Cardiovascular system
Heart & circulation: medicines & conditions
The heart and circulation move blood — and the oxygen it carries — around the body. Most cardiovascular treatment is about protecting this system over years: lowering blood pressure and cholesterol, steadying the heart’s rhythm, and preventing the clots that cause heart attacks and strokes.
Education and reference only. This hub explains which medicines relate to the heart & circulation and why — it deliberately contains no doses and is not a substitute for advice from your doctor or pharmacist. Always check the BNF and the product labelling for prescribing detail.
About the heart & circulation
Cardiovascular medicines are among the most widely used of all, and most work quietly in the background to reduce long-term risk rather than to make you feel different day to day. They include treatments that lower blood pressure (such as ACE inhibitors, ARBs, calcium-channel blockers and diuretics), lower cholesterol (statins and related drugs), control heart rhythm and rate (beta-blockers and others), and reduce clotting (antiplatelets and anticoagulants). Because these drugs are taken long-term and often in combination, the themes that matter most are steady daily use, sensible monitoring of blood pressure, kidney function and bleeding risk, and understanding that the benefit is measured in events prevented over time.
What this covers
- High blood pressure, cholesterol and heart failure
- Heart rhythm problems such as atrial fibrillation
- Preventing and treating clots, heart attack and stroke
- The blood vessels and circulation
Conditions in this area
Heart & circulation conditions (57)
Each links to a dose-free guide showing which medicine classes are used and how treatment is approached.
Cardiovascular Abdominal aortic aneurysm A swelling of the main artery in the tummy, usually symptomless, which is picked up by screening and monitored — with su… Cardiovascular Acute limb ischaemia A sudden blockage of blood flow to an arm or leg, causing a painful, pale, cold limb — a medical emergency, as the limb … Cardiovascular Angina Chest pain or tightness caused by reduced blood flow to the heart muscle, usually from narrowed coronary arteries — mana… Cardiovascular Aortic aneurysm A bulge caused by weakening in the wall of the aorta — the body's main artery — most often in the tummy (abdominal aorti… Cardiovascular Aortic stenosis Narrowing of the heart's main outflow valve, making the heart work harder — often silent for years, but once it causes s… Cardiovascular Atherosclerosis A build-up of fatty deposits in the artery walls that narrows and hardens them, underlying most cardiovascular disease —… Cardiovascular Atrial fibrillation (AF) A common irregular heart rhythm that raises the risk of stroke — managed by preventing clots, controlling the heart rate… Cardiovascular Atrial flutter An abnormal heart rhythm in which the upper chambers beat very fast in a regular pattern — related to atrial fibrillatio… Cardiovascular Blood clots (DVT and PE) Blood clots that form in the deep veins, usually of the leg (DVT), and can break off and travel to the lungs (PE) — trea… Cardiovascular Brain aneurysm A bulge in a blood vessel in the brain, usually causing no symptoms — but if it bursts it is a life-threatening emergenc… Cardiovascular Brugada syndrome A rare inherited condition affecting the heart’s electrical activity that can cause dangerous heart rhythms — where diag… Cardiovascular Bundle branch block A delay or block in the heart's electrical wiring, usually found on an ECG — often harmless in itself, but sometimes a s… Cardiovascular Cardiomyopathy A group of conditions in which the heart muscle becomes enlarged, thickened or stiff, affecting how well the heart pumps… Cardiovascular Cardiovascular disease A group of conditions affecting the heart and blood vessels, usually linked to narrowed or damaged arteries — where much… Cardiovascular Carotid artery stenosis Narrowing of the main neck arteries that supply the brain, which can increase stroke risk — managed by reducing risk and… Cardiovascular Chronic kidney disease (CKD) A long-term reduction in how well the kidneys filter the blood, usually found on routine blood and urine tests — managed… Cardiovascular Chronic venous insufficiency A long-term condition where leg veins struggle to return blood to the heart, causing swelling, skin changes and sometime… Cardiovascular Congenital heart disease A heart problem present from birth, ranging from minor to serious — many are now treated successfully, and people are mo… Cardiovascular Coronary heart disease A major type of heart disease where the arteries supplying the heart become narrowed, which can cause angina and heart a… Cardiovascular Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) A blood clot forming in a deep vein, usually in the leg, causing pain and swelling — treated with anticoagulants to stop… Cardiovascular Ectopic heartbeats Extra or "skipped" heartbeats that are very common and usually harmless — often felt as a flutter, thud or missed beat —… Cardiovascular Heart block A problem with the heart's electrical signalling that slows or blocks the heartbeat — ranging from harmless to serious, … Cardiovascular Heart failure A long-term condition in which the heart cannot pump blood around the body as well as it should, causing breathlessness,… Cardiovascular Heart murmur An extra sound heard when a doctor listens to the heart — often harmless ("innocent"), especially in children, but somet… Cardiovascular Hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia A genetic condition affecting blood vessels, causing recurrent nosebleeds and red spots on the skin, and sometimes abnor… Cardiovascular High blood pressure (hypertension) Persistently raised blood pressure that, untreated, increases the risk of stroke, heart attack and kidney disease — mana… Cardiovascular High cholesterol Raised levels of harmful blood fats — chiefly LDL cholesterol — that build up in artery walls and increase the risk of h… Cardiovascular Infective endocarditis A serious infection of the heart's inner lining or valves, needing prolonged antibiotic treatment and sometimes surgery … Cardiovascular Innocent heart murmur A harmless heart sound, common in children, caused by normal blood flow through a healthy heart — needing no treatment o… Cardiovascular Intermittent claudication Cramping leg pain on walking that eases with rest, caused by narrowed leg arteries (peripheral arterial disease) — impro… Cardiovascular Kawasaki disease A rare illness mainly affecting young children that causes prolonged fever and inflammation of blood vessels — treated p… Cardiovascular Lipoedema A long-term condition causing a disproportionate, symmetrical build-up of fat in the legs (and sometimes arms) that is o… Cardiovascular Long QT syndrome A heart rhythm condition, often inherited, that can cause dangerous fast rhythms and fainting or, rarely, sudden collaps… Cardiovascular Lymphoedema Long-term swelling, usually of an arm or leg, caused by a build-up of lymph fluid when the lymphatic drainage system is … Cardiovascular Mitral valve disease Problems with the heart's mitral valve — either leaking (regurgitation) or narrowed (stenosis) — that can strain the hea… Cardiovascular Mitral valve prolapse A very common, usually harmless heart valve variation where the mitral valve bulges slightly — most people have no sympt… Cardiovascular Myocarditis Inflammation of the heart muscle, usually caused by a viral infection, that can affect how the heart pumps — often recov… Cardiovascular Orthostatic hypotension A drop in blood pressure on standing up, causing dizziness or light-headedness — common, especially in older people, and… Cardiovascular Palpitations The sensation of being aware of your own heartbeat — racing, pounding, fluttering or skipped beats — which is very commo… Cardiovascular Pericarditis Inflammation of the thin sac around the heart, causing sharp chest pain that is worse lying flat and on breathing in and… Cardiovascular Peripheral arterial disease Narrowing of the arteries that supply the legs, usually from atherosclerosis, often causing cramping calf pain on walkin… Cardiovascular Phlebitis Inflammation of a vein near the skin surface, causing a red, tender, hard cord-like area — usually not serious and settl… Cardiovascular Postural hypotension A drop in blood pressure on standing up, causing dizziness or light-headedness — common in older people and often improv… Cardiovascular Postural tachycardia syndrome (PoTS) A condition where the heart rate rises abnormally on standing, causing dizziness, palpitations and fatigue — managed wit… Cardiovascular Pulmonary hypertension High blood pressure in the arteries supplying the lungs, which strains the heart and causes breathlessness — managed acc… Cardiovascular Raynaud's A common condition in which the small arteries supplying the fingers and toes go into spasm in the cold or with stress, … Cardiovascular Raynaud's phenomenon A common condition where small blood vessels in the fingers and toes over-narrow in cold or stress, turning them white t… Cardiovascular Rheumatic fever A rare illness that can follow a streptococcal throat infection, causing joint pains, fever and sometimes heart inflamma… Cardiovascular Sinus tachycardia A faster-than-usual but normal-pattern heart rate, usually a natural response to things like exercise, stress or fever —… Cardiovascular Slow heart rate (bradycardia) A slower-than-usual heart rate, which can be normal and healthy (especially in fit people) or, if it causes symptoms, ma… Cardiovascular Spider veins Tiny, visible red, blue or purple veins near the surface of the skin — very common, usually harmless, and mainly a cosme… Cardiovascular Superficial thrombophlebitis Inflammation and a clot in a vein just under the skin, causing a tender, red, hard cord-like area — usually not dangerou… Cardiovascular Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) Episodes of an abnormally fast heart rate that start in the upper chambers of the heart — a sudden racing heartbeat that… Cardiovascular Varicose veins Swollen, twisted veins, usually in the legs, caused by weakened valves letting blood pool — often harmless but sometimes… Cardiovascular Vasovagal syncope The common "simple faint", caused by a brief drop in blood flow to the brain triggered by things like standing, heat, pa… Cardiovascular White-coat hypertension Blood pressure that reads high in a clinical setting but is normal at home — common, and important to recognise so peopl… Cardiovascular Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome A condition present from birth in which an extra electrical pathway in the heart can cause episodes of a very fast heart…
Medicine classes
Medicines for the heart & circulation (29)
Each links to a full, dose-free guide — what it is, how it works, who can and cannot use it, side effects, interactions and FAQs.
