Cardiology, Northern Ireland

Are you concerned about your cardiovascular health? In Northern Ireland, cardiovascular disease remains one of the most significant causes of death accounting for around one quarter of all deaths. A family history of premature coronary disease can be a strong predictor of future risk.

Things you can do:

Certain behaviours have been shown to increase the risk for coronary heart disease. You should:

• Stop smoking – smokers are more than twice as likely to have a heart attack

• Eat a balanced diet

• Be physically active – even a short daily walk is beneficial

• Keep your weight under control - check if your weight is optimum with this BMI calculator

• Moderate your alcohol consumption

• Try to use relaxation techniques to reduce chronic stress

Medical risk factors for cardiovascular disease:

These factors significantly increase risk and may require more intensive investigation and management:

• Raised cholesterol (especially 'bad' LDL cholesterol)

• Raised blood pressure

• Diabetes

Other conditions:

• Pulse irregularity including atrial fibrillation (which can increase risk of stroke).

• Cardiac-related breathlessness and heart failure may require additional treatment.