Coronary heart disease is a chronic (or long-term) condition that affects many people (334,500 Australians in 2006*). 

Coronary heart disease is the most common cause of death in Australia. It is also a major cause of disability, with many people reporting problems or needing assistance with daily activities.

If you have coronary heart disease, the blood vessels that carry oxygen and nutrients to your heart muscle are clogged and narrowed. If these vessels (the coronary arteries) become too clogged, the blood supply to your heart muscle is reduced, which can lead to symptoms such as angina. If a blood clot forms in the narrowed artery and completely blocks the blood supply to part of your heart, it can cause a life-threatening heart attack.

People with coronary heart disease are at higher risk of having a heart attack. If you have coronary heart disease and have been prescribed angina medicine, download our ‘Will you recognise your heart attack?’ fact sheet and action plan (under ‘Resources’ below). Keep them in a handy place at home and at work.

To find out about the causes, diagnosis, treatment and management of coronary heart disease, use the navigation bar at the right of this page.

 *From Australia's Health, AIHW. 2006.

Resources

Will you recognise your heart attack? fact sheet  Download
Will you recognise your heart attack? action plan  Download