ACE inhibitors Cardiovascular First-line drugs for hypertension, heart failure and kidney protection — names ending in "-pril".… Amiodarone Cardiovascular A powerful rhythm-control drug reserved for difficult arrhythmias — effective but with a long list of organ ef… Antiplatelet drugs Cardiovascular Reduce clot formation in arterial disease — used after heart attack, stroke and stenting.… ARBs Cardiovascular Blood-pressure and heart/kidney protective drugs, often used when an ACE inhibitor causes cough — names ending… Beta-blockers Cardiovascular Slow the heart and reduce its workload — used in angina, heart failure, arrhythmia and more; names ending in "… Bile-acid sequestrants Cardiovascular Older cholesterol-lowering drugs, also useful for bile-acid diarrhoea and itch.… Calcium-channel blockers Cardiovascular Widely used for blood pressure and angina; some also slow the heart rate.… Clonidine Cardiovascular An older blood-pressure drug with several other uses — important to never stop suddenly.… Digoxin Cardiovascular An old but useful drug for atrial fibrillation and heart failure — with a narrow safety margin.… DOACs Cardiovascular / Haematology Modern anticoagulants for AF and venous thrombosis that usually need no routine INR monitoring.… Ezetimibe Cardiovascular A cholesterol-lowering tablet used alongside or instead of a statin.… Fibrates Cardiovascular Mainly lower triglycerides — used in specific lipid problems rather than as routine cholesterol drugs.… Finerenone Cardiovascular / Renal A newer kidney- and heart-protective tablet for chronic kidney disease in type 2 diabetes.… Flecainide Cardiovascular Restores and maintains normal rhythm in selected arrhythmias — only in structurally normal hearts.… Ivabradine Cardiovascular Slows the heart in heart failure and angina without lowering blood pressure — only in normal (sinus) rhythm.… Loop diuretics Cardiovascular / Renal Strong "water tablets" used mainly to relieve fluid overload in heart failure.… Magnesium supplements Cardiovascular / Renal Correct low magnesium — important because it also affects potassium and calcium and the heart.… Nitrates Cardiovascular Relieve and prevent angina by widening blood vessels.… PCSK9 inhibitors Cardiovascular Powerful injectable drugs that lower LDL cholesterol when statins are not enough.… Phosphate binders Cardiovascular / Renal Lower phosphate levels in advanced kidney disease — taken with food to work.… Potassium binders Cardiovascular / Renal Medicines taken by mouth that lower high blood potassium, often so important heart and kidney drugs can contin… Potassium supplements Cardiovascular / Renal Correct or prevent low potassium — used carefully because both low and high potassium are risky.… Sacubitril/valsartan Cardiovascular A combination heart-failure drug that improves outcomes beyond an ACE inhibitor or ARB alone.… Sodium bicarbonate Cardiovascular / Renal Corrects the chronic acid build-up of kidney disease and has a few other uses.… Spironolactone Cardiovascular / Renal A potassium-sparing diuretic used in heart failure, resistant hypertension and fluid from liver disease.… Statins Cardiovascular Lower cholesterol and cardiovascular risk — names ending in "-statin".… Thiazide diuretics Cardiovascular Mild "water tablets" used mainly for blood pressure.… Thrombolytics Cardiovascular Emergency "clot-busters" that dissolve a blocking clot in stroke, heart attack or major pulmonary embolism.… Warfarin Cardiovascular / Haematology A long-established anticoagulant that needs regular INR monitoring and dose adjustment.…
By active ingredient
Common heart & circulation medicines by name
Individual, dose-free guides to specific active ingredients (and their brands) in this area:
Clinical formulas & tools
Calculators used in this area
Risk scores and formulas that inform assessment and treatment decisions for the heart & circulation:
Answers
Heart & circulation: frequently asked questions
What medicines are used for the heart & circulation?
This system includes 29 medicine classes — such as ace inhibitors, amiodarone, antiplatelet drugs, arbs. Each links to a full, dose-free guide covering what it is, how it works, who can and cannot use it, side effects and interactions.
Which conditions affect the heart & circulation?
Common conditions in this area include Abdominal aortic aneurysm, Acute limb ischaemia, Angina, Aortic aneurysm, Aortic stenosis and more. Each condition page shows the medicine classes used to treat it and why.
Do these pages give doses?
No. Every page on this site is dose-free. We explain which medicines are used and why, but doses depend on the individual and the exact product — always confirm with your prescriber, the BNF and the product labelling.
Is this a substitute for medical advice?
No — it is education and reference only. It helps you understand this body system and its treatments, but decisions about your own care should always be made with a qualified clinician.
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