Treatments for heart and circulatory conditions
You may be having planned or emergency treatment. We explain what to expect, how it will help and what will happen afterwards.
On this page
What cardiovascular disease is
Cardiovascular disease includes conditions that narrow or block blood vessels (coronary heart disease). This can lead to a heart attack, angina and some strokes. Heart disease also covers conditions that affect your heart's muscle, valves or cause abnormal rhythms (arrhythmias).
To find out more about specific heart conditions, get our A-Z list.
Cardiovascular disease risk factors
Risk factors are conditions or habits that increase your risk of developing a condition. The more you have, the higher your chance of cardiovascular disease.
There are several risk factors for cardiovascular disease, including:
- smoking
- stress
- alcohol
- high blood pressure
- high blood cholesterol
- not being active
- being overweight or obese
- diabetes
- family history of heart disease
- your ethnic background
- your sex (men are more likely to get cardiovascular disease earlier than women)
- your age (the older you are, the more likely you are to get cardiovascular disease).
Many heart and circulatory diseases are caused by risk factors that can be controlled, treated or modified. Even if you cannot change all your risk factors, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk. Find out more about risk factors.
Cardiovascular disease diagnosis
The diagnosis of cardiovascular disease depends on your symptoms and what condition your doctor thinks you may have. Tests may be based on your family history and can include:
- blood tests
- chest X-rays
- an electrocardiogram (ECG)
- an echocardiogram
- a CT scan
- an MRI scan.
Learn more about tests for heart or circulatory conditions.
Cardiovascular disease treatment
The treatment you have depends on your condition, but could include:
- lifestyle changes
- medication
- a device such as an ICD or pacemaker
- stents
- heart surgery.
Learn more about the different types of treatments for heart and circulatory conditions.
Heart Helpline and other support
- Speak to our cardiac nurses by phone, callback, email or online chat on Heart Helpline (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm).
- Contact us to talk to our customer care advisors, find your local BHF shop and for any comments, compliments and complaints you may have
- Speak to others with heart conditions by joining a support group or online community.
- Sign up to our Heart Matters magazine and online information packed with health and lifestyle advice.
You can trust our health information
We've followed an eight-step process to make sure this content is reliable, accurate and trustworthy.
Learn how we make our health content.Related information
Tests for heart and circulatory conditions
Tests are used to diagnose a heart condition or to see how healthy your heart is. Find out what to expect from some of the most common tests.
Support
Being diagnosed, or living with a heart or circulatory condition can be overwhelming, but we're here to help.