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 for cosmetic reasons by a variety of methods, such as excision, laser, chemical, or freezing.

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. 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.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a form of coronary heart disease (CHD) and is where blood flow to the heart muscle is slowed down or blocked, reducing the amount of oxygen available for the heart to function normally. The typical cause of CAD happens gradually over many years, where the walls of the heart arteries slowly become ‘clogged up’ with deposits of fatty substances, called atheroma. This process is called atherosclerosis and the atheroma is often known as ‘plaques’. These plaques can build up and cause the vessels to become inflamed and damaged, causing a partial or complete blockage, and conditions like angina, heart attacks and heart failure may follow as a result. CAD develops over a lengthy period of time – usually years or decades – which can mean it takes time before symptoms develop. Some damage can be repaired with lifestyle changes and medication, surgery may be suggested in some cases, but some damage may be permanent. Many factors can cause atherosclerosis including high cholesterol levels, diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, smoking and drinking too much alcohol.

Acute heart failure is when the heart is suddenly unable to pump enough blood around the body. The muscles of the heart may become too stiff or too weak to pump blood as effectively as usual.

Low blood pressure (BP), or hypotension, can cause symptoms of feeling lightheaded, dizzy, feeling a bit weak, sick, disoriented, 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 less than 120/80 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.

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 recognize the signs of a stroke and call for help quickly. Although strokes can occur at any age – even in the very young – the vast majority of cases are in the elderly. 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 911 in the US) 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.

Arteries are the blood vessels that carry oxygen from the heart to the rest of the body. Atherosclerosis is a process in which substances build up in these arteries in the form of plaques, narrowing them and reducing their ability to transport oxygen to the cells that need it.  Plaques are made up of all the bad fats, cholesterol, and other deposits, and this can happen anywhere in your body - heart, brain, kidneys, eyes, etc. Occasionally, plaque can break off and travel to cause an obstruction or blockage of other vessels, causing a clot. A combination of the above events can lead to heart attacks and strokes. Atherosclerosis is associated with aging but occurs due to high cholesterol, poor diet, and lifestyle over long periods.

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).