Common Long Term Conditions Adult

Heart and Blood Vessels

Some links on this page have been colour coded to make it easier to find the information you need:

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LOCAL SUPPORT FOR HEART CONDITIONS - SELF REFERRAL

PHARMACIST SUPPORT

As the NHS suggests
You can get advice and support with a new medication from a pharmacist for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart failure, coronary heart disease, atrial fibrillation, unstable angina or heart attack, and long-term risk of blood clots or blocked blood vessels.
New Medicine Service (NMS) – NHS

FURTHER SUPPORT

There is other local support provided below:

Common risk factors

From the British Heart foundation
What are the common risk factors for heart and circulatory disease Risk factors for heart and circulatory diseases – BHF

Local support to lower your risk

There is local support to help with reducing risk factors including with

  • Exercise – see information on exercise with a heart condition below from the British Heart Foundation
  • Healthy Weight – includes information on reducing your risk of diabetes
  • Health eating – includes information on improving your cholesterol
  • Smoking
  • Alcohol

There is further information on reducing the risk of heart disease under

From the British Heart Foundation
The question of safety and what exercise you can do is answered in detail. Staying Active – BHF

MEASURING YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE TO CHECK IF IT IS HIGH

Many local pharmacies can take your blood pressure if you wish to check you blood pressure (in between surgery appointments).
From the NHS :  How your pharmacy can help – NHS

Many patients are now buying their own blood pressure machine as suggested by the British Heart Foundation to support any readings done by their practice or local pharmacist.

From the British Heart Foundation

CHECK WHAT YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE READINGS MEAN AND IF ANY ACTION IS REQUIRED

If you take your blood pressure at home or with your local pharmacy you can also check what your blood pressure reading means and get information what to do next. Do not use if you are already on treatment for blood pressure.

From the NHS
Check your blood pressure reading Check your blood pressure reading – NHS

LOCAL SUPPORT FOR ALL LONG TERM CONDITIONS - SELF REFERRAL

As the Personalised Care Institute suggest
“Personalised care gives patients more control and choice when it comes to the way their care is planned and delivered, taking into account individual needs, preferences and circumstances.”
“What is personalised care?” The Personalised Care Institute. Retrieved 9th February 2024.

Support for a person with a long term condition needs to be broader than just focusing on medical needs but also involves considering what matters to them in supporting their overall wellbeing. This is delivered as personalised care which includes local support for physical, mental and social wellbeing. See under

Includes specific mental health support for patients with a cardiac (heart) condition.

NATIONAL SUPPORT - SELF REFERRAL

GENERAL QUESTIONS

From the British Heart Foundation
Helpline: Got a question about your condition “ Heart Helpline | British Heart Foundation

Heart arrhythmias such as Atrial fibrillation

From the Arrhythmia Alliance
Get in Touch: Do you have a question? Would like more information? Just want to talk? Please call or email us today. Contact – Arrhythmia Alliance – UK

FREQUENTY ASKED QUESTIONS

GENERAL INFORMATION

From the British Heart foundation

From Patient info

From NICE

Cardiac (heart) blood tests

From Lab tests online
Covers potentially relevant blood tests with monitoring cardiac conditions

BLOOD PRESSURE

From Blood pressure UK

  • Our vision is for everyone to know their blood pressure numbers in the same way they know their height or weight and take steps to keep them healthy, both now and in the future Blood Pressure UK
  • Monitoring your blood pressure at home Blood Pressure UK

From the British and Irish Hypertension Society
Provides a list of recommended blood pressure monitors

From the NHS, Patient info and NICE
High blood pressure (Hypertension)

From the British Heart foundation
High blood pressure  High blood pressure (Hypertension)

From NICE
Hypertension in pregnancy Hypertension in pregnancy | Health topics A to Z | CKS | NICE

HEART ATTACKS ( MYCARDIAL INFARCTION)

From the NHS, Patient info and NICE
Heart attack

From the British Heart foundation
Heart attack  Heart attack – causes, treatment & recovery | British Heart Foundation

ANGINA

From the NHS, Patient info and NICE
Angina

From the British Heart foundation
Angina – Causes, symptoms & treatments  Angina – Causes, symptoms & treatments | British Heart Foundation

From Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN)
Detailed evidence-based guidelines produced for patients based on a systematic review of the scientific literature. Very helpfully the patient booklet, visually shows how strong the evidence is for any treatment recommendation made.
Management of stable angina Management of stable angina (sign.ac.uk)

ATRIAL FIBRILLATION

From the NHS, Patient info and NICE
Atrial fibrillation

From the British Heart foundation
Atrial fibrillation (AF): causes, symptoms and treatments Atrial fibrillation (AF) | British Heart Foundation

From the Arrhythmia Alliance
Includes links to videos and booklets if you scroll down the page
Atrial Fibrillation Atrial Fibrillation (AF) – Arrhythmia Alliance – UK

Other heart arrhythmias

From the Arrhythmia Alliance
Conditions Conditions – Arrhythmia Alliance – UK

From the British Heart foundation
You can pick out specific heart arrhythmias condition under the various conditions covered
Conditions Heart and circulatory conditions – BHF

HEART FAILURE

From the NHS, Patient info and NICE
Heart failure

From the British Heart foundation
Heart failure Heart Failure – Causes, Symptoms and Treatment – British Heart Foundation

From Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN)
Detailed evidence-based guidelines produced for patients based on a systematic review of the scientific literature. Very helpfully the patient booklet, visually shows how strong the evidence is for any treatment recommendation made.
Chronic heart failure Chronic heart failure (sign.ac.uk)

VACCINATIONS

From the NHS 

More information on vaccinations and who should have the pneumococcal vaccine is available under

Videos and podcasts

On the videos and podcasts page there are links to some relevant videos and podcasts covering the topic of heart and circulatory conditions.

NHS 111

If you think you need medical help right now, 111 online can tell you what to do next.

Campaigns

"Pump it up" - know your blood pressure.

Your Pharmacy

Seven common infections now treated by your local pharmacist

CAMPAIGNS

Show your heart some love, women of Bucks!

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