Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD)
Understanding risk and reducing it over time
Heart disease and stroke remain the leading causes of death in the UK and across the developed world. What many people do not realise is that most heart attacks and many strokes share the same underlying cause.
That cause is atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, usually shortened to ASCVD.
ASCVD develops silently over many years. It often causes no symptoms until the moment it declares itself as a heart attack, a stroke, or sudden death. The reassuring news is that this process is slow, measurable, and, in many cases, preventable.
This section of the site is designed to help you understand ASCVD at your own pace, decide how proactive you wish to be, and see how prevention can fit into your life without anxiety or excess.
Start here:
understanding ASCVD
A practical takeaway
If you are new to this topic, the best place to begin is our core explainer.
This article explains:
what atherosclerosis actually is
why heart attacks and strokes often come without warning
why traditional cholesterol thinking falls short
which factors matter most over the long term
what sensible action looks like
ASCVD explained: the real cause of most heart attacks and many strokes, and what to do about it
Many people want something clear and usable rather than a long article.
If that sounds like you, you may find our short guide helpful.
This two-page summary covers:
the key tests worth knowing about
sensible priorities for prevention
how proactive different people choose to be
when individual guidance can help
Download our practical two-page PDF guide for reducing heart attack and stroke risk
How we help at the
Health Mapping Clinic
Some people are happy to read, reflect, and take general steps on their own. Others prefer individual guidance.
At Health Mapping Clinic in London, we help people understand their cardiovascular risk at a deeper level and take proportionate action to reduce it over time.
This typically involves:
assessing long-term risk rather than short-term calculators
arranging and interpreting appropriate blood tests
considering imaging where it meaningfully changes decisions
supporting ongoing risk management as life and priorities change
If you would like to understand what working with us looks like, you can learn more by clicking below.
How do I avoid a condition that runs in my family?
Explore more topics
If you would like to go deeper into particular areas, these pages explore individual aspects of ASCVD in more detail.
Each of these pages can be read on its own. Together, they build a clearer picture of how cardiovascular disease develops and how it can often be delayed or prevented.
Heart attack: what it really is, why it often comes without warning, and how to reduce your risk
Stroke: understanding causes, early risk, and prevention
ApoB explained: why particle number matters more than cholesterol
Lipoprotein(a) explained: an inherited risk factor worth knowing about
Cholesterol: why “good” and “bad” is an oversimplification
Cholesterol, triglycerides, and transport particles (plain English)
Lipoproteins explained: ApoA, ApoB, triglycerides, and why particle number matters
CT coronary angiography: when imaging helps and when it doesn’t
Prevention and longevity
Although this section focuses on heart disease and stroke, the principles explored here extend beyond the cardiovascular system.
The same processes that drive ASCVD are closely linked to metabolic disease, cognitive decline, and other conditions associated with ageing.
Understanding and managing cardiovascular risk is therefore not just about avoiding events in the future. For many people, it also leads to better energy, clearer thinking, and a stronger foundation for long-term health.
You can explore our other disease-group sections from the homepage when you are ready.
Ready to take the next step?
Option 1: Download the 2-page heart attack and stroke prevention guide
A clear, practical summary covering key tests, sensible priorities, and when individual guidance can help.
Option 2: Book a cardiovascular prevention consultation
A calm, one-to-one discussion about your long-term risk, which tests may be helpful, and how proactive you may wish to be.
CT coronary angiography: when imaging helps and when it doesn’t
Home → Heart disease & stroke → CT coronary angiography CT coronary angiography, often shortened to CTCA, is a heart scan that allows doctors to look directly at the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle. It is sometimes described as a more detailed evolution of the calcium...