Heart disease arteriosclerosis

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Physical inactivity is still a major problem - only just over a third (37%) of men and a quarter of women (25%) take the recommended 30 minutes of exercise five times a week.

The proportion of adults who are overweight continues to rise - particularly in men. Obesity rates in men have tripled in the since the mid 1980s - with men now as likely to be obese as women.

In the last ten years, the number of women drinking more than the weekly recommended levels of alcohol has risen by over 50% but remained stable in men.

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Unusual breathlessness when doing light activity or at rest, or breathlessness that comes on suddenly.

Angina - chest pain, heaviness or tightness in the chest that comes on during exertion, emotional stress and may spread to arms, neck, jaw, face, back or stomach.

Palpitations - awareness of your heart beat or a feeling of having a rapid and unusually forceful heart beat, especially if they last for several hours or recur over several days and/or cause chest pain, breathlessness or dizziness.

Fainting - although not always a serious symptom, fainting is due to insufficient oxygen reaching the brain which may be due to many reasons, so you should report it to your doctor.

Fluid retention or puffiness - (oedema to use the medical term) is abnormal accumulation of fluid in tissues such as ankles, legs, lungs and abdomen. Although usually perfectly normal e.g. on a hot day, it can be a sign that the heart is not pumping as well as it should (heart failure).

Bluish tinged fingernails or around lips - known medically as cyanosis - it can be a result of too little-oxygen in the blood.

Fatigue - fatigue is a very common symptom with numerous causes including depression. It is always worth seeing the doctor if you feel unusually tired, especially if it is combined with symptoms that can not be explained.

Severe crushing chest pain that may come on at rest and is accompanied by sweating, light-headedness, nausea or shortness of breath and lasts more than 15 minutes may be a heart attack. Seek medical help immediately by phoning 999 and asking for an ambulance. This will ensure prompt treatment and less damage to heart muscle may occur.

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