A heart attack, also known as myocardial infarction or coronary thrombosis, happens when a coronary artery (a blood vessel that supplies the heart with blood) that carries oxygen-rich blood to the heart is blocked. If the blood supply is completely blocked, part of the heart muscle may be starved of oxygen, can become damaged and may die. The medical name for a heart attack is an acute myocardial infarction (MI). Although having a heart attack is very serious, the chances of survival are greatly increased if you are able to get to a hospital right away. A heart attack may also refer to a problem with the rhythm of the heart – an arrhythmia – that prevents it beating in synchrony to pump blood around the body effectively. Again, this can lead to a medical emergency.

Low blood pressure (BP), or hypotension, can give symptoms of feeling lightheaded, dizziness, feeling a bit weak, feeling sick, disorientation, and suffering momentary blurred vision. It can cause you to faint. It may also cause no symptoms. It’s diagnosed when a BP machine gives a reading of less than 90/60 mmHg. A healthy BP should be 100-120/80-90 mmHg. You might have a slightly faster heart rate (the third number on the BP machine) to make up for the low BP, in order to keep blood flowing to your vital organs.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) – sometimes also called coronary heart disease or CHD - is where blood flow to the heart muscle is slowed down or blocked, reducing the amount of oxygen the heart needs to make it function normally. The typical cause of CAD happens gradually over many years, where the walls of the heart arteries slowly become ‘furred up’ with deposits of fatty substances, called atheroma. This process is called atherosclerosis and the atheroma is often known as ‘plaques’. These plaques can build up and cause the vessels to become inflamed and damaged, causing a partial or complete blockage, and conditions like angina, heart attacks and heart failure may follow as a result. CAD develops over a lengthy period of time – usually years or decades – which can mean it takes time before symptoms develop. Some damage can be repaired with lifestyle changes and medication, surgery may be suggested in some cases, but some damage may be permanent. Many factors can cause atherosclerosis including high cholesterol levels, diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, smoking and drinking too much alcohol.

Hypercholesterolemia, commonly known as high cholesterol, is a condition characterised by elevated levels of cholesterol in the blood. This condition is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, including heart attacks and strokes. Understanding the causes, symptoms, risk factors, and dietary management of hypercholesterolemia is essential for maintaining heart health and preventing associated complications.

A DVT (deep vein thrombosis) is a blood clot that develops in a large vein, usually in the lower leg, and requires treatment to ease symptoms and prevent clots spreading to other areas in the body. A pulmonary embolism (PE) is the most serious complication, where part of the DVT breaks off and a clot lodges in one of the blood vessels going to the lungs, blocking the blood supply. This can cause difficulty in breathing and collapse – it's a life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical attention. It’s believed that around 1 in a 1,000 people in the UK have a DVT every year.