CHSS Advice Line
No one should have to recover alone. We’re here to support you with our services, resources and health information.
Access our services
Our Hospital to Home services are here to help you recover well at home and give you the support you need to live life to the full.
Download resources
Find out more about your health condition and discover tips for staying well with our Essential Guides, available to download now.
Get free, confidential advice and support from our Advice Line nurses. No question is too big or too small.
Advice Line
Every day people in Scotland are leaving hospital feeling scared and alone. But you can help us change this.
Fundraising Events
Join Scotland’s Fundraising Heroes by getting involved with one of our exciting events or challenges!
Visit our charity shops
Use our Store Finder to find your local shop or boutique and pop in to see us today.
You can make sure stroke survivors in Scotland like Troy get the support they need after returning home from hospital.
Donate
We are Scotland’s largest health charity working to help people with chest, heart and stroke conditions live life to the full.
Social Media – @chsscotland
Incredible impact
Find out about the incredible impact your support is having and the amazing things you’re helping to achieve.
Search our current job opportunities to find a new role that’s rewarding, exciting and allows you to make a real difference every day.
Work With Us
If your coronary arteries are narrowed or blocked, then the blood supply to your heart will be impaired. This is the most common form of heart disease, known as coronary heart disease (sometimes called coronary artery disease or ischaemic heart disease).
In coronary heart disease a fatty substance, called atheroma, builds up in the lining of your coronary arteries. This narrows the artery and causes a restricted blood flow. This process, known as atherosclerosis, can lead to other heart conditions such as angina or heart attacks.
There are certain things that increase your risk of developing coronary heart disease. These are called risk factors and include:
These risk factors have all been proven to contribute to coronary heart disease. The more risks you have, the more your risk of developing coronary heart disease; the risks don’t just add, they multiply.
However, please note that if you don’t have these particular risk factors, you could still be at risk of developing heart disease. You may have other genetic factors that could increase the likelihood of you developing coronary heart disease (CHD).
If a family member has been affected by CHD then you should still take all possible steps to reduce your risk of heart disease. You should also request that your doctor conducts a cardiovascular risk assessment on you to discover any specific risk factors that you may have.
Making a lot of small changes to your lifestyle and diet over time can make a big difference to your overall health and risk of suffering with CHD. You can start by cutting down on unhealthy foods and drinks and then moving onto doing daily exercise.
Keeping your body moving and healthy is a simple, yet extremely effective approach to reducing your risk of CHD. Tell your loved ones that you’re making these changes and even ask if they’d like to be involved!
If you’d like to learn more about your condition and the support available to you, call our Advice Line on freephone 0808 801 0899 or text NURSE to 66777. Whether you’re looking for a trained listening ear or to find others experiencing the same condition as you, we can help you to build a better, healthier life.
Visit our Living with a Heart Condition section for more information about how to manage your condition at home, how to stay well and reduce your risk of developing further heart conditions.
Coronary Heart Disease
You can make sure people with chest, heart or stroke in conditions Scotland get the support they need after returning home from hospital.
If you – or someone you know – needs help right now, we’re here for you.
Get help
Read our Essential Guides for more information.
Resources
Download Your Heart Toolkit for advice and information about living with a heart condition.
View this page
Visit our Services page to find out more about the support that’s available after a diagnosis of coronary heart disease.
This page was last updated on May 6, 2022 and is under regular review. If you feel anything is missing or incorrect, please contact health.information@chss.org.uk to provide feedback.
Skip to main content