Cardiology | OMNI Hospitals

Permanent Pacemaker Implantation (PPI)

omnihospitals — Wed, 03 Jan 2024 05:06:13 +0000

Permanent pacemaker implantation (PPI) or simply Pacemaker is a tiny electronic device which helps to maintain an appropriate rate of heart beat in patients who have extremely low heart rate which is diagnosed to be Bradycardia or irregular heart rate which could be life threatening. This problem is known as Ventricular Dyssynchrony. The pacemaker is placed just below the collar bone of the patient.

HOW DOES IT WORK

The pacemaker is a small metal cased circuit which is run electronically by a micro computer. This microchip is majorly subdivided into 2 parts which are electrodes on each lead and a pulse generator. Whenever the patient’s heart beats in a non uniform manner or too low than required then improper amount of blood is circulated around the body which is hazardous, hence at these times the pacemaker comes in play where it signals the heart through electrical impulses that brings back the functioning of the heart in it’s appropriate rhythm.

HOW DOES THE PACEMAKER RUN

Pacemaker runs by a small electronic battery which is placed inside the pacemaker unit. It has a long life which runs anywhere from 7 to 10 years.

TYPES OF PACEMAKER IMPLANTS

Human heart has 4 chambers i.e 2 on the upper side and 2 on the bottom. Pacemaker units are of 3 types that can be implanted in the patient’s upper chest depending upon the patient’s heart issue. These three types are as follows.

Uni/ Single Chamber PPI – This kind of pacemaker is attached to any of the upper or lower chambers of the heart.
Dual Chamber PPI – This pacemaker is attached to 2 chambers of the heart i.e one above and one below.
Bi-Ventricular Pacemaker PPI – This pacemaker is used for cardiac resynchronization.

HOW IS A PACEMAKER IMPLANTED :

Before the implant, the assigned doctor would know the patient’s medical reports, family history, allergies, procedure & the financials

For the surgery, the patient is sedated (Anesthesia) with the help of an IV drip, through a small incision the surgeon would insert a narrow flexible tube under the collarbone. This goes up though the blood veins to the heart. Its position is observed through an imaging process called Fluoroscopy. Once everything is in place, the pacemaker is fitted beneath the skin. Parallelly various forms of heart scans will be running to make sure all vital organs are functioning normally.
Post surgery, the patient is kept under critical observation where all his organs are observed for normal functioning and to make sure the implant has got no side effects as such. Once the heart rate and other bodily functions related to the blood is regulated the patient is discharged from the recovery ward and sent home.

BENEFITS OF PACEMAKER IMPLANTATION

It is to note that a pacemaker does not cure any heart diseases but rather keeps in control with appropriately normal rhythm.

Benefits of having a right heart rhythm according to the body’s activity are as follows:

To eradicate the problem of Bradycardia.
Efficient breathing.
Efficient functioning of the heart.
Reduced fatigue.

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Angioplasty

omnihospitals — Wed, 03 Jan 2024 05:05:04 +0000

Coronary Angioplasty, medically also known as Percutaneous Coronary Intervention or simply Angioplasty is a process where the blocked arteries of the heart is unclogged. Angioplasty is generally followed by placing a stent in the artery of the heart where the blockage was found through an angiogram. These blockages occur due to accumulation of excess plaque or fat tissue or cholesterol leading to a heart stroke hence angioplasty is mostly recommended for patients who have had a heart stroke.

WHO NEEDS ANGIOPLASTY

Angioplasty is recommended for patients who have faced the following symptoms:

Heart stroke.
Angina (Extreme heart pain).
Blockage in the heart’s artery/ Atherosclerosis.
Abnormal results after various heart scans leading to an underlying potential heart disease.
Doctor’s recommendation based upon other abnormal heart symptoms.

PROCEDURE

Angioplasty is done under abnormal report conditions of an angiogram which indicates the level of blockage. Initially local anesthesia is given to the patient, then a narrow flexible tube known as catheter is placed from an incision made either in the region of the patient’s groin or on the wrist. This is a special catheter that has the ability to expand in it’s place like a balloon when pumped. Through the X-Ray imaging once the catheter has reached the point of blockage it is pumped to expand the wall of the artery which pushes the fatty plaque through the blood vessels and the blockage is removed. In some cases an external human safe grade metal mesh is placed on the walls of the catheter’s balloon. This mesh acts like a barrier for the arteries to not contract in its place in the future. The catheter is then safely removed.

