Heart Disease & Heart Problems

heart disease

Heart Attack Symptoms & Warning Signs

The Heart & Stroke Foundation of BC & Yukon provides information regarding heart attack warning signals and cardiac arrest warning signs:

Heart Attack Warning Signals
Cardiac Arrest Warning Signs
Heart Attack Myths

Women and Heart Attack

Are the warning signals of heart attack the same for women? Learn the unique risk factors for women and how to recognize the signs.

Heart Failure

The following handouts are available to heart failure patients and their families.

Heart Failure Discharge Reminders 
Learn about Community Virtual Care for Heart Failure

Living Well With Heart Failure

Island Health offers the Living Well With Heart Failure video as a guide to living well with heart failure. You can also read the Living Well with Heart Failure - Booklet.

Electrophysiology Studies, Ablation and Cardioversion

The following handouts are available for Heart Health patients:

Getting Ready for Your Electrophysiology Procedure 
About Electrophysiology - Study of the Heart
Atrial Fibrillation and Atrial Flutter
Going Home after EP Study and Ablation
Atrial Fibrillation
Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation
Catheter Ablation for Supraventricular Tachycardia
AV Node Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation
Electrical Cardioversion

Getting Ready for your Loop Procedure

Going Home after your Loop Procedure

 

Drug infusion testing

Drug Infusion Testing for Heart Rhythm Conditions
What Do My Negative Results Mean
What Do My Positive Results Mean

Heart Disease Medications

The Heart & Stroke Foundation website has information on medications available to treat various heart conditions including:

  • Angina
  • Cholesterol
  • Congestive heart failure
  • Heart disease
  • High blood pressure
  • Irregular heart rhythms 

Also see: Managing Your Medications 

Paying for Your Medications

The following resources provide information on financial options:

Additional Resources

The Living Well with Heart Disease – A Guide for People with Coronary Artery Disease booklet includes information regarding heart medications for patients and their families.

Cardiac Rehabilitation and Recovery

The following handouts are available to patients to help with cardiac rehabilitation and recovery.

6 Minute Walk Test for Cardiac and Respiratory Rehab Patients
Living Well with Heart Disease – A Guide for People with Coronary Artery Disease
Heart Failure Booklet

Also see: Cardiac Rehabilitation / Risk Reduction Program

Heart Surgery and Procedures

The following handouts are available for heart surgery and procedure patients:

Heart Surgery

Before During and After Your Heart Surgery
Heart Surgery Care Map

Catheterization Procedures

Acetylsalicylic Acid (ASA) Desensitization
Getting Ready for Your Cardiac Catheterization Procedure 
Going Home After Cardiac Catheterization Femoral Approach 
Going Home After Cardiac Catheterization Radial Approach 
Vascular Closure Perclose
Vascular Closure Angio Seal
Going Home After Aortic Valvuloplasty
Going Home After Your Cardiac Biopsy

Coronary Stent Procedures

Medications After a Coronary Stent Procedure

Cardiac Devices, ICDs and Pacemakers

Getting Ready for Your Cardiac Device Insertion
Going Home After Your Cardiac Device, Pacemaker Implant or Pacemaker Lead Revision
MRI Scan and Implanted Cardiac Devices Patient Information Sheet
MRI Scan and Implanted Cardiac Devices Information for Physicians 
Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy – A Guide for Patients and Families 
Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator – A Guide for Patients and Families 
Following a Subcutaneous Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator Implant 
Your Shock Plan - How to Deal with a Defibrillator Shock or Loss of Consciousness

Radiation Skin Reactions

Radiation Skin Reactions

Learn More: BC Heart and Stroke Recovery Road Booklet

Heart Tests

The following handouts relate to heart tests:

Public Patient Information - Echocardiogram 
MIBI Scan
Tilt Table Test
Transesophageal Echocardiogram
Echocardiogram Contrast Handout

Learn More: Heart and Stroke Foundation Heart Disease - Tests

Additional Resources
Heart and Stroke Foundation
Cardiac Services BC

News & Events

First monkeypox case confirmed in Island Health, risk to the general public is very low

First monkeypox case confirmed in Island Health, risk to the general public is very low

One case of monkeypox has been confirmed in Island Health through laboratory testing at the BC Centre for Disease Control. The person resides in the south island. Island Health public health teams are conducting follow-up. The risk to the general public is very low. 

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Pediatric team with patient

Life Changing Treatment for Rare Disease – Closer to Home

When six year old Charleigh came to Victoria General Hospital for her 80th enzyme infusion on June 9 – the care team that surrounded her were all wearing teal to show support on Batten Disease Awareness Day.

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Public health teams help families catch up on kids’ routine vaccinations

Island Health’s public health teams are helping families ensure that their children are up-to-date with important childhood immunizations, like measles and tetanus.

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