Cardiology

Heart arrhythmia is a condition where the heart beats faster or slower than usual or when it misses a beat. The heart is a muscular organ which pumps blood through the blood vessels of the circulatory system. Blood provides the body with oxygen and nutrients. The normal heart rate for a body at rest is between 60-100 beats per minute. Serious types of arrhythmia can cause many problems, such as heart failure or stroke. Several types of arrhythmia prevent the heart from supplying the different organs with oxygen-rich blood. This often results in damage or total failure of the organs.

Heart failure is a chronic and progressive medical condition where the heart does not function and eventually fails. The heart is an organ that pumps blood to various parts of the body continuously for a lifetime with the help of its own muscle called the cardiac muscle. There might be a situation where the heart cannot pump enough blood or function the way it should. It may try to make up for the insufficiency by enlarging itself or building more muscle as it is forced to pump faster to keep up with the demand. The effects on the body can be negative as it may lead to fluid build up in other organs like the lungs and liver and if the heart weakens or becomes more damaged trying to do this.

A heart murmur is made by blood flow within the heart and can be heard through a stethoscope. Heart murmurs can be congenital and present at birth or may be a condition where it develops later in life. A heart murmur may indicate underlying heart issues. They are usually harmless but may require follow-up tests to ensure the condition of your heart.

Heart palpitation is a heightened awareness of your own heartbeat that is beating too fast, skipping a beat, fluttering, or otherwise irregular. You may also feel this sensation in your chest, throat, or neck. These usually not serious or harmful and may be a result of stress and anxiety, or other consumption factors.

Coronary heart disease is also called coronary artery disease and is a cardiovascular disease of the heart. The heart is an organ that pumps oxygen-rich blood to different parts of the body through the arteries.  Atherosclerosis occurs due to excessive cholesterol levels in the blood that cause fatty deposits called plaque to stick to the walls of the arteries which causes the narrowing the blood’s passageway, reducing or cutting off the supply of oxygen to the heart.

Heart Valve Disease is a condition where the valves in the heart malfunction. The heart valves open and close to allow blood to flow through the atria and ventricles of the heart and in the correct direction. Valve disorders range from narrowing or stenosis, or not being able to close properly. They greatly affect the heart’s ability to pump enough blood to the rest of the body.
Heart valve disorders can cause the blood to clot which can block major arteries in the body which can potentially lead to a stroke or a heart attack. 

Hypertension is a common chronic condition where blood is pumped around the body at too high a pressure. Also known as high blood pressure, it does not show obvious symptoms and left untreated, can lead to serious diseases, such as stroke, kidney failure, and heart disease.

A heart attack, or myocardial infarction, occurs when an artery supplying the heart with blood and oxygen becomes blocked. Your arteries become narrow when you have coronary heart disease and blood can’t flow as well as it should. Deposits made up of fat, protein and cells build up over time, forming plaques in your heart's arteries. When the plaque ruptures, it causes platelets and blood clots to form around it. You suffer a heart attack when your blood supply is blocked by a blood clot. Your heart does not get its oxygen if a blood clot blocks your artery and this can lead to permanent damage. 

​Internal Medicine is concerned with the diagnosis and non-surgical treatment of disorders of the internal structures of the body - the heart, lungs, the liver and gastro-intestinal tract, the kidneys and urinary tract, the brain, the spinal column, nerves, muscles and joints.

Cardiovascular Imaging is concerned with chest discomfort, palpitations, shortness of breath and other varying signs that are symptoms of heart diseases

Neuroradiology is a subspecialty of radiology focusing on the diagnosis and characterisation of disorders and abnormalities of the central and peripheral nervous system, spine, head and neck using neuroimaging techniques.Disorders of the brain, head and neck can be diagnosed with a variety of imaging techniques such as CT Scan, ultrasound and MRI.

A blood test is an important diagnostic tool used to evaluate your overall health. Blood is drawn and tested for a wide range of disorders, including anemia, infection and leukemia.

MRI, or Magnetic Resonance Imaging, is a painless and non-invasive procedure where a magnetic field and radio waves are used to view objects in your body. Radio waves are transmitted to a receiver in the machine which forms an image of the body that can be used to diagnose various health issues. Common areas that are diagnosed with MRI include the joints, brain, breasts, heart and blood vessels.

Coronary angiography is a diagnostic procedure to observe how blood flows through the heart’s arteries and blood vessel function using x-ray imaging technology. It detects artery narrowing and blockage and is the most commonly performed type of cardiac catheterisation procedure used to diagnose and treat conditions  related to the heart and blood vessels.

During a coronary angiography procedure, a contrast dye is injected  into the heart’s blood vessels, which will confirm a blockage and its location. Your doctor may perform an angioplasty or bypass surgery to treat the blockage.

A coronary angioplasty is a procedure where a tiny balloon is used  to widen the artery that is narrowed or blocked. The procedure is commonly done when a fatty substance called plaque attaches to the walls of an artery. Known as atherosclerosis, this buildup of plaque causes the inside of the artery to narrow, restricting blood flow. It gives rise to a serious condition called coronary heart disease that is life threatening as it reduces heart function as the supply of fresh oxygenated blood to the heart is affected.

Pulse oximetry is a non-invasive and painless test that measures the amount of oxygen in your blood that are supplied by your heart and lungs. Oxygen is essential for your body to function and your heart, brain and other organs need oxygen to function optimally. This test is done to determine if you need to be treated for a heart or lung problem.

A blood pressure test is a non-invasive way of checking the pressure in your arteries caused by the pumping motion of the heart. Hypertension is a condition where the blood presure is high and this can be due to various reasons including genetics, a sedentary lifestyle, weight problems as well as organ disorders such as heart defects and kidney disease. Hypotension is a condition where the blood pressure is low and may be due to endocrinology disorders like diabetes and thyroid problems. Low blood pressure makes you feel constantly tired and dizzy.

Rehabilitation is the process of restoring and regaining the loss of a variety of physical, mental, and/or cognitive abilities needed for daily life. The loss may be due to ageing or a health condition, including chronic diseases or disorders, injuries or traumas.

Coronary Angioplasty, or Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty (PTCA), is a procedure used for opening clogged heart arteries. Angioplasty is the temporary insertion and inflation of a tiny balloon where the artery is clogged to help open and widen it.

Peripheral vascular disease (PVD) is a disorder that affects blood circulation and caused by a build up of fatty deposits that block the arteries, veins and blood vessels. PVD typically causes fatigue and pain in the legs especially during exercise.  Peripheral vascular disease is treated through lifestyle changes like exercising regularly and not smoking, and medication. Other factors include eating a healthy diet, losing weight if you're overweight and keeping alcohol consumption moderate.

Open heart surgery or a coronary bypass is a surgical procedure to treat coronary heart disease. It improves blood flow and oxygen supply to the heart by diverting blood around narrowed or clogged parts of the major arteries.