DURATION OF THE PROCESS

Angioplasty can take anywhere between 30 minutes to a few hours depending upon the case of the patient.

POST CORONARY ANGIOPLASTY

After the procedure of angioplasty the patient must:

Follow healthy lifestyle that promotes good heart health.
Quitting consumption of alcohol, smoking & chewing tobacco.
Maintaining the LDL cholesterol level to a normal range.
Exercise advised by the doctor.

TIME TO RECOVER

If the process of angioplasty is not planned then the recovery time would be around 7 days to return to work for a routine lifestyle but if in case it’s performed under an emergency situation like after a heart stroke then the time of recovery would increase anywhere from a few weeks to months depending upon the severity of the patient.

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Coronary Angiogram

omnihospitals — Wed, 03 Jan 2024 05:03:41 +0000

The heart’s arterial blood vessels can be obstructed due to cholesterol accumulation which is termed as Coronary Artery Disease. To help diagnose this, a procedure named Angiography is performed where X-ray is done to scan for any blockages during blood circulation in the heart. The imaging results from this angiography is known as Angiogram. This method is also known as cardiac catheterization.

HOW DOES IT WORK

For an angiogram the doctor would inject a safe for human type of a dye through a catheter in the blood vessels of the heart. This dye when it flows through the bloodstream and comes in contact with the blood vessels, it is clearly visible through an X-Ray machine. This set of images(angiogram) helps the doctor to analyze the severity of the coronary artery disease.

WHEN & WHY IS IT DONE

The doctor would prescribe for undergoing an angiogram under conditions when a patient experiences the following scenarios:

Angina, which is commonly known as severe pain in the chest.
Abnormal results when undergone various heart examinations.
Unexplained pinching pain mainly in focus areas of the jaw, neck, shoulder and arm.
Injury in the chest due to any accidents.
Congenital Heart Defects (CHDs) i.e having a defect in the heart since birth.
Symptoms of coronary artery disease.

TIME DURATION

The process of angiogram would generally take about 30 minutes to an hour. Procedure might extend depending upon the condition of the patient and the requirement of placement of a stent.

POST PROCEDURE

After the whole process the patient will be kept in observation for a few hours and based upon the observation’s reports the patient would be discharged within the same day or the next day. Then a follow up appointment of a timely period is scheduled by the doctor. Apart from that a healthy lifestyle is suggested with a decent amount of exercise and quitting any forms of intoxications such as alcohol, tobacco consumption or smoking, respectively.

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Heart failure

omnihospitals — Wed, 03 Jan 2024 05:02:03 +0000

The function of the heart is to take deoxygenated blood in and pump out the oxygenated blood to the rest of the organs. In the case of heart failure, the heart fails to pump the amount of blood that it normally pumps. Certain conditions like hypertension or narrowed coronary arteries due to cholesterol deposition weaken the heart walls over a period due to which the blood is not pumped efficiently.

The conditions that cause heart failure are not all reversible. However, treatments are provided to improve the signs and symptoms of heart failure.

Heart failure is usually related to other condition or disease that may include the following:

Coronary artery diseases: This is a condition in which the coronary arteries are narrowed or get blocked
Congenital heart defect: A defect that is present from birth can affect walls of the heart
Heart attack: When a heart attack occurs, the blood supply to the heart is stopped which may lead to heart failure
Cardiomyopathy: This is a condition in which the heart muscles weaken due to reasons like infections, drug or alcohol abuse, genetic issues.
Other conditions: Other medical conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, kidney disease, thyroid problems, heart valve disease may lead to heart failure.

Lifestyle changes like weight management, exercising and avoiding alcohol and drug abuse are vital in avoiding heart failure.

