1/3

April 30, 2021

How Cardiologists Find and Treat Heart Defectssriramakrishnahospital.com/how-cardiologists-find-and-treat-heart-defects

Types of Heart diseases

The form or function of the heart is affected by heart diseases.

The list of Heart Defects is as follows:

Coronary artery disease. Also commonly known as CAD. The plaque build-up is

present, and this leads to the hardening of blood vessels.

Atypical heart rhythms, or arrhythmias

Heart valve disease

Heart attack- Blood flow is blocked, cutting off oxygen to the heart.

Heart failure caused by the failure of the heart to supply adequate blood to the

tissues to meet their metabolic needs

Heart muscle disease (cardiomyopathy) – the heart is abnormally thickened and

enlarged

Rheumatic heart disease

Stroke

Vascular disease (blood vessel disease)

Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism

Assessment of Cardiovascular risk

Like a heart attack or stroke, present cardiovascular disease or a previous cardiovascular

event is the robust predictor of any future cardiovascular incident.

2/3

Age, smoking, gender, blood pressure, blood lipids, and diabetes are important predictors

of heart health. Therefore, a heart health checkup should be done at least once a year.

Heart specialist carries out a physical examination and will assess your complete

medical history.

Apart from blood tests and an X-ray of the chest, other tests to find heart disease can

include:

Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) An ECG is fast and pain-free. It helps to

detect abnormal heart rhythms and the need for irregular heartbeat treatment.

Holter monitoring. A Holter monitor is a transportable ECG device. It senses

heart rhythm issues that a regular ECG exam might have missed.

Echocardiogram. This exam is noninvasive. It makes use of sound waves to

display how your heart pumps blood.

Cardiac catheterization. The pressures in your heart chambers are measured

after the dye is injected. On an X-ray, your doctor sees the blood flow through your

heart, blood valves, and vessels to confirm any problems.

Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A computer-simulated radio

waves and magnetic field creates comprehensive images of your heart.

Stress test. Your heart rate is raised with exercise or drugs while carrying out

heart tests and imaging to see the heart’s response.

Cardiac computerized tomography (CT) scan. The machine has an X-ray

tube that rotates around your body and gathers your heart and chest images.

Treatment of Heart defects

Interventional cardiologists perform angioplasty and stenting procedures to clear the

blockages in the coronary arteries. This problem is seen in coronary artery disease, heart

valve disease, or peripheral vascular disease.

In chronic angina patients, this technique reduces symptoms and the danger of future

issues. They are used in emergency cases to instantly bring back blood flow as a part of

heart failure treatment.

Lately, interventional cardiologists are trying catheter-based procedures for particular

valvular heart diseases. There are also methods accessible for closing certain congenital

abnormalities such as atrial septal defect. Other structural heart defects, like hypertrophic

obstructive cardiomyopathy, are also treated similarly.

Regular inflated balloons help to push the plaque back against the vessel walls to open the

blockage. There are also cutting balloons that cut through hard plaques., Non-medicated

or medicated simple metal stents help keep the blood vessel open and expand and remain

3/3

for life.

Treating blockages in other body vessels, such as the carotid arteries in the neck and

arteries to the kidneys, and arteries supplying the arms and legs in much the same ways

as the coronary arteries.

Cardiac rehabilitation is a program supervised by your healthcare team. It is planned for

patients recovering from a heart attack, angioplasty, heart failure, or heart surgery. It is of

great benefit for your heart health.

When to see a doctor

Signs and symptoms can include:

Pain, tightness, a feeling of pressure, and discomfort (angina) in the chest

Shortness of breath

Pain, numbness, weak point, or coldness for your legs or palms

Pain within the neck, jaw, throat, upper stomach

Heart disease is easier to treat when spotted in the initial stages so that you can ask the

best cardiologist in Coimbatore any questions concerning your heart health.