What is coronary heart disease?
Your heart’s job is to pump blood around your body. This blood is full of oxygen, which is needed by every cell in your body. To work properly, the heart also needs a continuous blood supply. Coronary arteries are the blood vessels that supply your heart muscle with its blood.
Coronary heart disease (CHD) or coronary artery disease occurs when a coronary artery clogs and narrows because of a buildup of plaque.
Plaque is made of fat, cholesterol and other materials. This plaque builds up in the wall of the arteries (called atherosclerosis) and can cause the arteries to narrow and stiffen. This happens over time and reduces the blood flow and vital oxygen to your heart muscle.
Without enough blood supply, the heart is starved of the oxygen it needs to work properly.
This can lead to angina or a heart attack.
Angina is a type of chest pain. A heart attack happens if the artery wall tears and plaque leaks into the bloodstream, causing a blood clot to form, reducing or stopping blood flow to the heart muscle.
Resource: Heart Foundation
Living with coronary heart disease
You can’t cure CHD; it’s a chronic condition that requires lifetime management.
You can live a long and active life with CHD by making healthy changes and following the advice of your healthcare professional team.
Education and access to a multidisciplinary support team are vital in successfully managing coronary heart disease.
Partnering with experienced professionals ensures you receive personalised guidance, up-to-date resources and the comprehensive care needed to maintain long-term health and well-being.
Always dial Triple Zero (000) to call an ambulance in a medical emergency.
Managing coronary heart disease is a team effort. Involve your family, friends and health professionals.
Make Healthy Living NT a part of your regular cycle of care.
Contact us to book an appointment with our multidisciplinary allied health team today.