Heart and Circulation

Learn about your heart and blood circulation

It's not always easy to tell if you're having problems with blood vessels in your heart and your body. You can't feel plaque building up in your arteries. That's a scary thought for anyone who is concerned about high blood pressure or high cholesterol. Plaque buildup can have long-term effects on your heart and blood flow. And it doesn't just affect your heart. Plaque buildup can happen in your leg arteries too. Our topics can help you see what tests, lifestyle changes, and treatments are right for you.

To learn more, explore these topics:

High Cholesterol
High Blood Pressure
Cholesterol and Triglycerides Tests
Ischemia
Peripheral Arterial Disease of the Legs
Statins: Should I Take Them?
High Blood Pressure: Should I Take Medicine?

Health Topics
Medical Tests
Make a Wise Decision
Take Action

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Surgery
Acute Coronary Syndrome
Alan's Story: Coping With Change After a Heart Attack
Alcoholic Cardiomyopathy
American Heart Association Healthy Diet Guidelines
Angina
Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers (ARBs)
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitors
Anticoagulants
Antiplatelets
Aortic Aneurysm
Aortic Dissection
Aortic Valve Regurgitation
Aortic Valve Regurgitation: Deciding About Surgery
Aortic Valve Replacement Surgery
Aortic Valve Stenosis
Aortobifemoral Bypass Surgery
Arrhythmias and Sexual Activity
Arturo's Story: Getting Support for Making a Change
Aspirin to Prevent Heart Attack and Stroke
Atherosclerosis
Atrial Fibrillation
Atrial Fibrillation and Daily Life
Automated Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring
Bed Rest in Pregnancy
Beta-Blockers
Biventricular Pacemaker
Blood Clots in the Leg Veins
Blood Pressure Numbers: When to Get Help
Blood Pressure Screening
Bradycardia (Slow Heart Rate)
Cardiac Arrest
Cardiac Cachexia
Cardiac Device Monitoring
Cardiac Output
Cardiac Rehabilitation
Cardiac Rehabilitation Team
Cardiac Rehabilitation: Emotional Health Benefits
Cardiac Rehabilitation: Exercise
Cardiac Rehabilitation: Home Program
Cardiac Rehabilitation: Hospital Program
Cardiac Rehabilitation: Maintenance Program
Cardiac Rehabilitation: Monitoring Your Body's Response to Exercise
Cardiac Rehabilitation: Outpatient Program
Cardiac Rehabilitation: Weight and Resistance Training
Cardiomyopathy
Carotid Artery Disease
Carotid Artery Stenting
Carotid Endarterectomy
Catheter Ablation for a Fast Heart Rate
Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation
Central Vascular Access Device (CVAD)
Central Vascular Access Device (CVAD): Changing the Dressing
Central Vascular Access Device (CVAD): Flushing
Change in Heartbeat
Chest Problems
Chilblains (Perniosis)
Cholesterol and Triglycerides: Eating Fish and Fish Oil
Cholesterol in Children and Teens
Cholesterol Treatment Guidelines
Clopidogrel and Genetic Testing
Cold Hands: Home Treatment
Compression Stockings for Varicose Veins
Congenital Heart Defect Types
Congenital Heart Disease in Adults
Congenital Heart Disease in Children
Congenital Heart Disease: Caring for Your Child
Conserving Your Energy
Coronary Angioplasty
Coronary Arteries and Heart Function
Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery
Coronary Artery Disease
Coronary Artery Disease and Alcohol
Coronary Artery Disease: Family History
Coronary Artery Disease: Helping a Loved One
CPR Quick Reference
DASH Diet Sample Menu
Deep Vein Thrombosis
Depression and Anxiety When You Have Coronary Artery Disease
Diabetes: Amputation for Foot Problems
Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Diuretics and Potassium Supplements
Driving a Car After a Stroke
Drug-Eluting Stents
Eclampsia (Seizures) and Preeclampsia
Electrical Cardioversion for a Fast Heart Rate
Electrical Cardioversion for Atrial Fibrillation
Electrical System of the Heart
Endocarditis
Endovascular Repair for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
Fainting
Familial Lipid Disorders
Fast Heart Rate
Femoral-Tibial Bypass Surgery
Femoropopliteal Bypass Surgery
Giant Cell Arteritis
Heart Attack
Heart Attack and Stroke in Women: Reducing Your Risk
Heart Attack and Stroke Risk Screening
Heart Attack: How to Prevent Another One
Heart Block
Heart Failure
Heart Failure and Sexual Activity
Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction (Diastolic Heart Failure)
Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction (Systolic Heart Failure)
Heart Failure: Checking Your Weight
Heart Failure: Compensation by the Heart and Body
Heart Failure: Tips for Easier Breathing
Heart Failure: Track Your Weight, Food, and Sodium
Heart Murmur
