Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is often interchangeably used with the term heart disease. Max Institute of Heart and Vascular Sciences, which is one of the best heart hospitals in India provides treatment for conditions like heart defects, congenital heart disease, pulmonary heart failure, and coronary artery diseases.
We are a tertiary care centre equipped with cutting edge technology to offer cardiac care program to our patients. We also offer an alternative treatment for end-stage heart failure patients with procedures like Pacemaker, ACD, CRT, Heart Hole surgeries (ASD, VSD, PDA), Paediatric Cardiac Surgery, Angioplasty/Angiography.
Our Institute is a one-stop destination for several kinds of cardiac treatments like Invasive and Interventional Cardiology, Electrophysiology, pacemaker and Arrhythmia services, management of abdominal and descending thoracic aneurysm and varicose veins.
Our hospitals are equipped with state of the art Cath Labs, operation theatres, and several other heart care technologies.
What is Cardiology?
Derived from the Greek words, “Cardia” meaning heart and “logy” that means “study of”, cardiology is the branch of medicine that deals with the defects and diseases associated with the heart. Such diseases are managed by cardiologists. The surgery, however, is performed by heart surgeons who specialise in surgical procedures to correct heart problems. Below are some of the important things people should know about cardiovascular diseases:
At Max Hospitals, we use the latest technologies and methodologies to be the best cardiac hospital in India.
Types of Cardiovascular Diseases
Most of the heart problems occur due to structural problems, blood clots and damaged vessels. Some of the most common types of cardiovascular diseases include:
It occurs when the heart does not get enough blood supply. This is due to the accumulation of plaque in the blood vessel which interrupts the blood flow. To restore the blood supply, heart starts beating faster and harder, and this condition is known as angina. Its signs and symptoms vary from person to person. However, some of them are common which are as follows:
- Discomfort, tightness or heaviness in the chest
- Ache in other parts of the body such as the back, shoulders, neck or jaw
- Shortness of breath
- Sweating and dizziness
- Nausea
People who experience these symptoms must visit cardiology hospital and seek medical assistance to avoid further complications. It must be noted that the severity of angina can be different in different people. Hence, getting it diagnosed is the best step one can take to identify the underlying issue.
This refers to a situation when the heart either skips or adds an extra beat interrupting the normal rhythm. At times, arrhythmia may not cause any issue and seems like fluttering or racing heart. However, in some cases, its effects may cause life-threating symptoms. There are various types of arrhythmia:
- Fast heartbeat (tachyarrhythmia)
- Slow heartbeat (bradyarrhythmia)
- Irregular heartbeat (most commonly this is atrial fibrillation)
As far as the signs and symptoms are concerned, they may differ from person to person. Some of the common ones include:
- Racing heartbeat
- Skipped heartbeats
- Pounding or fluttering in the chest
- Sudden shortness of breath
- Periodic weakness
- Dizziness
- Fainting or sudden loss of consciousness
One of the most serious heart complications, a heart attack is also known as a myocardial infarction (MI), acute myocardial infarction, coronary occlusion or coronary thrombosis. It occurs due to sudden interruption of blood supply to the heart.
The blockage results from the build-up of fatty substance called plaque in the inner walls of the arteries. When plaque deposit breaks down, various blood cells get stuck to it forming a blood clot. Some of the symptoms that a person having a heart attack may experience are as follows:
- Strong pain in the chest
- Feeling nauseated
- Shortness of breath
- Coughing
- Vomiting
- Sweating and uneasiness
A heart attack can also result in the acute damage of heart muscles; hence, it needs to be treated as soon as possible. In cases where the person does not get quick treatment for restoring the blood flow, they may face permanent damage to the heart muscles. We at Max Healthcare are known to be the best heart hospital in Delhi with our excellent treatment for various heart issues including heart attack
Also called congestive heart failure, it occurs when the heart muscles are not able to pump blood throughout the body. Certain health conditions including high blood pressure and coronary artery disease often lead to heart failure. Its symptoms are:
- Fatigue
- Trouble in breathing
- Irregular heartbeats
- Swelling in legs
- A persistent cough
- Swelling of abdomen
- Loss of appetite
- Reduced concentration power
- Rapid weight gain due to fluid retention
Most people tend to self-diagnose themselves when they experience such symptoms that lead to further complications. Therefore, the best step is to visit the cardiology hospital and get immediate treatment for a better recovery.
