Best Cardiologist in delhi

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

 

Who is a Preventive Cardiologist?

 

A preventive cardiologist is a medical professional who specializes in preventing cardiovascular disease. The main focus of the cardiologist is to look for conditions that may lead to a cardiovascular condition, such as high blood pressure and obesity, and treat them before they develop into a more serious condition. A person who specializes in preventive cardiology is a cardiologist. Cardiologists promote healthy lifestyles and advise patients about the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. They also counsel people with abnormal heart rhythms or who have undergone cardiac procedures such as angioplasty, bypass surgery, and pacemaker implantation. There are many ways to prevent cardiovascular disease. The first is to maintain a healthy weight and diet by eating well-balanced meals that include fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

 

What are the qualifications of Cardiologists?

 

Cardiologists are highly-trained MD physicians with superspecializations in the field of Cardiology who specialize in the study and treatment of cardiovascular illnesses and disorders, such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, irregular heartbeats, coronary artery disease, heart attacks, heart defects and infections, and other associated conditions.

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What are the services and treatments offered by Cardiologists?

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Cardiologists  can perform a number of procedures in the area of cardiology. Some common services include:

 

1. ECG (Electrocardiogram)

The ECG is a basic diagnostic test that records the heart's electrical activity and gives an overview of the heart's function. The 12 lead ECG provides cardiologist doctors with information about the structure, function, and pathophysiologic processes that are occurring in the heart.

 

2. Echocardiogram (2D ECHO)

2D Echocardiography is a form of ultrasound imaging where sound waves are used to produce an image. 2D Echo is used by heart specialists to assess the function of the left ventricle, which can be used as a marker for coronary artery disease.

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3. Stress Echo

A stress echo is an echocardiogram that is used to assess the heart's response to physical exercise. It gives details about the heart's contractility in response to physical stress or workload. The Stress Echo is a form of non-invasive dynamic cardiac testing, which is used to assess the severity of coronary artery disease.

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4.Dobutamine Stress Echo

For those who are unable to run or perform exercise due to old age, osteoarthritis, etc., this test is performed by injecting dobutamine (an inotropic drug that increases heart rate) into the bloodstream and observing the cardiac functions. This allows cardiologists to observe the heart working in real-time, which helps them detect patterns that indicate severe coronary artery narrowing or other cardiac conditions.

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5. ABPM

Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring, or ABPM, is the measurement of blood pressure at intervals over a 24-hour period. The measurements are taken at home while the subject is doing his routine activities without the need for hospital admission. The data collected during the test is used to evaluate circadian blood pressure variations in some hypertensive patients who are experiencing symptoms of sleep apnea or nocturnal hypertension. This provides information that may help our cardiologist in delhi to identify patients with white-coat hypertension, masked hypertension, pseudo hypertension and also to assess who are not responding to treatment.

 

6.TMT /Stress test

The treadmill test is a measurement of the work capacity and endurance of an individual using a mechanized treadmill. The individual walks or runs on a moving belt to try and measure their maximum heart rate & BP, ECG changes, and maximum oxygen consumption. This test is often used by cardiologists as a fitness evaluation and can evaluate an individual at risk for developing myocardial ischemia or future heart attacks

 

7. CT ANGIOGRAPHY

A non-invasive diagnostic procedure is used to evaluate the presence and severity of coronary artery disease. It involves the use of a CT scan machine to take multiple cross-sectional images of the heart and this helps visualize narrowings and blockages in coronary arteries.

 

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Why should you care about cardiac health?

Heart disease is the most common cause of death in India and the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) says it kills more people than diabetes or lung cancer combined! How much risk are we taking by ignoring our hearts ?– especially when heart diseases are mostly preventable with simple changes in our lifestyle and controlling our co-morbidities like BP, sugar, cholesterol, obesity, etc.

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What are the types of cardiac diseases treated by Heart specialists?

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1. Hypertension

Hypertension is a term used to describe high blood pressure. Hypertension can be caused by many factors such as increased age, obesity, and genetics. The American Heart Association notes that it can lead to various complications such as heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, blindness, epistaxis, and chronic heart failure.

According to leading heart specialists in the world, there are two types of hypertension: Primary and Secondary.

Primary hypertension is usually diagnosed in adults who have an underlying condition such as kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, or a narrowing of the arteries to the kidneys. In contrast, secondary hypertension is often due to an endocrine disorder such as pregnancy, obesity, polycystic ovary syndrome, or Cushing’s syndrome.

There are treatments for hypertension including medications and switching to a healthier lifestyle that could include exercise and diet changes. Hypertension treatment can be in the form of medication with diuretics, beta-blockers, nitrates, calcium channel blockers (CCB), or angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-inhibitors) & angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB).

 

2. Lipid disorders

High cholesterol is a condition characterized by high LDL, or "bad" cholesterol, and low HDL, or "good" cholesterol. The increased LDL causes plaque buildup in the arteries, which can lead to atherosclerosis and heart disease. In Indian heart patients, high Triglycerides are very common and cause dyslipidemia and NAFLD

 

3. Angina/ Chest pain

Angina is chest pain that affects the heart. It is a condition that can be either stable or unstable. Angina is typically caused by insufficient blood flowing to the heart muscle due to narrowed arteries (coronary artery disease), which may be the result of atherosclerosis, high cholesterol levels, stress, smoking, diabetes, or an unhealthy diet. Symptoms of angina include chest pain or pressure, shortness of breath, and unusual fatigue. The pain typically goes away after resting for a while.

A CT / Coronary angiogram will determine if the person has coronary artery disease; however, if the person has symptoms of angina it is best to seek medical attention. Treatment is with nitroglycerin, beta-blockers, aspirin, and other medications.

 

4. Palpitation/Arrhythmia

Arrhythmia is a medical word for a disturbance of the heartbeat. It can be a problem if the heart rate is too slow, too fast, or irregular. It can be caused by various reasons such as high blood pressure or coronary artery disease. There are a number of arrhythmias including atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, and premature atrial contractions. They are associated with an increased risk of cardiac syncope,  stroke and can also lead to sudden cardiac arrest. Premature contractions may be harmless but they can also signify other underlying problems such as pulmonary hypertension or mitral valve prolapse. It is diagnosed by Holter monitoring or an Extended loop recorder (ELR).

 

5. Heart failure

Heart failure is a medical condition where the heart is unable to deliver adequate blood flow to manage the demands of the body. It is classified as either systolic or diastolic according to the type of impairment that limits its ability to function. Systolic heart failure, which is most common, occurs when the ventricles are unable to adequately meet the demand for blood flowing out of them by enlarging and filling with more blood during contraction.

 

6. Cardiomyopathy is a condition in which the heart muscle becomes very weak. Heart failure is the result of this disease, where the heart cannot pump blood through the body efficiently. A person will feel short of breath and experience fatigue. Patients with heart failure may also experience chest pain, swelling of ankles, and fluid buildup in the lungs.

 

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