Ischaemic Heart Disease
Protect the pipes that feed the heart.
What it is
- Cholesterol plaque slowly narrows the coronary arteries that supply the heart muscle.
- Less blood means less oxygen — especially when the heart works harder.
- It usually develops over years and is often silent until angina or a heart attack.
- Together with stroke, it ranks as the leading cause of mortality nationwide.
Warning signs of angina
- Pressure, tightness or heaviness in the chest during effort or stress.
- Discomfort spreading to the left arm, jaw, neck or back.
- Breathlessness, unusual sweating or nausea with the pain.
- Rest or a nitroglycerin tablet usually relieves it within minutes.
What raises the risk
- Smoking — the single biggest reversible risk factor.
- High blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.
- Being overweight and physically inactive.
- A family history of early heart disease.
- Long-term stress and heavy alcohol use.
Treatment and prevention
- Stop smoking; keep blood pressure and blood sugar under control.
- A heart-healthy diet: less salt, less fried food, more vegetables and fish.
- Regular exercise such as brisk walking, most days of the week.
- Daily prescribed medicines: statins, aspirin, beta-blockers or others as advised.
- Procedures such as angioplasty (stent) or bypass surgery for blocked arteries.
Seek medical help urgently if
- Chest pain or pressure lasting more than 15 minutes, or not relieved by rest
- Pain spreading to the arm, jaw or back with sweating or vomiting
- Sudden severe breathlessness or collapse
- These are emergency signs — go to the nearest hospital immediately
General information only — not a substitute for medical advice.