Symptoms of Heart failure:

Heart failure can be a chronic (ongoing) or acute (sudden) condition. The symptoms of heart failure include:

Shortness of breath on exertion followed by shortness of breath even at rest
Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnoea or PND, i.e., shortness of breath and coughing that usually occurs in the night
Easy fatigue and tiredness
Pedal oedema i.e., accumulation of fluid in the feet or lower legs that increases in the evening time
Intermittent chest pain
Increased frequency of urination at night
Stomach pain
Loss of appetite
Indigestion
Dry cough
Giddiness

Diagnosis of Heart failure:

A number of clinical symptoms and lab investigations help in the diagnosis of heart failure. The clinical signs of heart failure are:

Tachycardia: abnormal rapid heart rate.
Pulse murmur(Alternate pulse is weak)
Pedal oedema
Cold periphery
Cardiomegaly: an enlarged heart that may lead to abnormal heart rhythms
S3
Constrictive defect

Further lab investigations suggested are:

2D Echo: to investigate the left ventricle function, pulmonary arterial hypertension (high blood pressure of lungs) and inferior vena cava plethora (lack of collapsibility)
Blood tests: Haemoglobin (to check for anaemia), elevated B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) or N-terminal pro-b-type natriuretic (NT pro-BNP) to detect, diagnose or evaluate the severity of heart failure.
ECG (Electrocardiogram): To give an idea about conduction defect and changes due to a heart attack.
Chest X-ray: To view the condition of the heart and lungs.

2D echo provides details about the size of heart chambers, pumping function of the heart, any leakage of valves, lung pressure and presence of fluid. Other tests suggested are CT Scan, MRI, Coronary angiogram, Myocardial biopsy and stress test.

Treatment of Heart failure:

After the diagnosis of heart failure, various non-pharmacological and pharmacological measures are suggested to the patient. A change in lifestyle is recommended to the patients diagnosed with heart failure. Weight management, exercises that do not cause physical strain, drug and alcohol abstinence, reduction in intake of salt and restrictions on fluid intake are suggested. Other methods of treatment include:

Medication: Medicines like diuretics help attain frequent urination, so that fluid is not retained in the body are suggested. Medications to improve the heart pumping function and reduction of load on the heart are prescribed by the cardiologists.
Surgery: Depending on your medical history and current status, surgeries are performed to improve the heart pumping function. Coronary bypass surgery and heart valve replacement or repair are the types of surgery performed. With various trial and encouraging results, heart transplants are also a preferred method of treatment

Implantable devices: Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) help in providing a direct shock treatment through pacemaker, whenever an abnormal rhythm is detected. Cardiac resynchronisation therapy(CRT-P/D) is used in which by programming a pacing device, the heart is stimulated mechanically to establish the synchronisation of heart-pumping functions.

The post Heart failure first appeared on OMNI Hospitals.

Cardiology

omnihospitals — Tue, 01 Nov 2022 05:49:47 +0000

The Department of Cardiology at OMNI Hospitals is ranked one of the best heart hospitals in Hyderabad, Telangana, and India. The Cardiac wing looks after cardiac emergencies and many forms of heart and blood vessel problems. Patients who are critically ill and suffering from cardiac abnormalities are admitted to the ‘Coronary Care Unit.’ We treat all kinds of heart-related ailments including ischemic heart disease, valvular heart disease, hypertension, vascular problems, cardiac rhythm abnormalities and congenital heart problems.

With a team of best cardiologists, Omni is one of the trusted and best heart hospitals in Hyderabad, Telangana with state-of-art facilities and world class advanced treatments. We treat all kinds of heart-related ailments including ischemic heart disease, valvular heart disease, hypertension, vascular problems, cardiac rhythm abnormalities and congenital heart problems.

We have years of experience in treating critical heart problems using various invasive tests and procedures, non-invasive tests, and surgeries with utmost care and professionalism. Omni Hospitals is rated one of the best heart surgery hospitals in Hyderabad that ensures best pre and post-operative care.

Treatment:

Cardiothoracic Surgery

The department of cardiothoracic surgery has a team of best Cardiologists of Hyderabad who perform a wide range of surgeries. The centre’s complete spectrum of cardiothoracic surgeries includes adult cardiac surgery, paediatric and congenital cardiac repairs, aneurysm surgery, thoracic surgeries, heart and lung transplants, heart failure surgery and thoracic and lung surgery. We have the best emergency heart care and trusted heart specialists in Hyderabad. Our team of best Cardiac surgeons bring international experience to treatments and procedures to the table. The best and most advanced technologies and instrumentation are available in the department of cardiothoracic and vascular surgery. The state-of-the-art cath lab, with experienced doctors and well-trained nurses are there to ensure you get the best in medical treatment.

