Coronary heart disease (CHD) occurs when the supply of oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscles is blocked or interrupted. This can be due to a steady build-up of plaque (atheroma) in the coronary arteries that can come from a poorly balanced diet with too much low-density cholesterol (LDL). The main symptom is angina, but when a coronary artery becomes blocked, it can cause a heart attack, which could be fatal.
A stroke occurs when the blood supply to the brain is reduced. The brain relies on a steady supply of oxygen and nutrients from the blood flowing from the heart. Brain cells will die without oxygen, leading to brain damage and possibly death.
Peripheral arterial disease (or peripheral vascular disease) happens if blood flow to the legs (sometimes the arms) is blocked. The main symptoms are pain in the thighs, hips, or calves when walking.
Aortic aneurysm, where the wall of the aorta (the blood vessel that carries blood from the heart back to the rest of the body) is weakened and bulges outwards. It is usually experienced as chest, back, or abdomen pain.