Long Term Conditions

Cancer is a condition where cells in a specific part of the body grow and reproduce uncontrollably. The cancerous cells can invade and destroy surrounding healthy tissue, including organs.

Cancer sometimes begins in one part of the body before spreading to other areas. This process is known as metastasis. There are over 200 different types of cancer, each with its own methods of diagnosis and treatment.

Changes to your body's normal processes or symptoms that are out of the ordinary can sometimes be an early sign of cancer. For example, a lump that suddenly appears on your body, unexplained bleeding or changes to your bowel habits are all symptoms that need to be checked by a doctor.

In many cases, your symptoms are not related to cancer and are caused by other, non-cancerous health conditions. However, it is still important that you visit your GP so your symptoms can be investigated.

More than 1 in 3 people will develop some form of cancer during their lifetime. In the UK, the 4 most common types of cancer are:

 

Breast cancer

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in the UK. Most women diagnosed with breast cancer are over 50, but younger women can also get breast cancer.

About one in eight women are diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime. There's a good chance of recovery if it's detected in its early stages.

For this reason, it's vital that women check their breasts regularly for any changes and always get any changes examined by their GP.

Symptoms of Breast cancer

Breast cancer can have a number of symptoms, but the first noticeable symptom is usually a lump or area of thickened breast tissue.

Most breast lumps aren't cancerous, but it's always best to have them checked by your doctor.

You should also see your GP if you notice any of the following:

• A change in the size or shape of one or both breasts
• discharge from either of your nipples, which may be streaked with blood
• a lump or swelling in either of your armpits
• dimpling on the skin of your breasts
• a rash on or around your nipple
• a change in the appearance of your nipple, such as becoming sunken into your breast
• Breast pain isn't usually a symptom of breast cancer.

Breast cancer screening

Mammographic screening, where X-ray images of the breast are taken, is the most commonly available method of detecting an early breast lesion.

However, you should be aware that a mammogram might fail to detect some breast cancers.

It might also increase your chances of having extra tests and interventions, including surgery, even if you're not affected by breast cancer.

Women with a higher-than-average risk of developing breast cancer may be offered screening and genetic testing for the condition.

As the risk of breast cancer increases with age, all women who are 50 to 70 years old are invited for breast cancer screening every three years.

Women over the age of 70 are also entitled to screening and can arrange an appointment through their GP or local screening unit.

The NHS is in the process of extending the programme as a trial, offering screening to some women aged 47 to 73.

Find breast cancer screening services near you on the NHS website (opens in a new window). 

 

Lung cancer

Lung cancer is one of the most common and serious types of cancer. Around 44,500 people are diagnosed with the condition every year in the UK.

There are usually no signs or symptoms in the early stages of lung cancer, but many people with the condition eventually develop symptoms including:

• a persistent cough
• coughing up blood
• persistent breathlessness
• unexplained tiredness and weight loss
• an ache or pain when breathing or coughing
• You should see your GP if you have these symptoms.

Lung cancer doesn't usually cause noticeable symptoms until it's spread through the lungs or into other parts of the body. This means the outlook for the condition isn't as good as many other types of cancer.

Overall, about 1 in 3 people with the condition live for at least a year after they're diagnosed and about 1 in 20 people live at least 10 years.

However, survival rates can vary widely, depending on how far the cancer has spread at the time of diagnosis. Early diagnosis can make a big difference.

Causes of lung cancer

Most cases of lung cancer are caused by smoking, although people who have never smoked can also develop the condition.

Prevention

If you smoke, the best way to prevent lung cancer and other serious conditions is to stop smoking as soon as possible.

However long you have been smoking, it's always worth quitting. Every year you don't smoke decreases your risk of getting serious illnesses, such as lung cancer. After 10 years of not smoking, your chances of developing lung cancer falls to half that of someone who smokes.

NHS Smoke free can offer advice and encouragement to help you quit smoking. You can call them on 0300 123 1044, or visit their website.

Your GP or pharmacist can also give you help and advice about giving up smoking.

Diet

Research suggests that eating a low-fat, high-fibre diet, including at least five portions a day of fresh fruit and vegetables and plenty of whole grains, can reduce your risk of lung cancer, as well as other types of cancer and heart disease.

For further information visit the NHS website (opens in a new window). 

Exercise

There's strong evidence to suggest that regular exercise can lower the risk of developing lung cancer and other types of cancer.