Facilities:

Omni Hospitals have state-of-art infrastructure

Cardiology and Cardiothoracic care at Omni

Coronary artery disease or blockages of the arteries in the heart
Blockages in the heart valve(s).
Leaking heart valve(s).
Aneurysms.
Heart failure.
Atrial fibrillation.
Lung cancer.
Severe emphysema.
Esophageal cancer.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease.
Hiatal hernias.
Swallowing disorders such as achalasia.
Angioplasty.
Angiogram.
2D ECHO.
Bypass Surgery.

Diagnostic Services/ Best Cardiac Care Procedures in Hyderabad

Accurate diagnosis is the key to prescribing the most effective and accurate treatment to the patient. Omni Hospitals has latest and world class treatment procedures to offer the best cardiac diagnostic services and best heart treatment in Hyderabad.

Non-Invasive tests

Electrocardiogram (ECG).
Echocardiography (Echo).
Treadmill test (TMT) or stress test.
Holter test.
Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring.

Invasive Cardiology

Cardiac catheterisation.
Coronary angiogram.
Electrophysiological procedures.

Invasive Procedures

Coronary angioplasty.
Peripheral vessel angioplasty.
Balloon valvuloplasty.
Defect closures.
Radiofrequency ablation.
Pacemaker implantation.

Cardiologists in Hyderabad

Omni has a team of best cardiologists in Hyderabad who hold years of experience in treating patients with cardiovascular diseases.

https://omnihospitals.in/doctors/dr-t-pramod-rao/

Testimonials

Ref-Fortis healthcare, WebMD, Apollo, Mayo clinic.

The post Cardiology first appeared on OMNI Hospitals.

