Understanding Cardiovascular Diseases

Cardiovascular Diseases 

Cardiovascular diseases are conditions that include structural problems of the heart, diseased blood vessels, and blood clots. 

The types of cardiovascular diseases include: 

• Congenital heart diseases
• Arrhythmias or abnormal heart rhythms
• Coronary artery disease
• Heart attack
• Heart failure
• Dilated cardiomyopathy
• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
• Mitral regurgitation
• Pulmonary stenosis
• Rheumatic Heart Disease
• Stroke 

Preventing cardiovascular diseases:

• Controlling blood pressure levels
• Healthy weight
• Regular exercise regime
• Low levels of salt, sugar, and saturated fat in the diet.
• Limiting consumption of alcohol
• Stress management 

Heart Failure:

 Heart failure is a condition in which the heart fails to pump blood at the optimum level. The most common symptoms of heart failure are pain in the chest, shortness of breath, fatigue, and rapid heartbeat. 

Causes of heart failure: 

• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Heart attack
• Diabetes Mellitus
• Coronary artery disease
• Congenital heart defects (present from birth)

Left-sided heart failure 

The most common type occurs when the bottom left part of the heart, the left ventricle, doesn't pump efficiently. This defect prevents the body from getting oxygen-rich blood.

Right-sided heart failure 

This type of heart failure occurs when the right side of the heart cannot pump blood to the lungs to collect oxygen. 

Common symptoms

• Shortness of breath: When lying down or after exertion
• Swelling: Swelling occurs in the feet and ankles and could be accompanied by weight gain
• Constipation: Difficult bowel movements, water retention, and bloating
• Loss of appetite: Fatigue and inability to exercise 

Treatments offered at Fortis Kalyan

Fortis Kalyan offers extensive treatments in the Cardiology Department

• CABG (Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting) 

This surgery improves the flow of blood to the heart and is used in patients suffering from coronary heart diseases. 

• Coronary Angioplasty 

This procedure uses a balloon to open up a blockage in an artery that has become narrow due to atherosclerosis, this improves the blood flow to the heart. 

• Angiography

A painless procedure that uses a contrast dye to detect blockages in coronary arteries. 

• Stenting 

A minimally invasive procedure in which a small tube, stent, is inserted into a blocked artery to keep it open and restore normal blood flow. 

• Heart failure device 

These are electronic devices placed in the body to keep your heart beating with a normal rhythm. 

• Permanent pacemaker 

A small device is placed in your chest or abdomen to control the rate and rhythm of your heartbeat. 

• Keyhole bypass surgery 

Surgery to bypass blockages in arteries to prevent cardiac issues such as chest pain and heart attacks. 

• Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR)

 This minimally invasive procedure requires placement of a stent-graft within the aneurysm through minor incisions. 

• Valvuloplasty 

This procedure is done to repair a stiff heart valve that has a narrow opening. It is also known as balloon valvuloplasty because it uses a balloon catheter inside the valve.