There is no single cause for coronary heart disease, but there are 'risk factors' that increase your chance of developing it. 

There are 'modifiable' risk factors (ones that you can change), including: 

• smoking - both active smoking and being exposed to second-hand smoke
• high blood cholesterol
• high blood pressure
• diabetes
• physical inactivity
• being overweight
• depression, social isolation and a lack of social support.

There are also risk factors that you can't change, such as being male, increasing age and having a family history of coronary heart disease.

The best ways to reduce your risk of developing coronary heart disease, and to help prevent it getting worse if you already have it, are to:

• reduce or remove the risk factors that you can change
• take your medicines as prescribed by your doctor.

The Healthy Living pages of our website has information that can help you to reduce your risk.

Contact Us

For more information, please call our Health Information Service on 1300 36 27 87 or email us.