Case Of Sudden Cardiac Arrest – The Golden Hour

Abdullah Saleem — Tue, 03 Mar 2020 06:16:07 +0000

A 49 year old female patient was brought to the ER on 23rd January 2020 at 11:00pm by her sons on a 2 wheeler in an unresponsive state. According to her attendant she complained of sudden onset difﬁculty in breathing/chest discomfort at home around 10:00pm after which she collapsed and was unresponsive. She was apparently doing well with no acute complaints until 10:00pm and the previous couple of days. She is known to be diabetic and hypertensive since more than 10 years, with history of Coronary Artery Disease, post PTCA and stenting done 3 years back. She is on regular medication for all the above. On receiving at ER the patient was found to be unconscious, cyanotic and not responding to even deep pain stimulus. GCS was E1V1M1. Her carotid was absent, BP could not be recorded and GRBS – 569mg/dl, peripheries cold and saturation could not be recorded. In the absence of carotid pulse, CPR was promptly started, peripheral venous access obtained, patient was immediately intubated and after 5 cycles of high quality CPR according to ACLS protocols, ROSC was achieved and patient started on mechanical ventilation. Post-CPR, ABG showed metabolic acidosis with ph. 7.147, Bicarbonate-11mmol/L, pO2-253, pCO2-33.7 mmHg, cLac-12.8. ECG after ROSC showed ST depressions in lateral leads with T inversions. CT brain (P) post-ROSC showed no sign of bleed or acute changes. X-Ray chest, showed haziness/patchy opacities in both lungs with p/o consolidation. Patient was managed in the ER with ﬂuid boluses, bicarbonate correction and insulin infusion for high sugars. Empiric antibiotic coverage started, until blood reports were awaited. She was provisionally diagnosed with recurrent CAD, cardiac arrest, post CPR status, ?DKA, ?HONC, ?LRTI and to rule out CVA. She was also on anti-platelet medication, clexane, neuroprotective medication and other supportive medication and was then shifted to MICU. The patient responded slowly and regained consciousness within 8 hours. The patient was able to understand verbal commands and was responding to them properly. Preliminary blood work showed, WBC – 15800, normal renal function except for RBS of >500mg/dl, Total bilirubin of 1.3 and slightly elevated SGPT and SGOT. Her serum procalcitonin at admission was 2.9. Her urine was negative for ketone bodies. Remaining blood investigations were fairly normal. 2D Echo showed dilated LV, with global hypokinesia of LV and severe LV dysfunction with EF of 25%, Grade II diastolic dysfunction, mild MR and mildly Plethoric IVC. Her TROPONIN – I was negative. She was slowly weaned off of insulin. Diuretics, Beta Blockers and Dobutamine infusion was started. Pulmonology consultant advised for antibiotic upgradation and other supportive medication. Neurology consultation was unremarkable, with no focal deﬁcits, normal CT brain and extubation of the patient was planned accordingly. Later she developed mild hypokalemia and hypomagnesemia and was corrected accordingly. WBC showed a decreasing trend. On 26th January 2020 patient was put on T-Piece ventilation, was monitored and then extubated in the afternoon of 26th January 2020. The patient responded to the upgraded antibiotics and other symptomatic medication, evident in improving clinical status, reducing WBC counts and improved chest X-ray ﬁndings. The patient underwent CAG in the afternoon of 27th January 2020 with the following ﬁndings: CAD – DOUBLE VESSEL DISEASE (LCX & RCA) MID LAD STENT 40-50% INSTENT RESTENOSIS PATENT DISTAL RCA STENT LCX was ruled to be the culprit vessel for the patient going into sudden cardiac arrest. Based on the above CAG ﬁndings the patient was suggested for PTCA+, STENTS TO MID LCX & MID RCA. Due to ﬁnancial constraints the attendants did not want to undergo further management and the patient was discharged at request in a haemodynamically stable condition. A day post extubation patient was able to speak well, could recognise her children, no focal deﬁcits were observed, memory was found to be excellent with the patient being able to completely recall the events preceding her presentation to ER. She could clearly remember her developing chest discomfort and also she being driven on a two wheeler between her two sons. Hence it can be safe to presume that in this patient the time between cardiac arrest and the start of CPR is very narrow and one of the main contributing factors for the patient making a complete neurological recovery post cardiac arrest and ROSC following CPR. Quick recognition of cardiac arrest, prompt and high quality CPR, good ICU monitoring with timely recognition and correction of metabolic parameters, coordination between various specialties/ specialists also play a vital role in a successful outcome. A note to the general public -THE GOLDEN HOUR The ﬁrst hour after the onset/start of heart attack is called the golden hour. Appropriate action within ﬁrst 60 minutes of a heart attack can reverse its effects. The Golden Hour is a window of opportunity that impacts a patient’s survival and quality of life following a heart attack. It is a critical time. This is because the heart muscle starts to die within 80-90 minutes after it stops getting blood and within six hours, almost all the affected parts of the heart could be irreversibly damaged. So, the faster normal blood ﬂow is re-established, the lesser would be the damage to the heart.

Cardiovascular Risk Factors

Abdullah Saleem — Mon, 20 Jan 2020 06:37:22 +0000

Cardiovascular diseases have become highly common in most of the people due to the lifestyle changes in the current era. People in this generation are more prone to cardiovascular diseases because of their improper habits, obesity, lack of exercises and more. There are several reasons for the cause of cardiovascular diseases. Some of the heart-related diseases eventually lead to cardiovascular risk factors. Get to know more about the risk factors in heart diseases, coronary arteries and other cardiovascular diseases through this blog. Here is an excerpt from a video interview with Dr. Shashanka Chunduri, Senior Consultant Interventional Cardiologist, Omni Hospitals, Vizag on Cardiovascular risk factors, types of risk factors, its causes, heart disease complications and the ways to prevent different types of cardiovascular diseases.

Q. What are cardiovascular diseases?

A. Cardiovascular diseases are conditions that usually affect the heart function and the structures of the heart. Cardiovascular diseases are classified into four major groups.

1. Heart Attacks

These are the diseases that affect the heart. A heart attack is also known as myocardial infarction.

2. Brain Strokes

A brain stroke another group that comes under cardiovascular diseases. Due to the interruption or reduction of blood flow to the brain, people usually get a brain stroke.