Adults should do at least 150 minutes (2 hours and 30 minutes) of moderate-intensity aerobic activity each week.

For further information visit the NHS website (opens in a new window): 

 

Prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK. It usually develops slowly, so there may be no signs for many years.

Symptoms of prostate cancer do not usually appear until the prostate is large enough to affect the tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the penis (urethra).

What is the prostate?

The prostate is a small gland in the pelvis, found only in men. About the size of a satsuma, it's located between the penis and the bladder, and surrounds the urethra.

The main function of the prostate is to produce a thick white fluid that creates semen when mixed with the sperm produced by the testicles.

Why does prostate cancer happen?

The causes of prostate cancer are largely unknown. However, certain things can increase your risk of developing the condition.

The chances of developing prostate cancer increase as you get older. Most cases develop in men aged 50 or older.

For reasons not yet understood, prostate cancer is more common in men of African-Caribbean or African descent, and less common in Asian men.

Men whose father or brother were affected by prostate cancer are at slightly increased risk themselves.

Recent research also suggests that obesity increases the risk of prostate cancer.

Symptoms

Prostate cancer does not usually cause any symptoms until the cancer has grown large enough to put pressure on the tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the penis (urethra).

• needing to pee more frequently, often during the night
• needing to rush to the toilet
• difficulty in starting to pee (hesitancy)
• straining or taking a long time while peeing
• weak flow
• feeling that your bladder has not emptied fully
• blood in urine or blood in semen

These symptoms do not always mean you have prostate cancer. Many men's prostates get larger as they get older because of a non-cancerous condition called prostate enlargement.

For further information visit the Prostate Cancer UK website (opens in a new window).

 

Bowel cancer

Bowel cancer is a general term for cancer that begins in the large bowel. Depending on where the cancer starts, bowel cancer is sometimes called colon or rectal cancer.

Bowel cancer is one of the most common types of cancer diagnosed in the UK. Most people diagnosed with it are over the age of 60.

Symptoms of bowel cancer

The three main symptoms of bowel cancer are:

• persistent blood in the stools – that occurs for no obvious reason or is associated with a change in bowel habit
• a persistent change in your bowel habit – which usually means going more often, with looser stools
• persistent lower abdominal (tummy) pain, bloating or discomfort – that's always caused by eating and may be associated with loss of appetite or significant unintentional weight loss

Most people with these symptoms do not have bowel cancer. Other health problems can cause similar symptoms. For example:

• blood in the stools when associated with pain or soreness is more often caused by piles (haemorrhoids)
• a change in bowel habit or abdominal pain is usually the result of something you've eaten
• a change in bowel habit to going less often, with harder stools, is not usually caused by any serious condition – it may be worth trying laxatives before seeing your GP
• These symptoms should be taken more seriously as you get older and when they persist despite simple treatments.

Some people also have an increased risk of bowel cancer because they have another condition, such as extensive ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease in the colon for more than 10 years.

Although there are some risks you can't change, such as your family history or your age, there are several ways you can lower your chances of developing the condition.

• Red meat and bowel cancer risk
• Eating good food and a healthy diet
• Losing weight
• Health and fitness
• Stopping smoking
• Cutting down on alcohol

 

Bowel cancer screening

To detect cases of bowel cancer sooner, the NHS offers two types of bowel cancer screening to adults registered with a GP in England:

• All men and women aged 60 to 74 are invited to carry out a faecal occult blood (FOB) test. Every two years, they're sent a home test kit, which is used to collect a stool sample. If you're 75 or over, you can ask for this test by calling the freephone helpline on 0800 707 60 60.
• An additional one-off test called bowel scope screening is gradually being introduced in England. This is offered to men and women at the age of 55. It involves a doctor or nurse using a thin, flexible instrument to look inside the lower part of the bowel.

Taking part in bowel cancer screening reduces your chances of dying from bowel cancer. Removing any polyps found in bowel scope screening can prevent cancer.

However, all screening involves a balance of potential harms, as well as benefits. It's up to you to decide if you want to have it.

To help you decide, read our pages on bowel cancer screening, which explain what the two tests involve, what the different possible results mean, and the potential risks for you to weigh up.

For further information visit the NHS website (opens in a new window).

 

Cervical cancer

Cervical cancer develops in a woman's cervix (the entrance to the womb from the vagina). It mainly affects sexually active women aged between 30 and 45.

