In brief
Coronary heart disease affects the blood vessels that supply the heart. Plaque builds up and narrows them, which can cause angina and heart attacks. It is the leading cause of death in Australia.
- Heart attack warning signs include chest pain, arm or shoulder pain and shortness of breath. Some people feel sick, sweaty or dizzy, or have pain in the back, neck or jaw.
- Call triple zero (000) straight away for heart attack warning signs.
- One year after quitting smoking, heart disease risk is about half that of someone who still smokes, according to healthdirect.
How it works
Plaque made of fat, cholesterol and other materials builds up inside the coronary arteries over time and narrows them, a process called atherosclerosis. It develops slowly, often without symptoms at first, and for many people the first symptoms are angina or a heart attack. Chest pain is the most common symptom of both.
Lifestyle risk factors are smoking, being overweight, an unhealthy diet, too little physical activity and too much alcohol. Other risk factors include older age, being male, being female after menopause, family history, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, depression and sleep apnoea. Quitting smoking, healthy eating, physical activity, limiting alcohol and keeping a healthy weight lower the risk.
Looking after it
Call triple zero (000) straight away for heart attack warning signs.
Connections
16 connections on the map. Select a topic to read its page.
Coronary heart disease can be raised by
Chronic kidney disease is a risk factor for coronary heart disease.
Heart disease, stroke and kidney disease are among the long-term complications of type 1 diabetes.
Living with overweight or obesity increases the risk of heart disease.
Sources: healthdirect Australia, Obesity; healthdirect Australia, Coronary heart disease
Being female after menopause is a risk factor for coronary heart disease, and weight gain at menopause may increase the chance of heart disease.
Sources: healthdirect Australia, Coronary heart disease; healthdirect Australia, Menopause
Sitting or lying down for too long increases the risk of chronic health problems such as heart disease, diabetes and some cancers.
Source: Better Health Channel (Victorian Government), The dangers of sitting
- Loneliness and isolation Supported
Loneliness and isolation can increase the chance of heart disease, high blood pressure and stroke.
Coronary heart disease can result from
People with metabolic syndrome are more likely to have a heart attack or stroke.
Diabetes is a risk factor for coronary heart disease, and heart disease is a complication of type 2 diabetes.
Sources: healthdirect Australia, Coronary heart disease; healthdirect Australia, Type 2 diabetes
High blood pressure raises the risk of heart disease, heart attack and stroke.
Sources: healthdirect Australia, High blood pressure (hypertension); healthdirect Australia, Coronary heart disease
Too much LDL cholesterol can cause plaque in artery walls and increase your risk of heart disease and stroke.
Smoking is a lifestyle risk factor for coronary heart disease.
Coronary heart disease has been studied with
- Omega-3 fats Supported
Eating fish and seafood promotes heart health, but many large trials of omega-3 supplements found no benefit.
Source: NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, Omega-3 fatty acids: fact sheet for health professionals
- Sauna and heat Emerging
A Finnish study of 2,315 men found more frequent sauna bathing was associated with lower rates of fatal heart disease.
Coronary heart disease is linked with
- Homocysteine Contested
Lowering homocysteine has not been shown to reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke, and testing is not routinely recommended to assess heart risk.
- Chronic low-grade inflammation Supported
A high-sensitivity CRP test, which measures inflammation, is used to help assess your risk of heart disease.
Coronary heart disease can cause
Heart attack and coronary heart disease are the most common causes of heart failure.
Lab tests
Medicines and supplements
General education only. Never start, stop or change a medicine without your prescriber.
Sources
Each connection above names its own source. See every source AskBioMap uses.
Summarised from healthdirect and the Heart Foundation. Sources read on 12 and 13 October 2026. General education only, not medical advice. Spotted a mistake? Please tell us through the HuBu-Intel contact page.