Xanthelasma are fat deposits around the eyes, usually found near the inner corner of the eye and the inner upper eyelid. They tend to look slightly paler than the person's skin tone, and the lumps can vary in size. They are harmless themselves but can represent a high level of cholesterol (a type of fat) in the body, although this is not always the case. Higher levels of cholesterol in the body can increase your risk of heart problems. They do not need to be removed from around the eyes but can be removed privately for cosmetic reasons by a variety of methods from excision of the lumps to laser, chemical or freezing.

A stroke happens when blood flow to a part of the brain is cut off. Without blood, brain cells start dying within minutes. This makes the speed of treatment very important, so the most important thing that people can do is recognise the signs of a stroke and call for help quickly. Every year in the UK around 115,000 people have a stroke, and a further 30,000 have a recurrent stroke. Although strokes can occur at any age – even in the very young – the vast majority of cases are in the elderly. This means that in the UK about 1 in 100 of the over-75 population have a stroke every year. To remember the signs to identity a stroke, think “F-A-S-T”. F stands for face (face droop) A stands for arm (weakness in one or both arms) S stands for speech (trouble in speaking) T stands for time (immediately call the emergency number local to you, such as 999 in the UK). Other symptoms of stroke can be sudden confusion, blurred vision in one or both eyes, seeing double, dizziness or loss of balance and coordination, and a severe headache.

Named after the doctor who first described it in 1862, Raynaud's phenomenon – often just called Raynaud’s - is a condition that affects the circulation of blood in certain areas of the body, most often the fingers and toes, usually when exposed to the cold. It can cause the areas to change colour (white, blue and then red in an attack), become painful, numb, and restrict movement. It is a fairly common condition that affects women more than men and the most common type usually develops before the age of 30, sometimes running in families. It can be triggered by various factors like stress, cold weather (the most common trigger), and even excess caffeine. It is not usually a serious condition although it can affect people's quality of life, and sometimes can also be linked to other underlying medical conditions.

A pulmonary embolism (PE) is a clot blocking a blood vessel to the lungs. This threatens to stop you from breathing in oxygen to keep organs alive and stops you from getting rid of toxic carbon dioxide gas. With prompt recognition and treatment, most people recover from PEs. This can be life-threatening and requires immediate hospital admission.

Phlebitis (also known as superficial thrombophlebitis) occurs when the superficial veins in your skin become inflamed, with the potential of having a small blood clot inside of it. It typically occurs in the veins in your leg but it can occur in any vein in your body. Different things can trigger the inflammation. Trauma or injury to the vein (for example from a blood test), people with problems with their veins already (for example varicose veins or a previous blood clot), or people who have conditions that make their blood clot more easily. People who smoke, or are immobile, or have had major surgery are also more at risk.

Peripheral vascular disease (PVD) – also sometimes called peripheral arterial disease - is a disorder of the blood circulation that causes your vessels to become narrow and get blocked, thereby reducing the blood flow to organs. It often affects the lower legs and feet and is quite common, affecting around 1 in 5 men and 1 in 8 women in the UK over the age of 50. PVD is usually caused by the build-up of fatty deposits inside the walls of arteries and veins but infection and injury can also cause damage.

Panic attacks are sudden extreme episodes of anxiety that can happen out of the blue with no clear trigger. They are common with around 1 in 10 people experiencing them during their life. During a panic attack, your body has gone into "fight or flight" mode where adrenaline is released into your bloodstream. This causes physical changes where your heart starts racing and you’re breathing fast (hyperventilating).

Cardiovascular disease (CVD), also known as heart disease, is the collective name for conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels. It is a leading cause of death in the UK. It is caused by a build-up of plaque in the arteries of the heart, as well as arteries delivering blood and oxygen to the brain, kidneys and eyes. Plaque build-up puts these vessels at increased risk of obstruction within these vessels and clots within the blood. 

Low blood pressure (BP), or hypotension, can give symptoms of feeling lightheaded, dizziness, feeling a bit weak, feeling sick, disorientation, and suffering momentary blurred vision. It can cause you to faint. It may also cause no symptoms. It’s diagnosed when a BP machine gives a reading of less than 90/60 mmHg. A healthy BP should be 100-120/80-90 mmHg. You might have a slightly faster heart rate (the third number on the BP machine) to make up for the low BP, in order to keep blood flowing to your vital organs.

Hypertension refers to high blood pressure (BP) in your arteries, the vessels that carry oxygen to your tissues and organs to allow them to function. If left untreated, hypertension puts you at higher risk of having a stroke or heart attack. Pressure provides the pumping mechanism from the heart to this artery pipework around the body. If the pressure is too high, this causes narrowing of the arteries which, over time, can lead to damage to vital organs such as the heart, brain, kidneys and eyes. Think of it like limescale attacking your water pipes, until they narrow and become bumpy with deposits, making it harder for liquid to get through them. Eventually, the pipes may block entirely, which is what causes a heart attack. BP is measured by a machine – a soft cuff is attached to your upper arm, which inflates and gives a fraction reading: one number at the top (your systolic BP) and one at the bottom (your diastolic BP).

Hypercholesterolemia, commonly known as high cholesterol, is a condition characterised by elevated levels of cholesterol in the blood. This condition is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, including heart attacks and strokes. Understanding the causes, symptoms, risk factors, and dietary management of hypercholesterolemia is essential for maintaining heart health and preventing associated complications.

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) that carries oxygen-rich blood to the heart is blocked. If the blood supply is completely blocked, part of the heart muscle may be starved of oxygen, can become damaged and may die. The medical name for a heart attack is an acute myocardial infarction (MI). Although having a heart attack is very serious, the chances of survival are greatly increased if you are able to get to a hospital right away. A heart attack may also refer to a problem with the rhythm of the heart – an arrhythmia – that prevents it beating in synchrony to pump blood around the body effectively. Again, this can lead to a medical emergency.