Heart and Circulation Conditions

What are heart and circulation conditions?

Heart and circulation conditions affect how we breathe and how nutrients like oxygen are delivered to different parts of our body by our blood. Heart attacks, cardiomyopathy, angina, congestive heart failure and vascular conditions can cause dangerous slowdowns or interruptions in this delivery system. In turn, these conditions can result in low energy levels and restricted physical activity.

Many impressive advancements have been made in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases in the past 30 years. New treatments have made cardiac and vascular surgery much safer for patients, leading to higher survival rates and marked improvement in symptoms.

UHN Resources

UHN Brochures and Pamphlets

• Affairs of the Heart - A Guide for People with Heart Disease
  • Table of Contents
  • How the Heart Works
  • Coronary Artery Disease
  • What Tests Can I Expect While in Hospital?
  • Activity Guidelines for Cardiology Patients
  • Community Resources
  • Heart Medications
  • Angioplasty
  • Heart Valve Disease
  • Congestive Heart Failure

• After Heart Surgery: Applying for a Cardiac Rehabilitation Hospital
• Angioplasty: Femoral Artery Approach

  English	Portuguese

• Angioplasty: Radial Artery Approach
• ASD/PFO Closure: Discharge Information & Activity Guidelines
• AV Fistula
• Cardiac Surgery Discharge Information: Homeward Bound
• Cardiovascular Intensive Care
• Closing Your Atrial Septal Defect without Surgery
• Closing Your Patent Ductus Arteriosus
• Closing Your Patent Foramen Ovale without Surgery
• Discharge Information after Your Heart Angiogram: Femoral Artery Approach
  

  English	Portuguese

• Discharge Information after Your Heart Angiogram: Radial Artery Approach
• Electrophysiology Studies
• From the Heart: Preparing You for Heart Surgery at TGH
• Getting Ready to Go Home after Cardiac Surgery
• Healthy Heart Eating
  

  English	Portuguese

• How to Change Your Pacemaker/Defibrillator Dressing
• How You Can Increase Your Walking as Your Feel Better
• Instructions after Pacemaker/Defibrillator Insertion
• Keeping Track of Your Walking Once You Are Home
• Left Ventricular Assist Devices
• A Logbook for You
• Nutrition and Exercise Guide for Heart Failure Patients
• Opening Your Coarctation without Surgery
• Radionuclide Angiogram
• Stress Hyperglycemia
• Stroke Education Class
  
• Take Your Health to Heart
• Cover Page
• Key Points
• Table of Contents
• Chapters 1-6
• Chapters 7-9
• Table 9 - Chart on Medications
• Chapters 10-13
• Community Resources List
• Types of Activities You Can Do after Heart Surgery
• Using Your Energy Wisely after Heart Surgery
• Understanding Your Heart Catheterization
• Welcome to the Hypertension Unit

UHN Clinics or Centres

• Cardiac Care & Heart Health
• Cardiac Diagnostics
• Cardiac Evaluation and Rapid Treatment
• Cardiology
• Heart Transplant
• Heart-Lung Transplant
• Interventional Cardiology

Related Web Sites

• Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada
  Click on “Heart Disease”, “Stroke”, and “Healthy Living” for patient education information.
• Cardiac Rehabilitation - Toronto Rehab
  This program aims at providing patients with the information, motivation and support they need to adopt and maintain heart-healthy habits.
• CardiacCare Network of Ontario
  CCN's goals are improving quality, efficiency, access and equity in the delivery of cardiac services in Ontario. It monitors waiting lists for cardiac procedures at Ontario hospitals.
• Nevil Thomas Adult Congenital Heart Library
  Provides access to multimedia learning resources on the subject of congenital heart defects in the adolescent and adult.
• National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
  As part of the US Federal Government's National Institutes of Health, it provides health information for patients/public, health professional, and educators. Also see their Disease and Conditions Index for a quick and easy way to get complete and dependable information.
• American Heart Association
  Provides a wide range of cardiovascular health and stroke topics.
• Heart Failure Online
  Website dedicated to patients with heart failure.
• Angioplasty.Org
  An extensive source of information on angioplasty and interventional cardiology for both patients and professionals. It presents the latest news on technologies and treatments and has a forum for discussion of controversial issues in medical innovation.
• British Heart Foundation
  Click on “Hearthealth” icon to find valuable information about heart disease and related issues.
• Glossary of Heart Terms
  This glossary, adapted from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health, can help to understand heart disease and its symptoms.
• Heart Information Network
  Provides a wide range of information to heart patients and others interested in learning about lowering risk factors for heart disease.
• UpToDate Patient Information - Heart Disease
  Information written for patients and their families provides an overview, and a good deal of detail, on heart disease.
• Ventricular Assist Device Program - Resource Manual
  VAD manual from Heart Function Clinic.

Support Groups

• Cardiac Surgery Family Support Group
• Cardiac Pre and Post-Operative Visiting Program