Heart Disease and Stroke (Cardiovascular Diseases) claim millions of lives every year, making them the leading cause of death globally. These cardiovascular diseases can refer to a variety of conditions that affect the heart, including Cardiac Arrest, Coronary Artery Disease, High Blood Pressure, Congestive Heart Failure, Heart Valve Disease, Arrhythmias, etc. Hence, to ease this issue and spread awareness we all should take initiative on this World Heart Day - 29th September.
There are several tests and treatments available today that can detect issues with the heart early, making treatment easier with higher success rates.
If patients are experiencing indications of heart issues or if they have a family history of heart conditions, then doctors will do a few of the following tests to diagnose Cardiovascular disease
It is a non-invasive test to analyse the structure and function of the heart.
A diagnostic procedure done to check the blood vessels of the heart.
Test: Regular, high, or low blood pressure can be an important indicator of heart problems.
It does imaging of the coronary vessels to detect coronary heart disease.
It does detailed imaging of the heart and blood vessels.
Different types of doppler tests like colour doppler, power doppler, spectral doppler, duplex doppler, and Continuous-wave Doppler are performed to create images of the moving parts of the heart, like the red blood cells. The heart specialist does these to diagnose if there is a blood flow blockage to the heart.
It is used to detect heart attack or rhythm issues by recording the electrical activity of the heart.
In this test, the patient wears a Holter Monitor for a couple of days to properly track the rhythm of the heart.
It is done by recording heart rhythms during exercise, like when on a treadmill. It is done to check how the heart responds to physical stress.
The test records different vitals of the heart in different positions like when standing, lying down etc.
Once diagnosed, several procedures and treatments are available for effectively treating Cardiovascular Diseases.
Coronary angioplasty is used to widen the blocked arteries of the heart by using a balloon to stretch open a blocked or narrowed artery.
This procedure is done to reestablish a regular heart rhythm by applying heat and cold temperature to the heart using customised catheters.
This is a method done before cardiac ablation to select the area of the heart that will be used for the ablation.
It is an educational program for patients who have had a heart procedure. The program teaches them to manage and cope with their condition by making lifestyle changes.
It requires electric shocks to be sent to the heart through electric paddles to regularise the rhythm of the heart.
People with coronary heart disease will need coronary bypass surgery to improve blood flow to the heart.
Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD) is used for patients suffering from Tachycardia. The ICD regulates irregular, fast heartbeats and monitors them. A pacemaker is used for patients suffering from Bradycardia or slow heart rhythms.
Patients suffering from severe heart failure will require a left ventricular assist device. This is a life-saving procedure that can help patients who are unable to receive a heart transplant.
In many modern angioplasties, a short wire-mesh tube (stent) is inserted in the arteries.
With advancements in medical technology, several procedures are available today for diagnosing as well as efficiently treating heart disease.
Heart diseases are fortunately preventable and can be prevented by maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Take pledge this World Heart Day to follow the preventive measures, eat healthy diet and excercise regularly, to keep your healthy. Moreover, you to should consult with the expert heart doctors and physicians to plan your lifestyle plans for maintaining a healthy heart and body.
