Top of the pageLearning Center
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.
- Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening
- Acute Coronary Syndrome
- After a Stroke: Helping Your Family Adjust
- Alan's Story: Coping With Change After a Heart Attack
- Alcohol Increases the Risk of Cold Injury
- Alcoholic Cardiomyopathy
- Allen Test
- American Heart Association Healthy Diet Guidelines
- Angina
- Angioplasty for Coronary Artery Disease
- Angioplasty for Peripheral Arterial Disease of the Legs
- Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs)
- Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
- Anticoagulants
- Anticoagulants: What to Do if You Miss a Dose
- Antiplatelets
- Aortic Aneurysm
- Aortic Dissection
- Aortic Valve Regurgitation
- Aortic Valve Regurgitation: Deciding About Surgery
- Aortic Valve Replacement Surgery
- Aortic Valve Replacement: Minimally Invasive Surgery
- Aortic Valve Stenosis
- Aortic Valve Stenosis Complications
- Aortic Valve Stenosis: Treatment When You Have Another Heart Disease
- Aortobifemoral Bypass for Peripheral Arterial Disease
- Arrhythmias and Sexual Activity
- Arrhythmias: Foods That Affect Heart Rate
- 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
- Balloon Valvotomy for Mitral Valve Stenosis
- Balloon Valvuloplasty for Aortic Valve Stenosis
- Bed Rest in Pregnancy
- Beta-blockers
- Blood Clots in the Leg Veins
- Blood Pressure Numbers: When to Get Help
- Blood Pressure Screening
- Blood Tests for Preeclampsia
- Bradycardia (Slow Heart Rate)
- Brain Aneurysm: Endovascular Embolization
- 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: Lifestyle Changes
- Cardiac Rehabilitation: Maintenance Program
- Cardiac Rehabilitation: Medicine and Exercise
- Cardiac Rehabilitation: Monitoring Your Body's Response to Exercise
- Cardiac Rehabilitation: Outpatient Program
- Cardiac Rehabilitation: Weight and Resistance Training
- Cardiomyopathy
- Cardiovascular Syphilis
- Carotid Artery Disease
- Carotid Artery Procedures After a Stroke or TIA
- Carotid Artery Stenting
- Carotid Endarterectomy
- Catheter Ablation for a Fast Heart Rate
- Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation
- Central Venous Catheter: Changing the Dressing
- Central Venous Catheter: Flushing
- Central Venous Catheters
- Change in Heartbeat
- Chest Problems
- Chilblains (Perniosis)
- Cholesterol and Triglycerides: Eating Fish and Fish Oil
- Cholesterol in Children and Teens
- Cholesterol Treatment Guidelines
- Classification of Heart Failure
- Cold Hands: Home Treatment
- Compression Stockings for Deep Vein Thrombosis
- Compression Stockings for Varicose Veins
- Congenital Heart Defect Types
- Congenital Heart Defects
- Congenital Heart Defects in Adults
- Congenital Heart Defects That Cause Aortic Valve Stenosis
- Congenital Heart Defects: Caring for Your Child
- Congenital Heart Defects: Complications
- Congenital Heart Defects: Exercise and Sports
- Congenital Heart Defects: Pregnancy
- Congenital Heart Defects: Prostaglandins and Prostaglandin Inhibitors
- Coronary Arteries and Heart Function
- Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery: How It Is Done
- Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery: How to Prepare
- Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery: Recovering in the Hospital
- Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery: Self-Care for Recovery
- Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery: The Recovery Process
- Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery: What to Expect After You Go Home
- Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery
- Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery: Day One of Recovery
- Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery: Minimally Invasive Methods
- Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery: When You Arrive at the Hospital
- Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery: Your Medical Team
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Coronary Artery Disease and Alcohol
- Coronary Artery Disease: Family History
- Coronary Artery Disease: Helping a Loved One
- Coronary Artery Disease: Prevention Myths
- Coronary Artery Disease: Roles of Different Doctors
- CPR Basics
- DASH Diet Sample Menu
- Deep Vein Thrombosis
- Depression and Coronary Artery Disease
- Diabetes: Amputation for Foot Problems
- Dilated Cardiomyopathy
- Diuretics and Potassium Supplements
- Drug-Eluting Stents
- Eclampsia (Seizures) and Preeclampsia
- Electrical Cardioversion (Defibrillation) for a Fast Heart Rate
- Electrical Cardioversion for Atrial Fibrillation
- Electrical System of the Heart
- Endocarditis
- Endovascular Repair for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
- Enjoying Life When You Have Heart Failure
- Exercising to Prevent a Stroke
- Fainting
- Familial Lipid Disorders
- Fast Heart Rate
- Femoral-Tibial Bypass Surgery for Peripheral Arterial Disease
- Femoropopliteal Bypass (Fem-Pop Bypass) for Peripheral Arterial Disease
- Genetic Test for Clopidogrel
- Giant Cell Arteritis
- Heart Arrhythmias and Exercise
- Heart Attack and Stroke in Women: Reducing Your Risk
- Heart Attack and Stroke Risk Screening
- Heart Attack and Unstable Angina
- Heart Attack: How to Prevent Another One
- Heart Block
- Heart Failure
- Heart Failure and Sexual Activity
- Heart Failure and Sleep Problems
- Heart Failure Complications
- Heart Failure Daily Action Plan
- Heart Failure Stages
- Heart Failure Symptoms
- Heart Failure Types
- Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction (Diastolic Heart Failure)
- Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction (Systolic Heart Failure)
- Heart Failure: Avoiding Colds and Flu
- Heart Failure: Compensation by the Heart and Body
- Heart Failure: Disease Management Programs
- Heart Failure: Eating a Healthy Diet
- Heart Failure: Less Common Symptoms
- Heart Failure: Tips for Caregivers
- Heart Failure: Tips for Easier Breathing
- Heart Murmur
- Heart Rhythm Problems and Driving
- Heart Rhythm Problems: Diary of Symptoms
- Heart Rhythm Problems: How to Travel Safely
- Heart Rhythm Problems: Symptoms
- Heart Tests: When Do You Need Them?