3. Peripheral Artery Diseases

In this group of cardiovascular disease, lower limbs of the patient are involved. Some of them feel extreme pain in the limbs while walking. Some others may develop ulcers that require interventions. As a result of serious ulcers, some of the patients may require amputations. Amputation is a surgical procedure that involves the removal of a limb.

4. Aortic Diseases

People might get aortic diseases having the involvement of aorta. Aorta is the largest artery in the human body that comes from the heart and supplies the entire body. Aortic Aneurysm: It is one of the major aortic diseases. The enlargement of the aorta is known as an aneurysm. Aortic Dissection: It is another aortic disease. Aortic Dissection is a serious condition whenever ruptures take place in the wall of the major artery carrying blood outside the heart. These are the four major groups in cardiovascular diseases.

Q. What are the main risk factors for cardiovascular diseases?

A. The risk factors for cardiovascular diseases are classified as modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors. Non-modifiable risk factors are the factors that are not in our control mostly related to biological and environmental. On the other hand, modifiable risk factors can be handled by changing certain things in our lifestyle. By making slight changes in the lifestyle of a person, it is possible to prevent and modulate the modifiable risk factors.

Q. What are the Non-modifiable risk factors?

A. The non-modifiable risk factors are uncontrollable. Some of the major non-modifiable risk factors include: Age: Age is the major non-modifiable risk factor. As people grow older, there are higher chances of developing cardiovascular diseases. As the age increases, the vascular system undergoes specific changes like increased calcium deposits in the blood vessels, damage to the small vascular system and more. By the time people reach the age of 70 to 80 years, the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases is more common. Gender: In terms of gender, male people are highly prone to cardiovascular diseases. Some of the causes include lifestyle, genetic Y chromosome affects. In females, they have a female hormone namely Estrogen that protects them against the cause of heart diseases. It increases HDL and lowers cardiovascular risk. This hormone in females helps them in getting these diseases until their menopause stage. So, males have high chances to get cardiovascular diseases compared to females. Family History: If anyone in the family of a patient [like the mother, sister, father or grandfather, brother] had a heart attack before the age of 55 years then, there is a risk of getting cardiovascular disease is high. It is also an uncontrollable risk factor that is not in the hands of people. Ethnicity: In comparison with European countries, people in South countries are highly prone to cardiovascular risks. Indians and Africans have higher chances of getting such diseases. Socio-economic status: It is another major risk factor. The low socio-economic people have more tendencies to cardiovascular risks because of their lifestyle, lack of awareness and more.

Q. Is high salt bad for the heart?

A. Yes. The increased usage of salt is definitely a risk to the cardiovascular system. It enhances the blood pressure and salt has fluid retention. People must restrict the usage of salt to 3 grams in their day to day basis. As a result, we can reduce the chances of getting high blood pressure. Pickles, fast food items, papads and other things have added salt. Mostly, people across the world use more salt in their daily food. It is advisable to minimize the usage of salt and added salt to our routine foods. This way, one can reduce cardiovascular risks.

Q. What are the modifiable risk factors?

A. Modifiable risk factors are controllable risk factors. Some of them include: Smoking: People who smoke frequently are highly prone to heart attacks, strokes and other cardiovascular diseases. Nicotine, carbon monoxide, harmful tobacco products, carbon dioxide and more are present in the smoking products. Due to the usage of nicotine, it constrains the blood vessels eventually causing blood flow interruptions. There are increased chances of thrombus formation in the blood clots and blood vessels. If an individual stops smoking, it reduces the risks of cardiovascular diseases for about 30 to 36 percent. Hypertension: It is also directly associated with various cardiovascular risks. Due to increased blood pressure, some of them may get brain strokes, heart attacks and renal failure. The ideal blood pressure in an individual is 120/80 or below 130. Diabetes: It increases the chance of strokes. One must maintain normal blood sugar levels to prevent cardiovascular risk. High Cholesterol: The higher deposits of cholesterol in blood vessels lead to heart blocks, heart attacks and more. Obesity and Lack of Exercise: These two factors are highly prone to the cause of cardiovascular diseases. Unhealthy Diet: Increased consumption of saturated foods [from animal sources] is more prone to cardiovascular risks like heart attacks and strokes.

