Heart health and blood vessels
Blood pressure
Heart health and blood vessels
High blood pressure
by Dr Doug McKechnie, MRCGP
Heart health and blood vessels
High cholesterol
by Dr Rosalyn Adleman, MRCGP
Treatment and medication
Statins and other lipid-lowering medicines
by Dr Rachel Hudson, MRCGP
Heart health and blood vessels
Bradycardia
by Dr Colin Tidy, MRCGP
Blood pressure
High or low blood pressure can affect your health. Learn how it’s measured, what causes abnormal readings, and how to manage it with lifestyle or medication.
In this topic:Blood pressureHigh blood pressure
Blood vessels
Blood vessels carry nutrients and oxygen around your body. Learn how they work, what can go wrong, and how to keep your circulatory system healthy.
In this topic:Blood vesselsArteriesVeins
- Buerger's disease
- Granulomatosis with polyangiitis
- Henoch-Schönlein purpura
- Osler-Weber-Rendu syndrome
Arteries
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm
- Aortic dissection
- Coarctation of the aorta
- Coronary artery spasm
- Giant Cell Arteritis
- Peripheral arterial disease
- Peripheral vasodilators
- Pulmonary embolism
- Raynaud's phenomenon
Veins
- Deep vein thrombosis
- Superficial thrombophlebitis
- Varicose eczema
- Varicose veins
- Venous leg ulcers
Heart attack
A heart attack happens when blood flow to the heart is blocked. Learn to recognise the warning signs and understand what treatments improve survival and recovery.
Heart disease
Heart disease includes conditions affecting the heart’s structure and function. Discover the symptoms, risks, and lifestyle changes that can protect your heart.
- Acute coronary syndrome
- Angina
- Aortic regurgitation
- Aortic stenosis
- Aspirin and other antiplatelet medicines
- Atrial septal defect
- Beta-blockers
- Cardiovascular disease
- Cardiovascular health risk assessment
- Congenital heart disease
- Dilated cardiomyopathy
- Heart disease
- Heart valve disease
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
- Microvascular angina
- Mitral regurgitation
- Mitral stenosis
- Nitrate medication
- Ventricular septal defect
Heart failure
When the heart struggles to pump blood, it’s called heart failure. Learn about the causes, symptoms, and treatments that help manage the condition.
Heart infections
Infections can affect the heart lining or valves. Learn the symptoms of heart infections and how early diagnosis and treatment improve outcomes.
Heart palpitations
Palpitations feel like a racing or fluttering heart. Discover common causes, when to seek help, and how doctors check your heart rhythm.
Heart tests
Heart tests include ECGs, echocardiograms and stress tests. Learn how these investigations help diagnose heart conditions and guide treatment.
High cholesterol
Too much cholesterol in your blood increases heart disease risk. Learn how it’s diagnosed and treated, and how diet and exercise can help lower it.
Stroke
A stroke happens when blood flow to the brain is blocked. Discover the signs, urgent response steps, and treatments that help with recovery.