What is coronary heart disease?

What is coronary heart disease (CHD)? 

Why is plaque a problem for my arteries? 

Is coronary heart disease the same as cardiovascular disease? 

• Cardiomyopathy 
• Congenital heart conditions 
• Coronary heart disease 
• Heart failure 
• Heart valve problems 
• Stroke. 

What are the risk factors for coronary heart disease? 

• Unhealthy eating  
• Being physically inactive 
• Being overweight or obese 
• Smoking – either being a smoker or inhaling other people’s smoke (passive smoking) 
• Diabetes 
• High blood pressure 
• High cholesterol 
• Lack of good social support. 

• Family history of coronary heart disease 
• Getting older 
• Ethnicity – Māori, Pasifika people and those from South Asian countries are at higher risk of heart disease 
• Being male 
• Being a post-menopausal woman 
• Severe mental illness. 

How is CHD diagnosed? 

• Blood tests 
• Electrocardiogram (ECG) 
• Stress test 
• Echocardiogram (ECHO) 
• Coronary angiogram or coronary computed tomography angiogram (CCTA) 
• Myocardial perfusion study (MPS) 
• Computerised tomography scan (CT scan). 

How to manage your CHD 

Make lifestyle changes 

1. Eat a heart healthy diet and maintain a healthy weight 
2. Spend more time being physically active 
3. Don’t smoke  
4. Control your cholesterol levels  
5. Control your blood pressure  

Take your prescribed medications as instructed 

• Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors  - these can lower blood pressure and reduce the strain on the heart. 
• Anti-coagulants - these can reduce the risk of blood clots forming. 
• Antiplatelet agents  - these can reduce the risk of clots forming and limit damage if you have a heart attack. 
• Beta blockers  - these can lower blood pressure and regulate your heart rate and rhythm. 
• Calcium channel blockers  - these can lower blood pressure, relieve chest pain and slow heart rate. 
• Nitrate medications (Anginine, GTN) - can increase blood flow to your heart. These are available in a spray or dissolvable tablet form. 
• Statins - these can lower bad cholesterol and triglycerides. 

Attend cardiac rehabilitation  

How is CHD treated? 

Angioplasty and stents 

Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) Surgery 

Where to get help 

• Always dial Triple Zero (000) to call an ambulance in a medical emergency 
• See your GP and/or cardiologist 
• Phone the Heart Foundation’s Health Information Service on 13 11 12  
• Ask your doctor, the Heart Foundation’s Helpline, or hospital staff about a cardiac rehabilitation service.