- Heart Transplant
- Heart Valve Disease
- Heart Valve Disease and Pregnancy
- Heart Valve Replacement Surgery
- Heart Valve Replacement Surgery: How to Prepare
- Heart Valve Replacement Surgery: Life After Surgery
- Heart Valve Surgery: Recovery
- Heart-Healthy Eating
- Heart-Healthy Eating: Fish
- Heart-Healthy Lifestyle
- HELLP Syndrome and Preeclampsia
- Helping a Loved One After Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery
- Hemorrhagic Stroke
- High Blood Pressure
- High Blood Pressure During Pregnancy
- High Blood Pressure in African Americans
- High Blood Pressure, Transient Ischemic Attack, and Stroke
- High Blood Pressure: Nutrition Tips
- High Blood Pressure: Over-the-Counter Medicines to Avoid
- High Cholesterol
- High Cholesterol: Effect of Food on Cholesterol
- High Cholesterol: Healthy Food Choices
- High Cholesterol: How a Dietitian Can Help
- High Triglycerides
- High-Output Heart Failure
- How the Heart Works
- How to Find Sodium
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Types
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: Risk of Sudden Death
- Hypothermia and Cold Temperature Exposure
- Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD)
- Interactive Tool: How Does Smoking Increase Your Risk of Heart Attack?
- 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
- Joyce's Story: Feeling Better With a Pacemaker
- Kawasaki Disease
- Laparoscopic Surgery
- Laser Treatment for Varicose Veins
- Left Ventricular Hypertrophy (LVH)
- Leg Amputation
- Leg Aneurysm
- Leg Problems, Noninjury
- Leriche's Syndrome
- Linda's Story: Quitting Smoking Lowers My Risk
- Lipid Panel
- Living With More Than One Health Problem
- Low Blood Pressure (Hypotension)
- Lyme Disease
- Malignant High Blood Pressure
- Manage Stress for Your Heart
- Maze Procedure for Atrial Fibrillation
- Medicines to Prevent Abnormal Heart Rhythm in Heart Failure
- Mediterranean Diet
- Metabolic Syndrome
- Mitral Valve Disease: Heart Rhythm Problems
- Mitral Valve Prolapse
- Mitral Valve Regurgitation
- Mitral Valve Regurgitation and Exercise
- Mitral Valve Regurgitation Surgery: Repair or Replace the Valve?
- Mitral Valve Regurgitation: Severity
- Mitral Valve Repair Surgery (Commissurotomy) for Mitral Valve Stenosis
- Mitral Valve Replacement Surgery
- Mitral Valve Stenosis
- Mitral Valve Stenosis: Repair or Replacement?
- Modify Recipes for a Heart-Healthy Diet
- Monitoring and Medicines for Heart Failure
- Monitoring During Anesthesia
- Myxoma Tumors of the Heart
- Open Repair Surgery for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
- Organ Transplant
- Pacemaker for Bradycardia
- Pacemaker for Heart Failure (Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy)
- Paget's Disease and Heart Failure
- Paradoxical Embolism
- People Who Need Antibiotics to Prevent Endocarditis
- Pericarditis
- Peripheral Arterial Disease and Exercise
- Peripheral Arterial Disease of the Legs
- Peripheral Arterial Disease: Pulse and Blood Pressure Measurement
- 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 and the Increased Risk of Developing Blood Clots
- Pregnancy: Varicose Veins
- Premature Ventricular Contractions (PVCs)
- Pressure Injuries
- Pressure Injuries From Scuba Diving
- Pressure Injuries: Conditions That Affect Healing
- Pressure Injuries: Prevention and Treatment
- Pressure Injuries: Stages
- Preventing Deep Vein Thrombosis From Travel
- Procedures That May Require Antibiotics to Prevent Endocarditis
- Pulmonary Embolism
- Quick Tips: Taking Charge of Your Angina
- Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE)
- Raynaud's Phenomenon
- 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 for Varicose Veins
- Secondary High Blood Pressure
- Self-Care After a Stroke
- Sex and Your Heart
- Shock
- Sick Sinus Syndrome
- Signs of Abnormal Bleeding
- Skin Grafting for Venous Skin Ulcer
- Smoking and Coronary Artery Disease
- Smoking and Stroke Risk
- Smoking: Heart Attack and Stroke Risks
- Sodium and High Blood Pressure
- SPECT Image of the Heart
- Statins
- Stroke
- Stroke and TIA: Who Is Affected
- Stroke Rehabilitation
- Stroke Risk and Carotid Endarterectomy
- Stroke Symptoms
- Stroke: Behavior Changes
- Stroke: Bladder and Bowel Problems
- Stroke: Changes in Emotions
- Stroke: Common Disabilities
- Stroke: Dealing With Depression
- Stroke: Getting Dressed
- Stroke: Hesitant or Impulsive?