Q. At what age one should worry about cholesterol? What is the Cholesterol level that requires medication?

A. Cholesterol is another major concern in several folks across the world. In fact, cholesterol gets deposited in the body. According to the US recommendations, one must get to know his/her lipid profile at the age of 20. Further, they can get cholesterol level check-up every 5 or 6 years. People who reach 40 years of age, they must assess the lipid profile as well as the cardiovascular risk score assessment. One must maintain their cholesterol levels based on these assessments. If you already have a heart attack or stroke then, you must maintain lower LDL i.e., less than 70 LDL. If you don’t have any such heart problems but have smoking habits, hypertension and above 40 years then, you must get your risk assessment. After checking the score, if the risk is more than 20 percent then, you must definitely maintain the LDL less than 70. If the risk is below 7.5 then, you can have 100 LDL.

Q. What are the common habits that damage the heart?

A. Some of the common habits that cause severe damage to the heart include smoking, drugs, and more. Due to these habits, people may get Vasoconstriction at a younger age.

Lack of Exercise
Obesity
Consumption of fast foodstuff, junk food with high salts [High Trans fats]
Usage of oil more than 2 times

Q. Can stress cause heart disease?

A. Any kind of stress at home or office may lead to sympathetic overactivity. It causes high blood pressure. As a result, it causes hormonal imbalance and also causes endothelial damage because of increased stress. All these are more prone to cardiac events. Some of the stress-relieving activities like doing meditation will definitely help in preventing heart attacks.

Q. What is good cholesterol and bad cholesterol?

A. Cholesterol is the major lipid in the body. As they are not water-soluble and cannot flow in the blood, they are attached to proteins and form lipoproteins. Good cholesterol and Bad Cholesterol are the two types of lipoproteins. Cholesterol is actually required for the growth of body cells or membranes in the blood. It also helps in the production of sex hormones. Usually, excess cholesterol forms in the body coming through diet, the liver will deposit in the blood vessels. It forms blocks in the blood vessels. Good Cholesterol is also known as HDL [High-Density Lipoprotein] that works like a scavenger. It has the ability to collect excess cholesterol from the cells or blood vessels and carries it to the liver. In the liver, good cholesterol is metabolized. HDL removes cholesterol from blood vessels and carries it to the liver. On the other hand, LDL is Low-Density Lipoprotein or bad cholesterol. It carries cholesterol from the liver to tissues and other parts whenever required. If bad cholesterol is in excess quantity, it gets deposited in the blood vessels and leads to the formation of clots.

Q. Is it possible to get a heart attack with no risk factors?

A. Yes, it is possible. Almost 70 percent of people may get a heart attack with some risk factors. The remaining 30 percent of them may get a heart attack without showing any sort of risk factors. Some of the genetic studies are being done to find out the actual cause of heart attack.

Q. What Kind of Exercise Benefit the Heart? How much time?

A. Some of the exercises like aerobic exercise will benefit the heart by diminishing the endothelial dysfunction. An individual must do 30 minutes a day or 150 minutes per week may benefit the heart. Some of the aerobic exercises include running, jogging, swimming, treadmill and more.

Q. Explain the primary and secondary heart disease preventions?

A. Primary prevention is taking necessary steps to prevent the occurrence of heart diseases like stroke or heart attack. In such a case, the person must take risk factor assessment and prevent it before the occurrence of cardiovascular disease. On the other hand, secondary prevention is nothing but preventing the heart attack for the second time. It means, the person might have an attack earlier and should try to prevent the cardiovascular disease that may cause for the second time.

Q. What is the Ideal Blood Pressure? What are the Signs of heart strokes?

A. The ideal blood pressure in an individual is less than 120/80. Above 120 to 139 is considered normal high blood pressure. If the blood pressure is above 130/80, it is considered stage 1 hypertension.

Q. Are changing oils periodically good for the heart?

A. There are different types of fats such as saturated, unsaturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. One must avoid the usage of saturated fats and Trans fats. Saturated fats are produced from animal sources such as ghee, curd and more. People should minimize the usage of saturated fats to at least 10 percent in the total calories. On the other hand, Unsaturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats are beneficial to the heart. They are available in the form of vegetables, nuts, fish and more. By changing oils periodically or monthly basis, it will be definitely beneficial to the heart. It can be olive oil, rice bran oil, sunflower oil and others.