Symptoms of cervical cancer

Cancer of the cervix often has no symptoms in its early stages. If you do have symptoms, the most common is abnormal vaginal bleeding, which can occur during or after sex, in between periods, or new bleeding after you have been through the menopause.

Abnormal bleeding doesn't mean you have cervical cancer, but you should see your GP as soon as possible to get it checked out.

If your GP thinks you might have cervical cancer, you should be referred to see a specialist within 2 weeks.

Screening for cervical cancer

The best way to protect yourself from cervical cancer is by attending cervical screening (previously known as a "smear test") when invited.

The NHS Cervical Screening Programme invites all women from the age of 25 to 64 to attend cervical screening. Women aged 25 to 49 are offered screening every 3 years and those aged 50 to 64 are offered screening every 5 years.

During cervical screening, a small sample of cells is taken from the cervix and checked under a microscope for abnormalities. In some areas, the screening sample is first checked for human papilloma virus (HPV), the virus that can cause abnormal cells.

An abnormal cervical screening test result does not mean you definitely have cancer. Most abnormal results are due to signs of HPV, the presence of treatable precancerous cells, or both, rather than cancer itself.

You should be sent a letter confirming when it's time for your screening appointment. Contact your GP if you think you may be overdue.

For further information on cervical screening visit the NHS website (opens in a new window). 

Macmillan Cancer information and support

Macmillan is a charity that helps support people and their families who are affected by cancer by offering them support financially and emotionally.

They hold many fundraising events, campaigning events and have plenty of opportunities for people to volunteer. The Macmillan cancer information service at the Queen’s Centre provides a drop-in service for anyone affected by cancer, whether a patient, relative, friend or anyone else.

To find out more visit the Macmillan website (Opens in a new window)

 

Macmillan volunteers offer -

• general support for patients and carers
• dementia Support
• immediate and Longer Term Bereavement Support
• visit patients and carers in their own homes or contact by telephone to chat with them and check on their health and well being
• provide some practical support with daily living as required, such as running errands, transporting patients to hospital appointments, gardening or sitting with a patient to allow a carer to go out for a break.
• provide practical support immediately after a bereavement.
• reducing social isolation and show people that someone cares about them.
• the chance to talk about their needs.
• emotional support through listening, questioning and making suggestions
• practical support to help them to remain living in their own homes.
• information about events and activities happening in the community which may be of interest to them.

Volunteers are available 7 days a week, including bank holidays from 9am to 5pm and can also provide support out of hours if needed.

Referrals for volunteer support can be taken from any health, social or medical professional, as well as from carers and patients.

For more information for services available in the East Riding of Yorkshire please visit the Macmillan website (opens in a new window).

About Dementia

Dementia is not a natural part of ageing, it is a progressive disease of the brain. The term 'dementia' describes a loss of mental ability associated with the gradual death of brain cells and it affects each individual differently.

The word 'dementia' describes a set of symptoms that may include memory loss and difficulties with thinking, problem-solving or language. These changes are often small to start with, but for someone with dementia they have become severe enough to affect daily life. A person with dementia may also experience changes in their mood or behaviour.

Dementia is caused when the brain is damaged by diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease or a series of strokes. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia but not all dementia is due to Alzheimer’s. The specific symptoms that someone with dementia experiences will depend on the parts of the brain that are damaged and the disease that is causing the dementia.

To find out more about the different types of dementia please visit the Dementia East Riding website (opens in a new window).

 

Symptoms of Dementia

Each person is unique and will experience dementia in their own way. The different types of dementia tend to affect people differently, especially in the early stages. How others respond to the person, and how supportive or enabling the person’s surroundings are, also greatly affect how well someone can live with dementia.

A person with dementia will have cognitive symptoms (problems with thinking or memory). They will often have problems with some of the following:

• to-day memory − difficulty recalling events that happened recently.
• concentrating, planning or organising − difficulties making decisions, solving problems or carrying out a sequence of tasks (eg cooking a meal).
• language – difficulties following a conversation or finding the right word for something.
• visuospatial skills – problems judging distances (eg on stairs) and seeing objects in three dimensions
• orientation – losing track of the day or date, or becoming confused about where they are.

As well as these cognitive symptoms, a person with dementia will often have changes in their mood. For example, they may become frustrated or irritable, withdrawn, anxious, easily upset or unusually sad.

With some types of dementia, the person may see things that are not really there (visual hallucinations) or believe things that are not true (delusions).