It refers to the damage in one or more heart valves that can develop after rheumatic fever. The fever usually occurs as a result of strep throat or scarlet fever which is not treated properly. Rheumatic fever can damage the heart valves, leading to rheumatic heart disease. If left untreated, rheumatic heart disease can cause complications such as heart failure, atrial fibrillation and infection of the valves. Common signs and symptoms of this heart condition are:
- Heart palpitations or missing heartbeats
- Pain in the chest area
- Thumping sensations in the chest
- Shortness of breath
- Excessive fatigue
- Swelling in stomach, ankles, and wrists
Also known as a congenital heart defect, this refers to the structural defect in the heart which is present at birth. The defects can be related to the heart walls, heart valves, arteries and veins near the heart. The defect affects the normal blood flow that can lead to various complications. These complications may vary, with few infants not needing treatment while others require treatments like surgery and even heart transplants.
The symptoms of congenital heart disease may not occur at the time of birth and develop over time. The symptoms that do develop overtime in new-borns are listed below:
- Abnormal heartbeat
- Bluish skin, lips, toes and fingers
- Trouble in breathing
- Pain in chest
- Slow growth
- Low birth weight
This heart condition refers to the damage or defect in one or more of the four valves – mitral, tricuspid, aortic and pulmonic valves, present in the heart. Common conditions that can cause valvular heart disease are congenital valve disease and rheumatic fever. It can also occur due to ageing. Its symptoms can occur suddenly and need medical attention. Some of the common symptoms are:
- Wheezing and shortness of breath
- Swelling in feet, hands or abdomen
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Rapid weight gain
- Chest pain and palpitations
Diagnosis
Most of the 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.
To avoid serious complications, people are advised to seek medical assistance and get the diagnosis done for suitable treatment done on time. We at Max Healthcare are considered as the best hospital in Delhi as we have modern diagnostic machines that give accurate results. Below are some of the common diagnostic tests that are performed to diagnose cardiovascular diseases:
The doctors perform various lab tests to check for the usual signs of heart diseases and their risk factors. Some of the things that are checked include cholesterol level, lipid components of blood and fats.
One of the most common tests, an EKG/ECG is used to record the electrical activity of the heart. 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 heart on a small portable machine. This test is usually used to determine angina attack, heart attack and arrhythmias.
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. At times, doctors also 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.
This test is performed to check how the patient’s body reacts to the 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.
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 of a camera’s size and has wires with silver dotted electrodes that are 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.
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 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 working of the heart by measuring pressure and flow of the blood.
- Cardiac Computerized Tomography (CT) Scan
A common imaging test, a cardiac CT scan is used to collect the images of the heart and chest to check for the issues. During the test, the patients are made to lie on a table inside the machine which consists of 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 the pictures that help the doctors in determining the heart problem.
Treatments
Once the diagnosis is done, the doctors suggest the best suitable treatment for the patients. Here are some of the common treatment options that are followed for cardiovascular diseases:
Doctors advise patients to follow a healthy lifestyle that includes eating a low-fat diet, performing regular exercise, quitting smoking and alcohol.
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.
Mostly used for patients suffering from arrhythmia, a cardiac pacemaker or an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) are devices that are implanted in the chest or abdomen to control irregular heartbeats. The devices are placed through minor 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 Repair or Replacement and percutaneous coronary intervention and heart transplant. People looking for cardiology hospital in Delhi can visit our state-of-the-art facility to get the best heart surgery in Delhi. We also specialise in heart bypass surgery in India.