Q. Is refined oil good for health?

A. There is no significant harm to the usage of refined oil. But, the case is one shouldn’t reuse the oil for the second time. Reusing the oil more than 2 or 3 times will be harmful to the heart.

Q. Is it important to know your BMI?

A. Obesity is a risk factor in cardiovascular diseases. BMI is Body Mass Index. One should balance their height and weight by checking the BMI. If an individual’s weight is more than 25 kgs is considered overweight and above 30 kgs is obese. Ideal waist circumference in men is 90 cm while it is 80 cm in women.

Q. Is cardiovascular disease preventable?

A. Yes, it is possible to prevent cardiovascular disease by up to 75 percent by following certain steps.

By avoiding smoking
Eating a healthy diet
Being physically active
Normal blood pressure
Normal Blood Glucose Level
Having normal cholesterol and BMI

Q. What is the role of Aspirin in the prevention of Heart Disease?

A. Aspirin plays a key role in the prevention of secondary cardiovascular diseases. But, one should use it only after when the doctor prescribes it. In terms of primary prevention, the usage of Aspirin is not recommended. If the person’s age is above 50 years and having a risk of about 10 percent then, the doctors may advise them to take 75mg of Aspirin. Before taking this medicine, the patient must assess their risks like bleeding.

Q. How common are heart complications from non-cardiac surgery?

A. The risk is less than 5 percent in non-cardiac surgery patients. The heart complications may be high in peripheral vascular surgeries, aortic surgeries, cancer surgeries and major abdominal bisections. In some patients, they may get pulmonary thromboembolism. Dr Shashanka Chunduri Senior Consultant Interventional Cardiologist Giggles by OMNI RK

Cardiology

Fri, 24 Feb 2017 08:05:41 +0000

The Department of Cardiology at OMNI Hospitals looks after cardiac emergencies and many forms of heart and blood vessel problems. Patients who are critically ill and suffering from cardiac abnormalities are admitted to the ‘Coronary Care Unit.’ We treat all kinds of heart-related ailments including ischemic heart disease, valvular heart disease, hypertension, vascular problems, cardiac rhythm abnormalities and congenital heart problems.

Cardiothoracic Surgery

The department of cardiothoracic surgery performs a wide range of surgeries. The centre’s complete spectrum of cardiothoracic surgeries includes adult cardiac surgery, paediatric and congenital cardiac repairs, aneurysm surgery, thoracic surgeries, heart and lung transplantations, heart failure surgery and thoracic and lung surgery.

We have the best of expertise as far as our team is concerned. Each team member brings international experience to treatments and procedures at the center. The best and most advanced technologies and instrumentation are available in the department of cardiothoracic and vascular surgery.

Various Tests & Procedures of the Cardiology Department

Non-Invasive tests

Electrocardiogram (ECG)
Echocardiography (Echo)
Treadmill test (TMT) or stress test
Holter test
Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring

Invasive Cardiology

Cardiac catheterisation
Coronary angiogram
Electrophysiological procedures

Invasive Procedures

Coronary angioplasty
Peripheral vessel angioplasty
Balloon valvuloplasty
Defect closures
Radiofrequency ablation
Pacemaker implantation

Why should you choose OMNI Hospitals?

OMNI Hospitals boasts some of the best doctors and equipment in this part of the country. At our hospitals, no stone is left unturned in ensuring the best pre and post-operative care. The state-of-the-art cath lab, with experienced doctors and well-trained nurses are there to ensure you get the best in medical treatment.

Sub Specialities

Cardiology and Cardio-Thoracic

Coronary artery disease or blockages of the arteries in the heart
Blockages in the heart valve(s)
Leaking heart valve(s)
Aneurysms
Heart failure
Atrial fibrillation
Lung cancer
Severe emphysema
Oesophagal cancer
Gastroesophageal reflux disease
Hiatal hernias
Swallowing disorders such as achalasia
Angioplasty
Angiogram
2D ECHO
Bypass Surgery

Download e-Brochure on CardiologyThe post Cardiology first appeared on OMNI Hospitals.