Dementia is progressive, which means the symptoms gradually get worse over time. How quickly dementia progresses varies greatly from person to person.

As dementia progresses, the person may develop behaviours that seem unusual or out of character. These behaviours may include repetitive questioning, pacing, disturbed sleep patterns or agitation. They can be distressing or challenging for the person and their carer.

A person with dementia, especially in the later stages, may have physical symptoms such as muscle weakness or weight loss. Changes in sleep pattern and appetite are also common.

 

What causes dementia?

There are many diseases that result in dementia. The most common types of dementia are outlined below:

• Alzheimer’s disease – This is the most common cause of dementia. Brain cells are surrounded by an abnormal protein and their internal structure is also damaged. In time, chemical connections between brain cells are lost and some cells die. Problems with day-to-day memory are often noticed first, but other symptoms may include difficulties with: finding the right words, solving problems, making decisions, or perceiving things in three dimensions.
• Vascular dementia – If the oxygen supply to the brain is reduced because of narrowing or blockage of blood vessels, some brain cells become damaged or die. This causes vascular dementia. The symptoms can occur either suddenly following one large stroke, or over time through a series of small strokes or damage to small blood vessels deep in the brain. The symptoms of vascular dementia vary and may overlap with those of Alzheimer’s disease. Many people have difficulties with problem-solving or planning, thinking quickly and concentrating. They may also have short periods when they get very confused.
• Mixed dementia – This is when someone has more than one type of dementia, and a mixture of symptoms. It is common for someone to have Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia together.
• Dementia with Lewy bodies – This type of dementia involves tiny abnormal structures (Lewy bodies) developing inside brain cells. They disrupt the brain’s chemistry and lead to the death of brain cells. Early symptoms can include fluctuating alertness, difficulties with judging distances and hallucinations. Day-to-day memory is usually affected less than in early Alzheimer’s disease. Dementia with Lewy bodies is closely related to Parkinson’s disease and often has some of the same symptoms, including difficulty with movement.
• Frontotemporal dementia (including Pick’s disease) – In frontotemporal dementia, the front and side parts of the brain are damaged over time when clumps of abnormal proteins form inside nerve cells, causing them to die. At first, changes in personality and behaviour may be the most obvious signs. Depending on where the damage is, the person may have difficulties with fluent speech or may forget the meaning of words or objects.

The symptoms of these types of dementia are often different in the early stages but become more similar in the later stages. This is because more of the brain becomes affected as the different diseases progress.

 

Diagnosing dementia

It is very important to get a proper assessment of problems with memory or thinking. They may be caused by a treatable condition such as depression or an infection, rather than dementia.

If the cause is dementia, a diagnosis has many benefits. It provides someone with an explanation for their symptoms, gives access to treatment, advice and support, and allows them to prepare for the future and plan ahead. Knowing the type of dementia (eg Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia) may allow appropriate drug treatments to be offered.

Dementia will usually be diagnosed by a specialist doctor such as a psychiatrist (a mental health specialist), a geriatrician (a doctor specialising in the physical health of older people) or a neurologist (someone who concentrates on diseases of the nervous system). Occasionally a GP or specialist nurse will make the diagnosis, depending on their expertise and training.

There is no single test for dementia. A diagnosis is based on a combination of things:

• taking a ’history’ – by the doctor talking to the person and someone who knows them well about how their problems developed and how they are now affecting their daily life
• cognitive tests of mental abilities (eg memory, thinking) – simpler tests will be carried out by a nurse or doctor, more specialist tests by a psychologist
• physical examination and tests (eg blood tests) – to exclude other possible causes of the symptoms
• a scan of the brain – if this is needed to make the diagnosis.

A common pattern is for the GP to make an initial assessment and then refer the person to a memory clinic or other specialist service for more detailed assessment. A specialist doctor will have more expertise in dementia and will be able to arrange more detailed tests and brain scans if needed. The diagnosis should be communicated clearly to the person and usually also those closest to them, along with a discussion about the next steps.

 

Support for people living with Dementia

 

Alzheimer’s Society 

Telephone: 01482 211255

Email: hulleastriding@alzheimers.org.uk (opens in a new window).

 

Dementia Friendly East Riding

Aim to give residents of the East Riding of Yorkshire a greater awareness of dementia and help businesses and other organisations to make small changes to understand the needs of people living with dementia.

