Heart disease is still the number one leading cause of death worldwide. But did you know that most cases are preventable? As an NHS nationwide pharmacy, we see first hand the impact that lifestyle choices, medication management and early prevention can have on protecting heart health.
With a few simple tweaks such as diet, exercise and controlling your sugar levels you can massively reduce your risk.
So, what actually is heart disease? Heart disease is a broad term that refers to conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels. The most common type is coronary heart disease (CHD), which happens when plaque builds up in the arteries, reducing blood flow to the heart.
The main symptoms of Coronary Heart Disease are...
- chest pain
- shortness of breath
- pain in your neck, shoulders, jaw or arms
- feeling faint
- feeling sick
Not everyone with coronary heart disease will experience all of these symptoms and in some cases people won't experience any. This is why regular check ups are so important.
Causes of Coronary Heart Disease
Coronary heart disease refers to a condition where the heart’s blood supply is reduced or blocked due to a buildup of fatty deposits inside the coronary arteries.
Over time, these fatty deposits, known as atheroma, can accumulate along the artery walls, causing them to become narrowed and hardened. This process is called atherosclerosis.
This can be caused by a range of different lifestyle, medical and biological factors:
Lifestyle factors
- Smoking: damages the lining of arteries, increases plaque buildup, and raises blood pressure
- Unhealthy diet: high in saturated fats, trans fats, salt, and sugar can raise cholesterol and blood pressure.
- Lack of physical activity: contributes to obesity, high blood pressure, and poor circulation.
- Excessive alcohol consumption: raises blood pressure and triglycerides.
Medical conditions
- High blood pressure (hypertension): damages artery walls and accelerates plaque formation.
- High cholesterol (hyperlipidemia): especially high LDL ("bad" cholesterol) and low HDL ("good" cholesterol).
- Diabetes or insulin resistance: increases risk of atherosclerosis.
- Obesity: particularly central obesity (around the waist), linked to multiple risk factors.
Biological and genetic factors
- Age: risk increases as people get older.
- Family history of heart disease: genetic predisposition plays a role.
- Male sex: men tend to develop CHD earlier, though women’s risk rises after menopause.
Other contributing factors
- Chronic stress: can increase blood pressure and contribute to unhealthy behaviors.
- Poor sleep quality: linked to hypertension, obesity, and diabetes.
Treating Coronary Heart Disease
In the UK, treatment for coronary heart disease usually involves a combination of lifestyle changes, medicines and sometimes procedures or surgery. The NHS provides a structured approach depending on severity.
Lifestyle Changes (first-line treatment)
- Healthy diet: low in saturated fats, salt, and sugar; high in fibre, fruit, and vegetables.
- Regular exercise: at least 150 minutes of moderate activity per week.
- Stop smoking: reduces risk significantly.
- Weight management: keeping to a healthy BMI.
- Limit alcohol: within NHS recommended limits.
Medications
- Antiplatelet drugs: reduce risk of blood clots.
- Statins (e.g., atorvastatin): lower cholesterol.
- Beta-blockers: lower heart rate and blood pressure, reduce angina.
- ACE inhibitors / ARBs: help lower blood pressure and protect the heart.
- Nitrates (e.g., glyceryl trinitrate spray): relieve chest pain (angina).
Procedures and Surgery
- Angioplasty and stent insertion: a balloon is used to widen the narrowed artery, and a stent is placed to keep it open.
- Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG): surgery where blood vessels are taken from another part of the body to bypass blocked coronary arteries.
Cardiac Rehabilitation
- NHS cardiac rehab programmes support patients with exercise, education, and lifestyle coaching after a heart attack, surgery, or diagnosis.
Find out more about NHS cardiac rehab programmes through the link here.
How to prevent Coronary Heart Disease
Preventing coronary heart disease (CHD) is about reducing risk factors that damage the heart and blood vessels. While some factors can’t be changed, many can be managed with lifestyle and medical care. Here are key prevention strategies:
Healthy Diet
Learn how to achieve a heart healthy diet in our blog The Ultimate Guide To a Heart Healthy Diet, here
Regular Physical Activity
- Aim for 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise (like brisk walking) or 75 minutes of vigorous activity per week.
- Add muscle-strengthening activities at least 2 days per week.
- Reduce sedentary time, move around every hour.
Quit Smoking
- Smoking is one of the strongest risk factors for CHD.
- Quitting lowers risk significantly, even if you’ve smoked for years.
- Avoid secondhand smoke exposure.
Limit Alcohol
- If you drink, do so in moderation (up to 1 drink/day for women, 2 for men).
Maintain a Healthy Weight
- Excess belly fat raises risk of heart disease.
- Aim for a healthy BMI (18.5–24.9) and waist circumference (less than 40 in/102 cm for men, 35 in/88 cm for women). Calculate your BMI through the link here.
Control Risk Factors
- Blood Pressure: Keep it below 120/80 mmHg if possible.
- Cholesterol: Manage LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and raise HDL (“good”) cholesterol.
- Blood Sugar: Prevent or manage diabetes with diet, exercise and medication if needed.
- Take prescribed medications (like statins, blood pressure meds, or aspirin if recommended).
Frequently Asked Questions
What causes heart disease? → Plaque build-up in arteries from factors like smoking, high blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, and poor lifestyle.
What are the symptoms? → Chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, or silent disease until a heart attack occurs.
How can I prevent it? → Eat healthy, exercise, avoid smoking, manage weight, control blood pressure/cholesterol/diabetes, and limit alcohol.
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Coda Pharmacy is here to support you every step of the way. From offering expert advice on heart disease, to delivering your NHS prescriptions free of charge. If you have any questions about what you have read in this article or any of the services that Coda Pharmacy can provide you with, please do not hesitate to reach out and contact us here.
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