Heart Fact Sheet

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What is Heart Disease?

The heart is a pump, and it is always pumping blood throughout the body. The average heart beats 100,000 times a day and it needs a good blood supply itself in order for it to work properly.

One of the commonest diseases to affect the heart is coronary heart disease (CHD). Coronary Heart Disease is the term that describes what happens when your heart's blood supply (coronary arteries) is blocked or interrupted by a build-up of fatty substances.

If your coronary arteries become narrow due to a build up of fatty substances, the blood supply to your heart will be restricted. This can cause angina (chest pains).

If a coronary artery becomes completely blocked, it can cause a heart attack.

Other heart diseases

Other diseases that can affect the heart include:

• Heart failure occurs when the heart is not able to pump blood through the body as well as it should. It does not mean that the heart stops. Symptoms of heart failure include, shortness of breath, swelling in feet, ankles, and legs and extreme tiredness
• Congenital heart disease describes a range of structural abnormalities that can develop in the heart as a baby grows in the womb.
• Cardiomyopathy is a disease of the heart muscle and may occur for many different reasons, including coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, viral infection, high alcohol intake and thyroid disease.
• Heart arrhythmias are changes in the beat of the heart. The heart beat can become abnormally rapid, slow and/or irregular. Arrhythmias can be caused by coronary heart disease, heart valve problems, high blood pressure, high alcohol intake, caffeine.

Heart Statistics

• In N. Ireland 3,513 people died as a result of heart disease in 2008 (latest figures available). That's 292 per month, 67 per week or 9 people per day.
• Heart disease is the second biggest killer in Northern Ireland.
• Men are more susceptible to heart attacks than women, particularly among younger men.
• More women in Northern Ireland die from heart disease than every form of cancer combined.

Cardiac Risk Prevention

A heart attack is an emergency. If you see/feel the signs of a heart attack act quickly, call 999. Early treatment saves lives and increases the chance of making a better recovery.
Eating healthily, taking more exercise, not smoking and ensuring blood pressure is normal, all help to prevent a heart attack.

Click here for more information and advice on prevention.

Cardiac Support Groups

Northern Ireland Chest, Heart & Stroke is working with a range of Cardiac Support Groups developing services for heart clients and their families in order to provide support and help for those affected.

Click here for more information on Cardiac Support Groups in your area.

Research

NICHS supports and promotes research carried out in Northern Ireland into chest, heart & stroke-related illnesses. The results of research provide doctors, nurses and other health professionals with the evidence needed to convince local policy makers to both improve prevention methods and clinical services for local patients.

Click here for some examples of cardiac research that has been funded by NICHS.

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