Guidelines

The Heart Foundation’s guidelines are designed to provide comprehensive and practical recommendations for the management of key cardiovascular diseases. In many cases, summary versions or clinical tools are also available to assist busy health professionals.

Cardiovascular Disease Management Guidelines

Coronary heart disease

• Reducing Risk in Heart Disease (updated 2008) – full guidelines
   Download
• Reducing Risk in Heart Disease (updated 2008) – summary
   Download
• GP management plan

Absolute risk

• Guidelines for the assessment of absolute cardiovascular risk
   Download

Hypertension

• Guide to management of hypertension 2008 (updated September 2009)
   Download

Lipid management

• Position statement on lipid management 2005
  (reproduced with permission from Heart Lung & Circulation)
   Download 

Chronic heart failure

• Guidelines for the prevention, detection and management of chronic heart failure in Australia (2006) – full guidelines
   Download 
• Guidelines for the prevention, detection and management of chronic heart failure in Australia (2006) – summary
   Download

Acute coronary syndromes

• Guidelines for the management of acute coronary syndromes 2006 – full guidelines (clicking this link will take you to The Medical Journal of Australia website. This publication is copyright of The MJA)
• Guidelines for the management of acute coronary syndromes 2006 – summary
   Download

Acute rheumatic fever/rheumatic heart disease

• Diagnosis and management of acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease in Australia – an evidence-based review (2006)
   Download
• Click here to access acute rheumatic fever/rheumatic heart disease quick reference guides

Physical activity and cardiovascular disease

• Physical activity recommendations for people with cardiovascular
  disease (2005)
   Download
• Physical Activity in Patients with Cardiovascular Disease:
  Management Algorithm and Information for General Practice (2006)
   Download

For other information, see Professional Information.

Patient Resources and Support

We have a range of brochures and information sheets on heart health and cardiovascular disease. Some can be downloaded directly from our website
(see below), others can be ordered through our Health Information Service.

Our Health Information Service is staffed by trained health professionals who can provide vital information about heart heath for all people with cardiovascular disease or identified risk factors, as well as people who simply want healthier lifestyles. 

To contact our Health Information Service or order one of our brochures: 

• call 1300 36 27 87 (open business hours across Australia for the cost of
  a local call) 
• email us. 

Downloadable Brochures and Information

Cardiovascular disease

• Coronary heart disease
• Heart attack/warning signs of heart attack
• Chest pain/Angina
• Heart failure
• Stroke
• Atrial fibrillation

Biomedical risk factors

• Managing high blood pressure
• Blood Pressure – information sheet (2008)
   Download
• Self measurement of blood pressure – information sheet (2008)
   Download 
• Fats and cholesterol
• Familial hypercholesterolaemia
   Download

Lifestyle modification

• Healthy living
• Positive steps to a healthy heart – information sheet (2009)
   Download
• Smoking
• Healthy eating
• Physical activity
• Healthy weight

Other

• Palpitations
• Aspirin for cardiovascular disease prevention
   Download

Practical Tools and Resources

• Heart Foundation Walking – Australia’s largest network of free
  community-based walking groups
• Heartmoves Exercise Program – information and locality guide

Want to give your patients more information but lack the time? Refer them to our Health Information Service on 1300 36 27 87.