Heart Rhythm Problems and Driving
Heart Rhythm Problems: Diary of Symptoms
Heart Rhythm Problems: Symptoms
Heart Tests: When Do You Need Them?
Heart Transplant
Heart Valve Disease
Heart-Healthy Eating
Heart-Healthy Eating: Fish and Fish Oil
Heart-Healthy Lifestyle
HELLP Syndrome
Hemorrhagic Stroke
High Blood Pressure
High Blood Pressure During Pregnancy
High Blood Pressure: Nutrition Tips
High Blood Pressure: Over-the-Counter Medicines to Avoid
High Cholesterol
High Cholesterol: How a Dietitian Can Help
High Triglycerides
Home Blood Pressure Log
How the Heart Works
How to Find Sodium
Hyperkalemia
Hypertensive Emergency
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Types
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: Risk of Sudden Death
Hypokalemia
Hypothermia and Cold Temperature Exposure
Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD)
Interactive Tool: What Is Your Target Heart Rate?
Interactive Tools
Intermittent Claudication
Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump
Ischemia
Isolated Systolic High Blood Pressure
Izzy's Story: Living With the DASH Diet
Joan's Story: Coping With Depression and Anxiety From Heart Failure
Joe's Story: Changing My Lifestyle
Kawasaki Disease
Laser Treatment for Varicose Veins
Leadless Pacemaker
Left Ventricular Hypertrophy (LVH)
Leg Amputation
Leg Aneurysm
Leg Problems, Noninjury
Leriche Syndrome
Linda's Story: Quitting Smoking Lowers My Risk
Living With More Than One Health Problem
Low Blood Pressure (Hypotension)
Lyme Disease
Manage Stress for Your Heart
Maze Procedure
Mediterranean Diet
Metabolic Syndrome
Mitral Valve Prolapse
Mitral Valve Regurgitation
Mitral Valve Regurgitation: Repair or Replace the Valve?
Mitral Valve Repair Surgery
Mitral Valve Replacement Surgery
Mitral Valve Stenosis
Mitral Valve Stenosis: Repair or Replacement?
Modify Recipes for a Heart-Healthy Diet
Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C)
Myxoma Tumors of the Heart
Normal Vital Signs for Adults
Organ Transplant
Oxygen Therapy
Pacemaker
Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO)
People Who Need Antibiotics to Prevent Endocarditis
Pericarditis
Peripartum Cardiomyopathy
Peripheral Arterial Angioplasty
Peripheral Arterial Disease
Peripheral Arterial Disease and Exercise
Phlebectomy
Physical Activity Helps Prevent a Heart Attack and Stroke
Physical Therapy
Polymyalgia Rheumatica
Postoperative Problems
Post-Thrombotic Syndrome
Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)
Preeclampsia
Pregnancy: Varicose Veins
Premature Ventricular Contractions (PVCs)
Pressure Injuries
Pressure Injuries From Scuba Diving
Preventing Deep Vein Thrombosis From Travel
Pulmonary Embolism
Quick Tips: Taking Charge of Your Angina
Radiofrequency Ablation for Varicose Veins
Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE)
Raynaud's Phenomenon
Renal Artery Stenosis
Restrictive Cardiomyopathy
Resuming Sexual Activity After a Heart Attack
Rheumatic Fever and the Heart
Right-Sided Heart Failure
Risk Factors for Coronary Artery Disease
Sally's Story: Avoiding Metabolic Syndrome
Sclerotherapy
Secondary High Blood Pressure
Self-Care After a Stroke
Sex and Your Heart
Shock
Sick Sinus Syndrome
Smoking and Coronary Artery Disease
Sodium Record
Statins
Stroke
Stroke Rehabilitation
Stroke: Behavior Changes
Stroke: Bladder and Bowel Problems
Stroke: Changes in Emotions
Stroke: Dealing With Depression
Stroke: Getting Dressed
Stroke: How to Prevent Another One
Stroke: Memory Tips
Stroke: Perception Changes
Stroke: Preventing Injury in Affected Limbs
Stroke: Problems With Ignoring the Affected Side
Stroke: Speech and Language Problems
Stroke: Your Rehabilitation Team
Sudden Heart Failure
Supraventricular Tachycardia
Temporal Artery Biopsy
Thrombolytics for Heart Attack and Stroke
Tony's Story: Taking Medicine for High Cholesterol
Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI)
Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)
Turning Off Your ICD
Types of Bradycardia
Tyrell's Story: Taking Pills for High Blood Pressure
Understanding Virtual Care (Telemedicine)
Using Nitroglycerin for Angina
Vagal Maneuvers for Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT)
Valvuloplasty for Aortic Valve Stenosis
Valvuloplasty for Mitral Valve Stenosis
Varicose Veins
Vein Ligation and Stripping
Venous Insufficiency
Venous Skin Ulcer
Venous Skin Ulcers: Home Treatment
Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) for Heart Failure
Ventricular Tachycardia
Warfarin and Vitamin K
Weight and Coronary Artery Disease
What to Do if Your Cardiac Device Is Recalled
When to Have a Cholesterol Test
Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome

