Last Updated: July 17, 2026
Medically reviewed against NHS and British Heart Foundation guidance, January 2026. Written by Bethany Crow, Editor at Care Choices – an independent publisher working with local authorities on social care information since 1993.
- When asking what is CHD, it simply refers to a common condition where fatty deposits narrow your arteries and restrict the oxygen-rich blood supply to the heart.
- Key warning signs to look out for include chest pain, shortness of breath, and feeling faint.
- While there is no cure, you can prevent and manage the disease through lifestyle changes like stopping smoking, exercising, and eating a balanced diet.
Coronary heart disease (CHD) is one of the leading causes of death in the UK. The British Heart Foundation (BHF) describes it as the UK’s leading cause of premature death, responsible for around 63,000 deaths every year. CHD is sometimes referred to as ischaemic heart disease or coronary artery disease. It is a type of heart disease that happens when the heart’s arteries begin to narrow due to a build-up of fatty deposits called plaque, meaning the arteries cannot deliver enough oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle.
Your heart’s job
The heart is one of the most important muscles in your body, so it is vital to look after it. On average, the heart is roughly the size of your fist and beats around 70 times a minute. Your heart sends oxygen-rich blood around your body through a network of arteries, before the blood returns to the heart and lungs through your veins. Your heart gets its own supply of blood from a network of blood vessels on the surface of the heart called coronary arteries – these are the arteries affected by CHD.
Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) in the UK
Coronary heart disease can affect anyone at any age. According to the BHF’s January 2026 UK cardiovascular disease factsheet, around 2.3 million people in the UK are currently living with CHD. The same factsheet notes that roughly 90% of the CHD burden is linked to modifiable risk factors – meaning lifestyle changes can make a real difference. Professor Bryan Williams, BHF Chief Scientific and Medical Officer, put it plainly in July 2026: “Cardiovascular disease claiming one life every four minutes in England… this focus on cardiovascular care cannot come too soon.”
What are the main symptoms of CHD?
There are a few warning signs to look out for when it comes to identifying CHD, such as:
- Chest pain (angina)
- Shortness of breath
- Pain in your neck, shoulders, jaw, or arms
- Feeling faint
- Feeling nauseous
However, it is important to note that not everyone will have the same set of symptoms. You may experience just one or two symptoms at a time. Some people may not have any of these warning signs before being diagnosed with CHD. Full symptom guidance is available on the NHS CHD symptoms page.
Important: If you have sudden, severe chest pain – especially with pain spreading to your arm or jaw, breathlessness, or sweating – call 999 immediately. These can be signs of a heart attack and require urgent medical attention.
What causes CHD?
Coronary heart disease is not something that happens overnight. It is the process of your arteries getting narrower due to fatty deposits growing over a long period of time. These fat deposits can be caused by lifestyle factors such as smoking, drinking excessive amounts of alcohol, poor diet, and lacking an active lifestyle. It is also more likely in individuals who have pre-existing conditions – risk factors include high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, and lipoprotein(a).
Getting CHD diagnosed
If you have noticed any of the warning signs mentioned above, you should call your GP. If your doctor feels that you are at risk of CHD, they will carry out a risk assessment. This assessment will enquire about your personal and family medical history alongside your lifestyle, and they will usually take a blood test. NICE guideline NG238 (last reviewed September 2025) sets out the clinical standard for CVD risk assessment and lipid modification in the UK.
If further testing is required to confirm whether or not you have CHD, you may be invited to take an electrocardiogram (ECG), echocardiogram, a chest x-ray, or a coronary angiogram. You may also have an MRI or CT scan if your doctor feels it is necessary. For more information about how CHD is diagnosed, visit the NHS CHD diagnosis page.
Can CHD be treated or cured?
Unfortunately, CHD currently does not have a cure. However, there are many ways that people diagnosed with CHD can manage and treat the condition. Some are simple changes that you can make to your lifestyle, whereas others are more invasive, like having surgery. The NHS outlines the full range of treatment options in detail.
Heart disease treatment includes:
- Lifestyle changes: regularly exercising, stopping smoking, reducing (or cutting out) your alcohol intake, and changing your diet.
- Medicines
- Angioplasty: this is where balloons and stents are placed into the arteries to stretch them, which is explained more below.
- Surgery
What is an angioplasty?
An angioplasty is a treatment method for coronary heart disease where a balloon or stent is used to widen narrowed arteries. In most modern cases of CHD treatment, a stent is more commonly used. This is where a short mesh wire tube – the stent – is inserted into the artery and left in place permanently to allow blood to flow more freely. Angioplasty is most commonly used as an emergency treatment after a heart attack caused by CHD.
Prevention
Prevention is almost always better than a cure or treatment. Luckily, there are many little things you can start doing to help limit your likelihood of developing CHD. The UK government’s Cardiovascular Disease Modern Service Framework, published July 2026, sets a 10-year strategy to reduce premature deaths from heart disease – with earlier prevention at its core. You can help prevent coronary heart disease by:
Eating a healthy and balanced diet
Changing the food you eat is one of the easiest ways to save your heart. The most important thing is to lower your fat intake, whether that means reducing the oil you use whilst cooking or switching out your usual beef or pork for chicken, fish, or a meat alternative. Making little switches – like swapping white bread for brown or a slice of cake after dinner for some fruit – can make a real difference inside your arteries. For more information about healthy eating, check out the NHS 8 tips for healthy eating.
Move more
Pretty much everyone could do with moving a little more. Aiming for at least 150 minutes of exercise a week is a good start. However, if you simply do not have the time for this, there are lots of smaller things you can do to help your heart. Go for a walk after dinner, park your car at the back of a car park, walk instead of driving for short distances, or try cycling for journeys where walking is a little too much. Find out more about exercising for health on the NHS website.
Stop smoking
Smoking can raise your cholesterol, leading to higher chances of CHD and subsequent issues like a heart attack or stroke. If you want to quit smoking, the best thing you can do is reach out to the NHS Better Health quit smoking service. They offer practical advice, guidance on the best ways to stop smoking, and proven tools to help you succeed. Call 0300 123 1044 (England only) for the NHS stop smoking service.
Cut down on alcohol
The NHS recommends limiting your alcohol consumption to no more than 14 units per week. It helps to have several drink-free days a week and avoid drinking a lot in a short period of time. In reality, 14 units equates to roughly six pints of average-strength beer or ten small glasses of lower-strength wine. If you are worried about your own or a loved one’s drinking, you can find alcohol addiction support services near you here.
If you need further help with coronary heart disease, whether that be in prevention, treatment, or recovery, contact the British Heart Foundation’s helpline on 0808 802 1234 or visit its website at www.bhf.org.uk
