Heart Problems

Learn about heart problems

You may already know that heart disease is the leading cause of death in Canada. Our topics can teach you more about the heart and about how to prevent or live with a heart condition. From heart defects in babies to heart failure in older people, we cover a wide range of heart problems.

More Information

• Health Topics
• Medical Tests
• Medications
• Make a Wise Decision
• Take Action

Health Topics

Acute Coronary Syndrome

Anesthesia

Angioplasty for coronary artery disease

Angioplasty with stent placement for heart attack and unstable angina

Aortic Valve Regurgitation

Aortic Valve Stenosis

Atherectomy for coronary artery disease

Atrial Fibrillation

Bradycardia (Slow Heart Rate)

Cardiac Rehabilitation

Care at the End of Life

Catheter ablation for a fast heart rate

Catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation

Central Venous Catheters

Change in Heartbeat

Chest Pain

Chromium

Coenzyme Q10

Congenital Heart Defects

Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery

Coronary artery bypass surgery for coronary artery disease

Coronary Artery Disease

Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Electrical cardioversion (defibrillation) for a fast heart rate

Electrical cardioversion for atrial fibrillation

Endocarditis

Heart Attack and Unstable Angina

Heart Failure

Heart Murmur

Heart transplant

Heart valve repair or replacement for mitral valve regurgitation or prolapse

High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)

High Cholesterol

High Triglycerides

High-Normal Blood Pressure

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD)

Interactive Tool: Are You at Risk for a Heart Attack?

Interactive Tool: How Does Smoking Increase Your Risk of Heart Attack?

Kawasaki Disease

Lipid Panel

Low-Dose ASA Therapy

Maze procedure for atrial fibrillation

Mitral Valve Prolapse

Mitral Valve Regurgitation

Mitral Valve Stenosis

Organ Transplant

Pacemaker for atrial fibrillation

Pacemaker for bradycardia

Pacemaker placement

Pericarditis

Pulmonary Embolism

Restrictive Cardiomyopathy

Safety Tips When Taking Anticoagulants

Scarlet Fever

Supraventricular Tachycardia

Using Nitroglycerin for Sudden Chest Pain

Ventricular Tachycardia

Writing an Advance Directive

Medical Tests

Ambulatory Electrocardiogram

Angiogram

Brain Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) Test

Cardiac Blood Pool Scan

Cardiac Calcium Scoring

Cardiac Catheterization

Cardiac Enzyme Studies

Cardiac Perfusion Scan

Catecholamines in Blood

Catecholamines in Urine

Chest X-ray

Cholesterol and Triglycerides Tests

Computed Tomography (CT) Scan of the Body

C-Reactive Protein (CRP)

Echocardiogram

Electrocardiogram

Exercise Electrocardiogram

Home Blood Pressure Test

Homocysteine

Pericardial Drainage

Renin Assay

Medications

ACE inhibitors for high blood pressure

Aldosterone receptor antagonists: Diuretics for heart failure

Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs)

Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) for high blood pressure

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors for coronary artery disease

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors for heart attack and unstable angina

Antiarrhythmic medications for atrial fibrillation

Antiarrhythmic medications for fast heart rates

Antiarrhythmics for congenital heart defects

Antibiotics for heart valve disease

Antibiotics for Lyme disease

Anticoagulants for aortic and mitral valve regurgitation

Anticoagulants for atrial fibrillation

Anticoagulants for coronary artery disease

Anticoagulants for heart attack and unstable angina

Anticoagulants for pulmonary embolism

ASA for coronary artery disease

ASA for heart attack and unstable angina

Beta-blockers for atrial fibrillation

Beta-blockers for coronary artery disease

Beta-blockers for fast heart rates

Beta-blockers for heart attack and unstable angina

Beta-blockers for heart failure

Beta-blockers for high blood pressure

Beta-blockers for mitral valve prolapse

Bile acid sequestrants for high cholesterol

Calcium channel blockers for atrial fibrillation

Calcium channel blockers for coronary artery disease

Calcium channel blockers for fast heart rates

Calcium channel blockers for heart attack and unstable angina

Calcium channel blockers for high blood pressure

Cardiac glycosides for congenital heart defects

Digoxin for atrial fibrillation

Digoxin for fast heart rates

Digoxin for heart failure

Digoxin for mitral valve regurgitation

Diuretics for congenital heart defects

Diuretics for heart failure

Diuretics for high blood pressure

Fibric acid derivatives for high cholesterol

Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors for heart attack and unstable angina

Morphine sulfate

Nicotinic acid for high cholesterol

Nitrates for coronary artery disease

Nitrates for heart attack and unstable angina

Other antiplatelet medications for heart attack and unstable angina

Oxygen therapy for heart failure

Thrombolytics for heart attack and unstable angina

Vasodilators for congenital heart defects

Vasodilators for heart failure

Vasodilators for high blood pressure

Vasodilators for mitral valve regurgitation

Make a Wise Decision

Should I have an angiogram to test for coronary artery disease?

Should I have angioplasty for stable angina?

Should I have surgery to replace my aortic valve?

Should I replace my aortic valve with a mechanical or tissue valve?

Should I take anticoagulants to prevent stroke?

Should I take medicine for high blood pressure?

Should I take statins for high cholesterol?

Should I try cardioversion for atrial fibrillation?

Take Action

Activity and exercise for heart failure

Avoiding triggers for sudden heart failure

Eating less sodium when you have heart failure

Exercising for a healthy heart

Monitoring your blood pressure at home

Taking anticoagulants for atrial fibrillation

Taking your high blood pressure medications properly

Taking your medicines properly when you have heart failure

Tips for following the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet

Watching your fluid intake when you have heart failure

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Author:	Nancy Reid	Last Updated: May 26, 2006
Medical Review:	Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine Steven L. Schneider, MD - Family Medicine
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