Heart Disease

Coronary Heart Disease has been more intensively studied than other diseases of affluence mainly because it is a major cause of death in developed countries. Heart disease is the most common cause of death for those over the age of 65. The three main risk factors identified for CHD as smoking, raised blood pressure and high blood cholesterol, however diet is increasingly being investigated in correlation studies.

Heart problems can take many forms, three of which are described below.

A rapid heart rate from any cause.

An abnormality of heart rhythm affecting the upper chambers of the heart which beat at an abnormally rapid rate of between 240 - 400 per minute.

A heart defect involving the upper chambers in which the rate at which they contract is irregular in force and speed. Atrial Fibrillation is common, and accounts for 1/3 of all strokes in people over the age of 65.