Overview
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a term that is often used interchangeably with heart disease. Heart Care Cardiac Center of Heart and Vascular Sciences is one of the best heart hospitals in India that offers treatment for various heart conditions, such as heart defects, congenital heart disease, pulmonary heart failure, and coronary artery diseases. As a tertiary care center, we are equipped with advanced technology to provide cardiac care programs to our patients. We also offer alternative treatments for end-stage heart failure patients, including procedures like Pacemaker, ACD, CRT, Heart Hole surgeries (ASD, VSD, PDA), Pediatric Cardiac Surgery, and Angioplasty/Angiography.
Our Center is a one-stop destination for several cardiac treatments like Invasive and Interventional Cardiology, Electrophysiology, pacemaker, and Arrhythmia services, and managing abdominal and descending thoracic aneurysms and varicose veins.
Our hospitals have state-of-the-art Cath Labs, operation theatres, and other heart care technologies.
What is Cardiology?
Derived from the Greek words “Cardia,” meaning heart, and “logy,” which means “study of, “cardiology is the branch of medicine that deals with the defects and diseases associated with the heart. Cardiologists manage such diseases. Heart Care Cardiac Center has a team of the best cardiologists in India. However, heart surgeons who specialize in surgical procedures to correct heart problems perform the surgery. Below are some of the important things people should know about cardiovascular diseases:
At Heart Care Cardiac Center of Heart and Vascular Sciences, we use the latest technologies and methodologies to be the best cardiac hospital in India.
Types of Cardiovascular Diseases
Most heart problems occur due to structural issues, blood clots, and damaged vessels. Some of the most common types of cardiovascular diseases include Angina, Arrhythmia, Heart Attack, Heart Failure, Rheumatic Heart Disease, Congenital Heart Disease, and Valvular Heart Disease.
Cardiovascular Diseases Diagnosis
Most cardiovascular diseases share some common signs and symptoms, such as shortness of breath and pain in the chest. This leads to confusion among the patients, and instead of visiting the top heart hospital in India, they start self-diagnosis or even self-treatment. Self-treatment may worsen the situation.
People are advised to seek medical assistance and get a diagnosis for suitable treatment on time to avoid serious complications. We at Heart Care Cardiac Center are considered the best hospital in Delhi, as we have modern diagnostic machines that give accurate results. Below are some of the standard diagnostic tests that are performed to diagnose cardiovascular diseases:
- Blood Tests – The doctors perform lab tests to check for the usual signs of heart disease and their risk factors. Some things to check include cholesterol level and blood, fat, and lipid components.
- Electrocardiogram (ECG) – One of the most common tests, an EKG/ECG, is used to record the heart’s electrical activity. An electrocardiogram shows the speed and the rhythm of the heart. During this painless test, the patient is strapped to the machine with several patches over the chest, ankles, and wrists. Then, the doctor records the activities of the heart on a small portable machine. This test is usually used to determine angina attacks, heart attacks, and arrhythmias.
- Echocardiogram – Also known as echocardiography or diagnostic cardiac ultrasound, this test is used to check the working and structure of the heart. The test uses sound waves that create a moving picture of the heart on the monitor. Doctors sometimes combine echocardiography with Doppler to see the areas of the heart with poor blood supply. This is also used to check which heart muscles are not contracting normally. Learn about the difference between electrocardiogram (ECG) and echocardiography (ECHO).
- Stress Test – This test checks how the patient’s body reacts to external stress. The patient is asked to run on a treadmill with the patches of EKG/ECG placed over their body, which is used to measure the heart’s activity. People who cannot exercise are given pills that increase their heart rate.
- Holter Monitoring – Doctors perform Holter monitoring to check irregularities in the heart rhythm, which are not easily detected during an ECG exam. The portable device is usually the size of a camera and has wires with silver-dotted electrodes stuck on the skin. The patient needs to wear a Holter monitor to record a continuous ECG. The test lasts for at least 24 to 72 hours.
- Cardiac Catheterization – Another test to diagnose cardiovascular disease, cardiac catheterization is an invasive procedure in which doctors insert a long, thin tube, known as a catheter, in an artery or vein in the neck, arm, or groin. The tube is then threaded through the blood vessel to the heart. A contrast dye is also inserted through the catheter to get detailed images of the valves, coronary arteries, and heart chambers. The test is performed to examine the heart’s working by measuring pressure and blood flow.
- Cardiac Computerized Tomography (CT) Scan – A standard imaging test, a cardiac CT scan collects images of the heart and chest to check for issues. During the test, the patients lie on a table inside the machine with an X-ray tube that scans the body and collects images.
- Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) – This test is performed to get 3D images of the heart. This imaging test uses magnets, radio waves, and a computer to create pictures that help the doctors determine the heart problem.
Cardiovascular Diseases Treatments
Once the diagnosis is made, the doctors suggest the most suitable treatment for the patient. Here are some of the standard treatment options that are followed for cardiovascular diseases:
- Lifestyle Changes – Doctors advise patients to follow a healthy lifestyle that includes eating a low-fat diet, performing regular exercise, and quitting smoking and alcohol.
- Medications – In cases where lifestyle changes are not enough to treat the heart disease, the doctors prescribe medications. The prescription depends on the type of heart disease the patient has been diagnosed with.
- Pacemakers or ICD – Mostly used for patients suffering from arrhythmia, a cardiac pacemaker, or an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) are devices implanted in the chest or abdomen to control irregular heartbeats. The devices are placed through minor surgery.
- Surgery – Surgeries are also performed in severe cases when medications cannot treat the patient. Some of the common heart surgeries that are performed include coronary artery bypass grafting, Heart Valve Replacement Or Repair, percutaneous coronary intervention, and heart transplant. People looking for a cardiology hospital in Delhi can visit our state-of-the-art facility to get the best heart surgery in Delhi. We also specialize in heart bypass surgery in India.