Your primary health care provider has decided that you need the care of a cardiologist (heart doctor), and tests or procedures offered by the Cardiology Service. This pamphlet explains what to expect when you are admitted to the Coronary Care Unit 6.4 (CCU), Cardiology Intermediate Care Unit 6.1 (IMCU), or Cardiology Inpatient Unit 6.2 at the Halifax Infirmary. It explains the differences between each of these units and introduces you to the various members of your health care team. Other infor…
This guide will help you learn about your care before and after one of 2 types of cardiovascular device implant procedures, a pacemaker or an ICD (Implantable Cardioverter-defibrillator). Topics include what will happen on the day of the procedure, what to bring to the hospital, instructions for the night before and day of your procedure, skin prep, planning for your discharge, care of your device insertion site, and signs of infection.
La cardioversion est utilisée pour traiter les problèmes de rythme cardiaque. Durant une cardioversion, une décharge électrique est donnée à votre cœur. Le présent livret traite de la préparation à l’intervention, de la manière dont elle est faite et de la récupération. ; This is a French translation of the English pamphlet 0393, “Before and After Your Cardioversion - Halifax Infirmary”. Cardioversion is used to treat heart rhythm problems. During a cardioversion, an electrical shock is given t…
This pamphlet explains what to do after having an interventional radiology procedure with radial approach. Topics include activity and what to do if you have bleeding.
L'ablation par cathéter est un traitement pour certains types de troubles du rythme cardiaque. La présente brochure décrit à quoi vous attendre avant, durant et après une ablation par cathéter. ; This pamphlet is a French translation of "Catheter Ablation" pamphlet 0636. Catheter ablation is a treatment for certain kinds of heart rhythm problems. This pamphlet explains what to expect before, during, and after catheter ablation.
Ce dépliant explique comment votre cœur bat, ce qui se passe si vous avez des problèmes de rythme cardiaque, ce qu'est un stimulateur cardiaque, comment se déroule l'intervention, ce qui se passera après l'intervention et les soins nécessaires à la maison. ; This is a French translation of the English pamphlet 0019, “Living With Your Pacemaker”. This pamphlet explains how your heart beats, what happens if you have problems with your heartbeat, what a pacemaker is, how the procedure is done, wha…
This pamphlet will help you learn about deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). You must be able to recognize certain symptoms so you can get medical care right away. This pamphlet explains what DVTs and PEs are and whether they are dangerous, the symptoms and treatment for each, why blood clots form, and how to lower your risk of another DVT or PE. Information about what to do if you think you are having another DVT or PE is included.
The words ‘leg ulcer’ are used to describe a variety of open sores below the knee that are slow to heal. Many of these ulcers are caused by problems in the veins. This pamphlet explains what venous leg ulcers are, what causes them, what the symptoms are, how they are treated, and how you can prevent them from coming back.
Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is when fatty materials called plaque build up in the arteries that supply blood to the brain, organs, and limbs (arms and legs). Over time, the plaque can narrow your arteries. This can lower or stop blood flow. Blocked blood flow can cause leg pain, gangrene (dead body tissue), or amputation (removal) of the foot or leg. If you have PAD, you have a higher chance of having a heart attack or stroke. This pamphlet explains what PAD is, how to find out if you hav…
Your doctor or nurse practitioner has decided that you need the care of a cardiologist (heart doctor). You need a test called a cardiac catheterization (dye test). This pamphlet explains what to expect when you are taken to the Halifax Infirmary (HI) to have this test done. It explains what to expect while you are waiting to be transferred, before your transfer, and when you arrive at the HI. What to expect after you are discharged is also reviewed.
This pamphlet explains what to expect after varicose vein surgery. Topics include medications, activity, your incision (cut), bandages, and what to do if you have bleeding. Signs of infection and symptoms that require you to go to the Emergency Department are included.
L'angioplastie des artères de jambe (également appelée intervention par ballonnet) est une intervention destinée à ouvrir les artères rétrécies de votre jambe. Elle peut être pratiquée pour ralentir ou empêcher la nécessité d'un pontage (opération visant à aider le sang à franchir un blocage). Le présent dépliant explique pourquoi vous avez besoin de cette intervention, les étapes de l’intervention, ce qu’est une endoprothèse (un « stent »), les risques de l’angioplastie, les façons de se prépa…
Un défibrillateur cardioverteur implantable (DCI) détecte et corrige les battements de cœur dangereusement rapides qui commencent dans la partie inférieure du cœur. Cet appareil est également un stimulateur cardiaque, qui peut traiter les rythmes cardiaques lents. Vous devrez subir une intervention chirurgicale pour l’implantation de l’appareil dans votre corps. Ce livret explique comment votre cœur bat, ce qui se passe si vous avez des problèmes de rythme cardiaque, ce qu'est un DCI et ce qui …
This pamphlet answers questions you may have after having a heart attack. Lowering your risk factors for heart disease, heart healthy eating, coping with stress, activity, exercises, checking your heart rate, warning signs you are doing too much, medications and how to use nitro spray are covered. Directions for managing chest pain or discomfort at home are given.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy thickens the heart muscle. It usually affects the wall between the 2 bottom chambers (called the septum). When the muscle thickens, it gets stiff. This makes it hard for the bottom chambers to relax and fill with blood before each heartbeat. Thick heart muscle can cause scar tissue. Scar tissue can put you at a higher risk of dangerous, fast heart rhythms. The pamphlet gives the cause of HCM, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment. Further resources are also given.
In arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC), some of your heart muscle is replaced by fat and scar tissue. ARVC usually affects the right side of the heart. The fat and scar tissue dilate (stretch) the right side of your heart. This weakens the heart muscle. This makes it harder for your heart to pump blood out to your body. If your ARVC is very bad, it may cause fluid to build up in your lungs (causing shortness of breath), ankles, or belly (causing swelling). ARVC can also chang…
In dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), the heart muscle becomes weak. This makes it harder for the heart to pump blood out to the body. This causes the bottom chambers to dilate (stretch). A weak heart can also cause fluid to build up in your lungs (causing shortness of breath), ankles, or belly (causing swelling). DCM may also change your heart's electrical activity. This can cause fast heart rhythms. The pamphlet gives the causes of DCM, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment. Further resources also gi…
LQTS is a rare disease that can change your heart's electrical activity. With LQTS, the channels in your heart cells do not open and close the way they should. This can cause abnormal heart rhythms. These abnormal heart rhythms are dangerous. You heart may beat so fast that it cannot pump blood out to your body. These abnormal heart rhythms can make you collapse (faint). If the rhythm does not stop, they can cause sudden death. The pamphlet provides the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, a…
This one-sided, single sheet pamphlet gives a basic illustration of the coronary arteries. It is to be used as a teaching reference for staff and their patients. This pamphlet outlines the right coronary artery, aorta, pulmonary artery, left coronary artery, left main artery, circumflex branch, and left anterior descending artery.
This pamphlet was created by the Cardiovascular Surgery Department at Nova Scotia Health to give you and your support persons information about getting heart surgery. It has information about what you can do before your surgery to help it go well, what will happen during your hospital stay, and what you can do after your surgery to have a good recovery. Topics include discharge (leaving the hospital) planning, your surgery timeline, your health care team, information about the heart and your su…