases, surgery.
With the right treatment, the symptoms of CHD can be
reduced and the functioning of the heart improved.

12. Recovery
• If you have problems such as a heart attack, or have any
heart surgery, it is possible to eventually resume your
normal life.
• Advice and support is available to help you deal with
aspects of your life that may have been affected by CHD.

13. Complications
• Angina is chest pain or discomfort. It may feel like pressure or
squeezing in your chest. The pain also can occur in your
shoulders, arms, neck, jaw, or back. Angina pain may even feel
like indigestion.
• A heart attack occurs if the flow of oxygen-rich blood to a
section of heart muscle is cut off. If blood flow isn’t restored
quickly, the section of heart muscle begins to die. Without
quick treatment, a heart attack can lead to serious health
problems or death.
• Heart failure is a condition in which your heart can't pump
enough blood to meet your body’s needs.
• Arrhythmias are problems with the rate or rhythm of the
heartbeat.

14. Prevention
• balanced diet
• physical activity
• giving up smoking
• reducing alcohol consumption
• controlling blood cholesterol and sugar levels
• controlling BP
• taking prescribed medication

15. • CHD is the most common type of heart disease. In the
United States, CHD is the #1 cause of death for both men
and women.