What is heart disease?
Heart disease is an umbrella term often used to refer to heart-related conditions. These include coronary heart disease, heart rhythm problems known as arrhythmias, congenital heart disease, cardiomyopathy, heart valve disease and heart failure.
Coronary heart disease (CHD)
Coronary heart disease develops when fatty material builds up in the walls of the coronary arteries, causing them to narrow. This process is called atherosclerosis. If a plaque ruptures, a blood clot can form and partially or completely block the artery, potentially causing a heart attack.
When narrowing of the coronary arteries reduces the supply of oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle, it can cause chest pain or discomfort known as angina.
Symptoms of coronary heart disease
The most common symptoms of CHD are chest pain or discomfort known as angina and shortness of breath. However, some people have no symptoms before diagnosis. In people with CHD, angina occurs when narrowed coronary arteries reduce the supply of oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle.
You may have felt a similar sensation if you have had indigestion before, as it can be mild and uncomfortable. However, if you experience a severe angina attack, it can feel painful. You typically feel tightness around the centre of your chest, which can spread to your stomach, neck, arms, back, or jaw.
If you have been diagnosed with angina, follow the treatment instructions given by your healthcare professional. Call 999 if chest pain does not stop after resting or using your prescribed angina medicine, or if you experience sudden chest pain or discomfort that does not go away.
Heart attacks
A heart attack happens when the blood supply to part of the heart is suddenly blocked or severely reduced, usually by a blood clot. This requires immediate medical treatment.
The symptoms of a heart attack can be similar to angina, but they often last longer and are not usually relieved by resting or taking angina medicine.
Symptoms of a heart attack can include:
- chest pain or discomfort
- breathlessness
- nausea
- sweating
- lightheadedness
- pain in other parts of the body.
Similar to angina, the symptoms can feel like indigestion. For example, they may include heartburn, a heaviness in your chest or a stomach ache. A heart attack can happen at any time, including while you're resting.
If you think you or someone else may be having a heart attack, call 999 immediately.
Risk factors for coronary heart disease
Some risk factors for heart disease may be reduced by making lifestyle changes.
Risk factors include:
- high blood pressure
- high cholesterol
- smoking
- diabetes
- obesity
- lack of physical activity
- excessive alcohol consumption.
Some risk factors for cardiovascular disease, however, are predetermined and cannot be changed.
According to the NHS, the risk of cardiovascular disease generally increases with age and can also be affected by sex, ethnic background and family history. CVD mainly affects people over 50; men are more likely to develop it than women; and risk may be higher among people from South Asian, Black African or African Caribbean backgrounds.
Reducing your risk of coronary heart disease
Lifestyle changes can help reduce your risk of developing heart disease, although it cannot always be prevented. Your GP may recommend changes or medication to help manage your blood pressure, cholesterol or blood sugar.
Lifestyle changes to explore may include:
Eat a well-balanced diet
Eating a healthy, balanced diet can help reduce your risk of coronary heart disease.
To support your heart health, aim to include:
- at least five portions of fruit and vegetables each day;
- higher-fibre starchy foods, such as wholegrain bread, brown rice, wholewheat pasta and oats;
- beans, peas, lentils and other sources of protein, alongside fish, eggs or lean meat if you eat them;
- dairy foods or suitable alternatives;
- small amounts of unsaturated fats, such as olive or rapeseed oil, nuts and seeds.
Limit foods and drinks high in saturated fat, salt and sugar, and replace saturated fats with unsaturated fats where possible.
One of the key aspects of nutritional therapy for heart disease involves optimising the intake of heart-healthy nutrients. For example, omega-3 fatty acids, found in fatty fish, flaxseeds, and walnuts, have been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties and can help reduce the risk of heart disease.
- Nutritional therapist Melody Mackeown mBANT, CNHC
Exercise regularly
Regular physical activity can improve cardiovascular fitness and help manage cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar.
Adults should aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity each week, or an equivalent combination. Adults should also include activities that strengthen the major muscle groups at least two days a week.
If you have a heart condition, have recently had a heart attack or surgery, or are new to exercise, ask your healthcare professional what type and intensity of activity is appropriate for you.
Manage your weight, if appropriate
For some people, medical professionals may recommend weight loss.
A nutrition professional can work with you to develop an eating plan to help you achieve your weight management goals. This can be tailored to your health needs, lifestyle, dietary requirements, preferences and activity levels.
Quit smoking
To improve your heart health as a smoker, one of the best things you can do is quit, as smoking is one of the major causes of coronary heart disease. Chemicals in cigarette smoke can thicken your blood, which can lead to clot formation, and make your artery walls sticky, reducing the space available for blood to flow properly.
If your arteries get clogged, this can lead to stroke, heart attack, raised heart rate and blood pressure, and reduced oxygen delivered around your body. One year after stopping smoking, your heart attack risk drops by around half of that of a smoker.
Drink less alcohol
If you drink alcohol, you're advised not to regularly drink more than 14 units a week. If you drink as much as 14 units, spread this over three or more days, and consider having several drink-free days each week.
Nutrition and heart disease FAQs
How does nutrition influence heart disease?
What you eat (and how much you exercise) can have a significant impact on your heart’s health and your risk of developing heart disease. A diet high in saturated fat can raise blood cholesterol, increasing the risk of heart and circulatory disease.
Replacing saturated fat with unsaturated fat and eating more fibre can help manage cholesterol levels. If your diet has too much salt (more than 6g a day for adults, about one teaspoon), it can also raise your blood pressure, which increases your risk of heart disease.
Making changes to what you eat by increasing how many fruits and vegetables are in your diet, eating fewer foods that are high in saturated fat, salt and sugar, and eating foods high in fibre can be a big help.
Working with a nutrition professional can help you better understand how nutrition and diet can influence heart disease.
What does a heart-healthy diet include?
A heart-healthy diet generally includes plenty of fruit and vegetables, whole grains, beans and other pulses, nuts, seeds, and sources of unsaturated fat. It may also include fish, lean meat and lower-fat dairy foods or suitable plant-based alternatives. A balanced diet helps ensure you get all the vitamins and nutrients your body needs.
A nutrition professional can highlight the most helpful dietary changes to suit your individual needs. They may consider health concerns, allergies and intolerances, and other food-related issues to help create a sustainable plan that works best for you.
If you're considering supplements, speak to your GP or healthcare team first, particularly if you take medicines for a heart condition.
If you are unsure where to start, the Eatwell guide shows the types and overall proportions of foods that make up a healthy, balanced diet.
How can a nutrition professional help?
Appropriately qualified nutrition professionals can provide evidence-based guidance and help you make sustainable changes suited to your needs, preferences and lifestyle.
If you have CHD or another diagnosed medical condition, nutritional support should complement the care your GP or specialist provides. A registered dietitian can provide clinical dietary advice and work alongside your healthcare team.
The right support may help you understand nutritional information, plan manageable changes and maintain new habits over time. Browse our nutrition professionals to start your journey.
Further help
All content displayed on Nutritionist Resource is provided for general information purposes only, and should not be treated as a substitute for advice given by your GP or any other healthcare professional.
