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Te manawa

Heart

Angina (chest pain)

Angina is chest pain caused by heart disease. It is when the arteries that carry blood to the heart have narrowed, so your heart cannot get the oxygen it needs to work. People with angina have a higher risk of having a heart attack.

Atrial fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation (AF or AFib) is a problem with the heart's electrical system. It causes heart rhythm changes. Instead of a normal steady beat, the heartbeat is fast and varies in speed (irregular). Atrial fibrillation is the most common heart rhythm problem, especially in older people.

Chest pain

Chest pain is common. If you or a member of your whānau has chest pain, it will likely be caused by something minor. But, chest pain can also be caused by a serious problem like a heart attack. It is important to find out the cause.

Heart attack

Anyone can have a heart attack – but it is more likely if you already have angina or other risk factors. Getting immediate treatment for a heart attack can reduce the damage to your heart and may even save your life.

Heart and diabetes checks

Heart and diabetes checks can help save lives — they let you know what your risk is and help you find ways to improve your health.

Heart failure

Heart failure happens when your heart cannot pump blood around your body as well as it should. It does not mean your heart is about to stop — just that is not working as well as it used to.

Heart murmurs and heart valve problems in adults

If you have a heart murmur, it means your healthcare provider has heard an extra sound when they listened to your heart with a stethoscope. Most heart murmurs are harmless but they can be a sign of a problem with a heart valve. Heart murmurs are very common.

Heart palpitations

Palpitations are when you feel your heartbeat is not normal. Palpitations are not usually a sign of a serious problem. Most often, they go away by themselves.

Heart risk assessment

A heart risk assessment is also called a cardiovascular risk assessment (CVRA). It is an estimate of how likely you are to have a heart attack or stroke within the next 5 years.

Heart treatments and procedures

Some heart conditions need major surgery such as heart bypass and valve surgery. Many other heart problems can be treated with non-surgical or less invasive procedures.

High blood pressure (hypertension)

High blood pressure is when the force of your blood against your artery walls is too high, for too long. High blood pressure is diagnosed with a blood pressure test.

High cholesterol (hyperlipidaemia)

Cholesterol is a type of fat called a lipid, which is mainly made in your liver. Your body needs it to function normally. High levels of cholesterol in your blood can lead to serious health problems over time.

High triglycerides

Triglycerides are a type of fat (also called a lipid). Triglycerides store energy in your body, mainly in your fat cells. Everyone also has triglycerides in their blood (called lipoproteins), but some people have too many.

Infective endocarditis

Endocarditis is the medical name for inflammation of the inner lining of the heart, including the heart valves. The inflammation is most often caused by an infection, and this is called infective endocarditis.

Other heart conditions

Find information on a list of heart issues on the Heart Foundation website.

Tests for heart problems

If you are having problems with your heart, there are several different tests that can help your healthcare provider or hospital staff understand what is causing them.