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.

Cardiac Amyloidosis

The following videos are available to patients being investigated for or with a diagnosis of cardiac amyloidosis and their families. 



For more information on Amyloidosis and Tafamidis please see Message From the Heart.

Investigations for cardiac amyloidosis

 

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Understanding the Treatment of Cardiac Amyloidosis diagnosis

 

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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

SafeGuard Focus - Patient Instructions



Also see the Atrial Fibrillation Clinic webpage for educational videos.

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 

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.

Paying for Your Medications

The following resources provide information on financial options:

BC Pharmacare

Also see: Managing Your Medications 

Also see: Learn about medications – video series

 

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

Going Home After TAVI Procedure

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 at Heart and Stroke Foundation: Heart Disease - Tests

News & Events

Exposure notice

Possible Hepatitis A exposure for people who dined at the Courtenay Dairy Queen on September 10, 12, 13, or 14

Island Health is notifying people who dined at the Dairy Queen Grill and Chill Restaurant in Courtenay about a possible exposure to hepatitis A.

Read more

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. 

Read more

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.

Read more