Allen Test
Ambulatory Electrocardiogram (EKG)
Angiogram
Angiogram of the Head and Neck
Angiogram of the Lung
Ankle-Brachial Index Test
Arterial Blood Gases (ABG) Test
Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) Test
Brain Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) Test
Cardiac Blood Pool Scan
Cardiac Catheterization
Cardiac Catheterization in Children
Cardiac Enzyme Studies
Cardiac Perfusion Scan
Catecholamines in Blood Test
Catecholamines in Urine Test
Chest X-Ray
Cholesterol and Triglycerides Tests
Computed Tomography (CT) Angiogram
Computed Tomography (CT) Scan of the Body
Coronary Calcium Scan
Creatine Kinase Test
Doppler Ultrasound
Echocardiogram
Electrocardiogram (EKG)
Electrophysiology (EP) Study
Exercise Electrocardiogram (EKG)
High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hs-CRP) Test
Home Blood Pressure Test
Lyme Disease Test
Magnetic Resonance Angiogram (MRA)
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Myoglobin Test
Pericardiocentesis
Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
Pulse Measurement
Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT)
Stress Echocardiogram
Tilt Table Test
Transesophageal Echocardiogram
Transthoracic Echocardiogram
Ventriculogram

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: Should I Get a Screening Test?
Advance Care Planning: Should I Receive CPR and Life Support?
Aspirin: Should I Take Daily Aspirin to Prevent a Heart Attack or Stroke?
Atrial Fibrillation: Should I Have Catheter Ablation?
Atrial Fibrillation: Should I Take an Anticoagulant to Prevent Stroke?
Coronary Artery Disease: Should I Have an Angiogram?
Coronary Artery Disease: Should I Have Angioplasty for Stable Angina?
Coronary Artery Disease: Should I Have Bypass Surgery?
Heart Failure: Should I Get an Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD)?
Heart Rate Problems: Should I Get a Pacemaker?
Heart Rhythm Problems: Should I Get an Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD)?
High Blood Pressure: Should I Take Medicine?
Peripheral Arterial Disease: Should I Have a Procedure or Surgery?
Statins: Should I Take Them to Prevent a Heart Attack or Stroke?
Stroke Prevention: Should I Have a Carotid Artery Procedure?
Varicose Veins: Should I Have a Surgical Procedure?

Blood Thinners Other Than Warfarin: Taking Them Safely
Compression Stockings: How to Use Them
Coronary Artery Disease: Exercising for a Healthy Heart
Healthy Eating: Cutting Unhealthy Fats From Your Diet
Healthy Eating: Eating Less Sodium
Heart Arrhythmias and Exercise
Heart Failure Daily Action Plan
Heart Failure: Activity and Exercise
Heart Failure: Avoiding Medicines That Make Symptoms Worse
Heart Failure: Watching Your Fluids
Heart Health: Walking for a Healthy Heart
High Blood Pressure: Checking Your Blood Pressure at Home
High Blood Pressure: Taking Medicines Properly
High Blood Pressure: Using the DASH Diet
High Cholesterol: Making Lifestyle Changes
ICD: Living Well With It
Low-Salt Diets: Eating Out
Oxygen Therapy: Using Oxygen at Home
Pacemaker: Living Well With It
Warfarin: Taking Your Medicine Safely

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Current as of: July 31, 2024

Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff

Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.

Heart and Circulation

Learn about your heart and blood circulation

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