Lipids are fat compounds found in the body that include cholesterol and triglycerides. They are used for many important functions, but sometimes there is too much of a good thing! Here we dive into a bit more detail on what exactly is good and bad cholesterol. Cholesterol is a waxy, fatlike substance we all have in our blood, and it’s essential for good health, helping to store energy and with other vital body functions such as creating healthy cell membranes. However, too much of the ‘bad’ kind of cholesterol can increase your risk of conditions such as heart disease or stroke. There are two main ways we make cholesterol – from our body and from what we eat. Body-generated cholesterol is made in our liver and it helps your body build cells and make vitamins and certain hormones. We make all the cholesterol we need through this process. Dietary cholesterol comes from the food we eat, particularly products like meat, eggs, cheese and milk.

A deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot that develops in a large vein, usually in the lower leg, and requires treatment to ease symptoms and prevent clots from spreading to other areas in the body. A pulmonary embolism (PE) is the most serious complication, where part of the DVT breaks off and a clot lodges in one of the blood vessels going to the lungs, blocking the blood supply. This can cause difficulty in breathing and collapse – it's a life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical attention. It’s believed that around 900,000 people in the US have a DVT or PE every year.

If you suspect that you or someone else is having a stroke, phone the emergency services immediately and request an ambulance. During a stroke, every minute is vital to reduce the brain damage that a stroke can cause. Knowing the signs and symptoms of a stroke can save someone’s life.

Hypertension refers to high blood pressure (BP) in your arteries, the vessels that carry oxygen to your tissues and organs which enables them to function. If left untreated, hypertension puts you at a 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 the narrowing of the arteries, which, over time, can damage 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 the 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).

Hypertension, or high blood pressure (BP), is a concept some patients struggle with. You’re told you have a health condition, and yet you feel well, it doesn’t cause you any symptoms, and you don’t feel any different once treatment is started. You’re buying into the concept that looking after yourself (with lifestyle modifications and medication) will protect you from a serious illness such as kidney disease, strokes, or heart attacks in many years to come. Perhaps it’s best viewed as paying into your pension – you won’t ever feel like you’re reaping the rewards, but you’d kick yourself if you hadn’t invested.

Your blood pressure reading has two numbers, one 'above' the other - for example, 135/85. The higher number (called the systolic) is a measure of the pressure inside your arteries when your heart pumps blood out. The lower number (called the diastolic) is a measure of the pressure inside your arteries when your heart is resting between heartbeats. Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). If you’re found to have high blood pressure (BP) on one occasion, you should make an appointment with your doctor or practice nurse to have this rechecked. It’s not diagnosed based on just one reading – they want to have a few. They will likely lend you a BP machine (or you may have one at home) and advise you to keep a BP diary, with a week of readings taken at different times of the day. Hypertension is diagnosed on what the majority of readings show. A BP machine gives you a fraction number – if home readings are consistently over 140/90 mmHg, they may suggest starting treatment.

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 form inside of them. 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.

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.

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 color (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.

Statins are a type of medication used to lower your cholesterol. They work by converting the bad cholesterol in the blood. To learn more about statins and how they work read our article on Statins. In the US, there are three types of statins available on prescription. These are: First generation - pravastatin, lovastatin, & fluvastatin. These have the greatest risk of side effects. They are not so commonly used. Second generation - simvastatin & atorvastatin. Of these, atorvastatin is newer, more effective and has a lower side effect profile in comparison to simvastatin. Third generation - rosuvastatin & pitavastatin. They are effective and have a low side effect profile. All medicines can cause side effects. Statins are no different, but depending on which one you are one the risk of a side effect may be more likely. Below we will look at some of the main side effects you can experience. You should speak with your doctor for advice if you develop any bothersome side effects. Your doctor may want to lower your dose. Alternatively, they might switch you to another statin as side effects can vary.

There can be multiple causes of chest pain, depending on your age, family history, and any related medical conditions you have. One of the most serious is if you’re having a heart attack or a myocardial infarction (MI). Let’s take you through when to worry and what requires immediate action from any bystanders and urgent medical treatment.