People living with dementia often feel they are unable to continue living an independent and fulfilling life, this is far from the truth and Dementia Friendly East Riding will encourage those people to remain active through many "PROJECTS" activities supported by their partners.

For more information please visit the Dementia Friendly East Riding website (opens in a new window) 

 

East Riding Dementia Action Alliance

Aim is to work towards a dementia friendly East Riding community where people with dementia are empowered to have high aspirations and to feel confident knowing that they can contribute and participate in activities that are meaningful to them.

For further information by location please visit the East Riding Dementia Action Alliance web page (opens in a new window)

General information

A stroke happens when blood flow to part of the brain is cut off and brain cells are damaged or die. Strokes are sudden and have an immediate effect.

You can recognise a stroke using the FAST test.

• Facial weakness: can the person smile? Has their mouth or eye drooped?
• Arm weakness: can the person raise both arms?
• Speech: can the person speak clearly and understand what you say?
• Time: time to call an ambulance if you see any one of these signs

Stroke is a medical emergency and if you recognise the signs of a stroke you must dial 999.

The quicker you can respond to a stroke can help reduce the damage to the brain and improve the chances of full recovery.

There are two main types of stroke –

• ischaemic – where the blood supply is stopped because of a blood clot, accounting for 85% of all cases
• haemorrhagic – where a weakened blood vessel supplying the brain bursts

 

Mini Stroke

A Mini stroke or Transient Ischaemic Attack or TIA for short is caused by a temporary interruption to the blood flow to the brain. The effects can last between a few minutes or 24 hours, however, this is a warning sign that you may be at risk of having a major stroke in the future. Even though a mini stroke effects are temporary, you still need to seek emergency medical treatment ASAP.

 

Who is at Risk of Stroke?

Every year about 150,000 people in the UK have a stroke. That's one person every five minutes.

Strokes can happen to anyone, but some groups have a higher risk of stroke -

• older people - most people who have a stroke are over 55, and the risk increases with age
• people who have had a stroke or Mini Stroke in the past
• people of South Asian or African-Caribbean background

None of these factors mean that you will necessarily have a stroke, but it is useful to be aware if you are at increased risk so that you can take steps to live a healthier lifestyle.

 

Stroke Prevention

Here are simple lifestyle changes you can make to reduce the risk of stroke –

• eat a healthy diet
• exercise regularly
• avoid smoking
• reduce your alcohol intake

 

Stroke support and services

Community based rehabilitation and support services are available for stroke survivors and their carers in the East Riding and Hull, and an information pack has been produced to provide as much useful information as possible. Read the Stroke Information Pack (opens in a new window)

 

Effects of Stroke

Strokes affect people in different ways. The effects of stroke depend on when and how much damaged was done because of the Stroke. How healthy the person was prior to having a stroke is also a factor on how a stroke might affect you.

No two people are alike but the common after-effects of someone who is recovering from stroke are –

• apathy
• communications difficulties
• cognitive problems
• depression
• difficulty with concentration and paying attention
• dysphagia (difficulty swallowing)
• emotional changes
• incontinence constipation, or problems passing water
• memory problems
• muscle weakness of the body, often affecting one limb or one side of the body
• numbness, pins-and-needles, tingling or unusual sensitivity in the limbs
• paralysis - being unable to move part of the body
• physical problems
• personality changes
• struggling to making plans or decisions
• tightness, stiffness or pain in muscles (muscle spasticity)
• visual problems

A Doctor or Occupational therapist will often carry out an assessment to see what physical, physiological and cognitive problems you may have. They can then identify strategies to help you manage these problems.

 

Recovering from a Stroke

Stroke affects everybody differently, and people recover from stroke at different rates. It is impossible to say immediately after a stroke if or when a person will be able to return to the day-to-day life they lived previously.

Depending on the severity of the stroke determines where you will begin your stroke recovery. Once admitted to hospital you will be admitted to a designated stroke ward at Hull Royal Infirmary Ward 110. where your stroke recovery begins.

A multidisciplinary team of Stroke Consultants, Nurses, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists and Speech and language Therapists complete their assessments to identify what support and rehabilitation you will need to support your recovery.

You will have a dedicated stroke social worker to support you with your discharge home and any benefit advice and social support you and your family need.

Diabetes is a lifelong condition that causes a person's blood sugar level to become too high.

