Cardiac echo (echocardiogram)
What a cardiac echo is, what it shows, and what to expect on the day — an ultrasound scan of the heart.
Insights
Short, clear articles from our consultants on the tests, procedures and decisions that matter in your heart care.
Cardiac MRI
How a cardiac MRI gives a detailed picture of the heart's structure, function, scarring and blood flow — without radiation.
Understanding CT scans for heart assessment
Cardiac CT, calcium scoring and CT coronary angiography explained — how they assess coronary artery disease and plan treatment.
Carotid ultrasound
A quick, painless neck scan that checks the carotid arteries for stroke risk and helps plan procedures.
Latest advances in heart care
A clear look at recent advances in cardiovascular diagnosis and treatment — and what they mean for patients.
Your heart treatment journey
A reassuring guide to what happens from the first tests through medication, procedures, rehabilitation and follow-up.
A guide to common heart conditions
Plain-English explanations of common heart conditions, how to recognise them, and how they are managed.
Everyday habits for a healthy heart
Simple, evidence-based daily habits that protect your heart — food, movement, sleep, stress and more.
Know the warning signs
When chest pain, breathlessness, palpitations, swelling or fatigue need medical attention — and when to call 999.
TAVI or open-heart surgery for a narrowed aortic valve
TAVI and surgical valve replacement both treat severe aortic stenosis. How the decision between them is actually made — and by whom.
What your coronary calcium score means (and what it doesn't)
A calcium score condenses a heart CT into one number. What the number can tell you about your risk — and the two things it cannot tell you.
Heart palpitations: when they're harmless and when to see a cardiologist
A thump, a flutter, a skipped beat — most palpitations are harmless. The useful skill is recognising the few patterns that deserve a proper look.
Mitral valve repair or replacement: why repair is preferred when it's possible
When a leaking mitral valve needs surgery, repairing your own valve is usually better than replacing it. Why — and when replacement is the right call.
Keyhole heart valve surgery: what recovery really looks like
Minimally invasive valve surgery avoids opening the breastbone. What that honestly changes about recovery — and what it doesn't.
Chest pain and the UK pathway: why you may be offered a CT scan first
For stable chest pain, UK guidance puts a CT scan of the heart's arteries before an invasive angiogram. What the scan shows, and what happens next.
Do I really need a stent? What the big trials mean for stable angina
In a heart attack, stents save lives. In stable angina, the honest answer is subtler — and two landmark trials explain it.
The truth about statin side effects: what blinded trials actually show
Muscle aches on statins are real — but blinded trials show most are not caused by the drug. The evidence, honestly, both ways.
Aortic stenosis: the symptoms people mistake for ageing
A stiffening heart valve announces itself gradually — and its signals are easy to file under "getting older". Which ones deserve an echo.
What is a Heart Team — and why it matters for valve and coronary decisions
For the big decisions — valve surgery or TAVI, stent or medication — guidelines say no single doctor should decide. Here is how a Heart Team works.
Planning heart treatment from abroad: preparing your imaging for a UK second opinion
A second opinion is only as good as the records it rests on. What to gather — and how a remote review can answer the biggest question before you book a flight.
Cardiac CT for TAVI and surgical planning: how the images guide the procedure
Before a TAVI or minimal-access valve operation, a CT scan quietly makes most of the technical decisions. What it measures, and why precision matters.
Understanding mitral regurgitation: a leaking heart valve explained
A leaking mitral valve is one of the commonest valve problems. What the leak actually is, the two very different kinds, and when anything needs doing.
High blood pressure and your heart: what the numbers mean and when to act
One clinic reading rarely settles anything. What the two numbers measure, why 24-hour monitoring decides, and where the UK thresholds actually sit.