- Stroke: How to Prevent Another One
- Stroke: Life-Threatening Complications
- 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
- Supraventricular Tachycardia
- Temporal Artery Biopsy
- Thrombolytic Medicines for Pulmonary Embolism
- Thrombolytics for Heart Attack and Stroke
- Tilt Table Test
- Tony's Story: Taking Medicine for High Cholesterol
- Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement
- Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)
- Triggers of Sudden Heart Failure
- Turning Off Your ICD
- Types of Bradycardia
- Types of Supraventricular Tachycardia
- Tyrell's Story: Taking Pills for High Blood Pressure
- Using Nitroglycerin for Angina
- Vagal Maneuvers for Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT)
- Varicose Veins
- Varicose Veins Home Treatment
- Varicose Veins: Phlebectomy or Stab Avulsion
- Varicose Veins: Radiofrequency Ablation
- Vein Ligation and Stripping
- Venous Insufficiency
- Venous Skin Ulcer
- Venous Skin Ulcers: Home Treatment
- Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) for Heart Failure
- Ventricular Tachycardia
- Ventriculogram
- 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
- Ambulatory Electrocardiogram
- Angiogram
- Angiogram of the Head and Neck
- Angiogram of the Lung
- Arterial Blood Gases
- Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST)
- Brain Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) Test
- Cardiac Blood Pool Scan
- 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
- Computed Tomography Angiogram (CT Angiogram)
- Coronary Calcium Scan
- Creatine Kinase
- Doppler Ultrasound
- Echocardiogram
- Electrocardiogram
- Electrophysiology Study
- Exercise Electrocardiogram
- High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein
- Home Blood Pressure Test
- Lyme Disease Test
- Magnetic Resonance Angiogram (MRA)
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
- Myoglobin
- Pericardial Drainage
- Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
- Pulse Measurement
- Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT)
- 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 for Coronary Artery Disease
- Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitors for High Blood Pressure
- Anticoagulants for Coronary Artery Disease
- Aspirin and Antiplatelets for Coronary Artery Disease
- Beta-Blockers for Coronary Artery Disease
- Beta-Blockers for Heart Attack and Unstable Angina
- Beta-Blockers for High Blood Pressure
- Bile Acid Sequestrants for High Cholesterol
- Calcium Channel Blockers for Coronary Artery Disease
- Calcium Channel Blockers for High Blood Pressure
- Cholesterol Absorption Inhibitors for High Cholesterol
- Direct Renin Inhibitors for High Blood Pressure
- Diuretics for High Blood Pressure
- Fibric Acid Derivatives for High Cholesterol
- Nicotinic Acid (Niacin) for High Cholesterol
- Nitrates for Coronary Artery Disease
- Other Medicines for High Blood Pressure
- 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?
- Atrial Fibrillation: Should I Try Electrical Cardioversion?
- Atrial Fibrillation: Which Anticoagulant Should I Take 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?
- Coronary Calcium Scan: Should I Have This Test?
- Heart Failure: Should I Get a Pacemaker (Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy)?
- 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)?
- Heart Valve Problems: Should I Choose a Mechanical Valve or Tissue Valve to Replace My Heart Valve?
- High Blood Pressure: Should I Take Medicine?
- Peripheral Arterial Disease: Should I Have Surgery?
- Statins: Should I Take Them to Prevent a Heart Attack or Stroke?
- Stroke Prevention: Should I Have a Carotid Artery Procedure?
- Stroke: Should I Move My Loved One Into Long-Term Care?
- Supraventricular Tachycardia: Should I Have Catheter Ablation?
- 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 Failure: Activity and Exercise
- Heart Failure: Avoiding Medicines That Make Symptoms Worse
- Heart Failure: Avoiding Triggers for Sudden Heart Failure
- Heart Failure: Checking Your Weight
- Heart Failure: Taking Medicines Properly
- 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
Current as of: October 9, 2017
Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review: Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine & Martin J. Gabica, MD - Family Medicine