There are 2 main types of diabetes:

• type 1 diabetes – where the body's immune system attacks and destroys the cells that produce insulin
• type 2 diabetes – where the body does not produce enough insulin, or the body's cells do not react to insulin

Type 2 diabetes is far more common than type 1. In the UK, around 90% of all adults with diabetes have type 2.

During pregnancy, some women have such high levels of blood glucose that their body is unable to produce enough insulin to absorb it all. This is known as gestational diabetes.

 

Pre-diabetes

Many more people have blood sugar levels above the normal range, but not high enough to be diagnosed as having diabetes.

This is sometimes known as pre-diabetes. If your blood sugar level is above the normal range, your risk of developing full-blown diabetes is increased.

It's very important for diabetes to be diagnosed as early as possible because it will get progressively worse if left untreated.

 

When to see a doctor

Visit your GP as soon as possible if you experience the main symptoms of diabetes, which include:

• feeling very thirsty
• peeing more frequently than usual, particularly at night
• feeling very tired
• weight loss and loss of muscle bulk
• itching around the penis or vagina, or frequent episodes of thrush
• cuts or wounds that heal slowly
• blurred vision

Type 1 diabetes can develop quickly over weeks or even days.

Many people have type 2 diabetes for years without realising because the early symptoms tend to be general.

 

Causes of diabetes

The amount of sugar in the blood is controlled by a hormone called insulin, which is produced by the pancreas (a gland behind the stomach).

When food is digested and enters your bloodstream, insulin moves glucose out of the blood and into cells, where it's broken down to produce energy.

However, if you have diabetes, your body is unable to break down glucose into energy. This is because there's either not enough insulin to move the glucose, or the insulin produced does not work properly.

There are no lifestyle changes you can make to lower your risk of type 1 diabetes.

You can help manage type 2 diabetes through healthy eating, regular exercise and achieving a healthy body weight.

To learn more about reducing the risk of Diabetes please visit the NHS website (opens in a new window).

 

Diabetic eye screening

Everyone with diabetes aged 12 or over should be invited to have their eyes screened once a year.

If you have diabetes, your eyes are at risk from diabetic retinopathy, a condition that can lead to sight loss if it's not treated.

Screening, which involves a 30-minute check to examine the back of the eyes, is a way of detecting the condition early so it can be treated more effectively.

To learn more about Diabetic eye screening please visit the NHS website (opens in a new window). 

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a major cause of death both in the UK and worldwide. CHD is sometimes called ischaemic heart disease.

 

Symptoms of CHD

The main symptoms of CHD are:

• chest pain
• heart attacks

You can also experience other symptoms, such as heart palpitations and unusual breathlessness.

But not everyone has the same symptoms and some people may not have any before CHD is diagnosed.

 

Causes of coronary heart disease (CHD)

Coronary heart disease is the term that describes what happens when your heart's blood supply is blocked or interrupted by a build-up of fatty substances in the coronary arteries.

Over time, the walls of your arteries can become furred up with fatty deposits.

This process is known as atherosclerosis (opens in a new window) and the fatty deposits are called atheroma.

This can be caused by lifestyle factors such as:

• Smoking
• High Cholesterol
• High Blood pressure
• Diabetes

 

Diagnosing CHD 

This involves asking about your medical and family history, your lifestyle and taking a blood test (opens in a new window).

Further tests may be needed to confirm a diagnosis of CHD, including:

• a treadmill test
• a radionuclide scan
• a CT scan (opens in a new window)
• an MRI scan (opens in a new window)
• coronary angiography (opens in a new window)

 

Treating CHD

Coronary heart disease cannot be cured but treatment can help manage the symptoms and reduce the chances of problems, such as heart attacks.

Treatment can include:

• lifestyle changes, such as regular exercise and stopping smoking (links open in new windows)
• medicines
• angioplasty, where balloons and stents are used to treat narrow heart arteries
• surgery

 

Preventing CHD

You can reduce your risk of getting CHD by making some simple lifestyle changes.

These include:

• eating a healthy, balanced diet (opens in a new window)
• being physically active
• giving up smoking
• controlling blood cholesterol and sugar levels

Keeping your heart healthy will also have other health benefits, such as helping reduce your risk of stroke and dementia (opens in a new window)

 

The heart

The heart is a muscle about the size of your fist. It pumps blood around your body and beats approximately 70 times a minute.

After the blood leaves the right side of the heart, it goes to your lungs where it picks up oxygen.