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Heart and cardiovascular conditions

Angina

Angina is chest pain or discomfort that usually comes on during physical activity. Here’s how to recognise angina and what to do about it.

Aneurysms

An aneurysm is a bulge in a blood vessel caused by a weakened vessel wall. Learn about different types of aneurysms, their symptoms and treatment.

Aortic coarctation

Find out about aortic coarctation — a heart condition in which a section of the aorta, the main blood vessel from your heart, is narrowed.

Aortic dissection

Aortic dissection is a rare but serious condition where there is a tear in the innermost wall of the aorta — the largest artery in the body.

Aortic stenosis

Read about aortic stenosis, a condition where the aortic heart valve narrows - making it hard for the heart to pump blood through.

Atrial fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation (AF or Afib) is a heart rhythm problem that can increase your risk of stroke. Find out about the symptoms and treatment for AFib.

Bradycardia

Bradycardia is a slower than normal heart rate, which can lead to a range of symptoms such as feeling faint, tired or short of breath.

Brugada syndrome

Brugada syndrome can disrupt your heart rhythm, causing palpitations, fainting or in serious cases, cardiac arrest. Read about symptoms and treatment.

Cardiomyopathy

Cardiomyopathy affects the heart muscle. It can be inherited, caused by viruses, drugs or other heart diseases. Discover how to prevent & manage it.

Coronary heart disease and atherosclerosis

Coronary heart disease (CHD), also known as ‘ischaemic heart disease’, is the most common form of heart disease. Learn how to reduce your risk.

Endocarditis

Endocarditis is an infection of the inner lining of the heart. A quick diagnosis is vital. Find out about the risks and symptoms of endocarditis here.

Heart arrhythmias

A heart arrhythmia is an irregular heartbeat. Your heart can beat too fast, too slow or irregularly. Learn how to recognise the symptoms here.

Heart attack

Acting fast when you notice the warning signs of a heart attack could save a life. Here's how to recognise the symptoms of a heart attack.

Heart failure

Heart failure is when the heart struggles to pump enough blood. The diagnosis can be overwhelming, but it’s possible to live well with this condition.

Heart murmur

Heart murmurs are sounds that can be heard when listening to the heart. Some are a sign of a heart condition, others are not. Here's what you need to ...

Heart palpitations

When you have palpitations you are suddenly aware of your heartbeat. Read about the causes, related symptoms and what to do if you have palpitations.

High blood pressure (hypertension)

High blood pressure affects around 1 in 3 Australian adults, so it's important to know your risk of hypertension and how to prevent it.

Low blood pressure (hypotension)

Although low blood pressure (hypotension) is better than high, it can cause troublesome symptoms or be the sign of an underlying problem.

Pericarditis

Pericarditis is the inflammation of the thin membrane around your heart. Read more about pericarditis symptoms, treatments and causes.

Peripheral vascular disease

Peripheral vascular disease can cause pain and cramps in the legs when walking. Find out about the cause and how it is treated.

Pulmonary embolism

A pulmonary embolism is serious. If a blood clot gets stuck in your lungs it can cause problems with your heart and breathing. Learn the symptoms.

Rheumatic fever

Rheumatic fever is a serious inflammatory disease that affects the body's connective tissues, especially those of the heart, joints, brain and skin.

Stroke

A stroke is when the blood supply to part of your brain is interrupted. Learn the 'FAST' test for stroke symptoms, which can save a person's life.

Tachycardia

Tachycardia (if your heart beats faster than usual, more than 100 beats per minute) can be a normal response to exercise or stress or a sign of diseas...

Thrombosis

Thrombosis, such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT), is where a blood clot forms in a vein or artery. Learn about the risk factors and how to prevent it.

Transient ischaemic attack (TIA)

A transient ischemic attack (TIA) has similar symptoms to a stroke but only lasts a few minutes. About 1 in 3 people who have a TIA will go on to have...

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