Angina – Severe chest pain that can be felt as pressure or discomfort. It is caused by an inadequate flow of blood through the blood vessels of the heart.

There are two types of angina:

1. Stable angina: occurs at regular intervals, usually brought on by physical exertion or emotional stress.
2. Unstable angina: occurs at random, often before a heart attack.

Atherosclerosis – A build-up of plaque in the artery, which can rupture causing a clot to form.

Atherothrombosis – Occurs when a blood clot forms on fatty deposits in the artery wall and can lead to a heart attack or stroke.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) – Any abnormal condition where the heart and blood vessels do not function normally, such as heart attack or angina.

Clot – A collection of platelets, other blood cells and proteins that normally serves to stop bleeding. Clots forming in arteries can block blood flow and cause heart attack and stroke.

Coronary heart disease (CHD) – a type of cardiovascular disease caused by the build-up of plaque in the arteries of the heart, reducing the supply of blood to the heart. CHD includes a number of specific disorders such as heart attack and angina. It is also known as Coronary Artery Disease (CAD).

Heart attack – Damage to heart muscle that usually occurs when an artery supplying blood to the heart is suddenly blocked by a clot.

Ischaemic event – An episode (such as heart attack or stroke) which is caused by an obstruction in an artery that reduces the flow of oxygenated blood to an organ.

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) – A disease in which the arteries to the limbs become narrow from plaque, which may restrict the flow of blood.

Plaque – A build up of cholesterol and other fatty materials in the walls of the arteries.

Platelets – Blood cells important for controlling bleeding, but also playing a critical role in causing blood clots leading to heart attack and stroke.

Stroke – Damage to the brain that usually occurs when an artery supplying blood to the brain is suddenly blocked by a clot.

Transient ischaemic attack (TIA) – a “mini stroke” involving the sudden onset of symptoms such as loss of sensation, movement, speech, mental function or vision. A TIA is caused by a temporary lack of blood flow to the brain. It differs from a stroke in that the signs and symptoms disappear completely within a day and often last only 10 to 15 minutes – until the blood flow resumes. A TIA is a strong warning sign for future stroke.