Welcome to Bupa's health hub of information on heart and circulation.
A heart attack, also known as myocardial infarction or coronary thrombosis, happens when a coronary artery (a blood vessel that supplies the heart with blood) carrying oxygen-rich blood to the heart is blocked.
A stroke happens when the blood supply to your brain is cut off. If your brain doesn't get enough blood to provide the oxygen and nutrients it needs, your brain cells will become damaged or die.
Angina is a symptom of coronary heart disease. Based on the Population Health Survey 2003/04, 1.6% of Hong Kong people aged 15 and above had doctor-diagnosed coronary heart disease.
Your heart will usually beat between 60 and 100 times a minute when you're resting. There are certain times when it may beat faster or slower than this, for example if you're exercising or depending on how fit you are.
Coronary heart disease happens when fatty deposits build up on the walls of your coronary arteries. This is known as atherosclerosis.
Heart failure is the result of damage to your heart muscle. This damage may weaken your heart, but it doesn't mean that your heart is about to stop. Your heart's pumping action may be weaker, which makes it more difficult to pump as much blood and oxygen as you need around your body.
