Patient Education Resources

Coronary Artery Disease is a group of conditions that include angina (stable or unstable), myocardial infarction, and possible cardiac arrest. It is also known as ischemic heart disease (IHD), in which the most common symptom is chest pain or discomfort, along with referred pain to the arms, shoulders, neck, back, or jaw. It also gives a sign of heartburn, which is most commonly misunderstood by acid reflux. The symptoms are associated with physical or mental stress, tachycardia, or bradycardia. Sometimes the symptoms are silent or can appear as heart attacks.

Heart disease is a complex issue that a variety of factors can cause. The important risk factors, include:

• High blood pressure: High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease, and women are at an increased risk of developing high blood pressure after menopause.
• High cholesterol: High cholesterol levels can increase the risk of heart disease, and women are more likely to have high cholesterol after menopause.
• Obesity: Obesity is a major risk factor for heart disease, and women are more likely to be obese than men.
• Smoking: Smoking is a major risk factor for heart disease, and indiviuals  who smoke are at an increased risk of developing heart disease.
• Gender/Age: Risk of CAD increases exponentially with age. Risk begins after 45 years of age in males and 55 years of age in females.
• Family history of heart disease: Persons  with a family history of heart disease are at an increased risk of developing it themselves.
• Physical Inactivity

Dietary control with physical activity can give a satisfactory result. You can take preventive measures to cut down on low-density lipids (LDL cholesterol), sugar levels, and blood pressure. We advise you to include whole grains, fibrous foods, fruits, and unsaturated fats in your diet. As much as possible, try to avoid excessive salt and sugar consumption.

Blood pressure numbers of less than 120/80 mm Hg is considered to be within the normal range.Readings more than 130/80 indicate high blood pressure and at this stage lifestyle changes are recommended.However if the values increase beyond 140/90 mm Hg then usually medicines are added to lifestyle modifications.High blood pressure is a “silent ” killer causing various diseases e.g heart attack, stroke, kidney failure , visual loss etc hence it is extremely important to protect yourself from these risks.

The term “angioplasty” means using a balloon to stretch open a narrowed or blocked artery. However, most modern angioplasty procedures also involve inserting a short wire-mesh tube, called a stent, into the artery during the procedure. The stent is left in place permanently to allow blood to flow more freely.For more information click here 

In most cases, the blood flow through the coronary arteries improves after an angioplasty. Many people find their symptoms get significantly better and they’re able to do more than they could before the procedure.
If you’ve had a heart attack, an angioplasty can increase your chances of surviving more than clot-busting medication (thrombolysis). The procedure can also reduce your chances of having another heart attack in the future.

Coronary angioplasty is a relatively safe procedure with few complications. Commonly, one can have minor discomfort or bruising under the skin where the catheter was inserted. More serious complications are less common ( usually less than 1 %) but can include damage to the artery where the sheath was inserted; allergic reaction to the contrast agent used during the procedure; damage to an artery in the heart; excessive bleeding requiring a blood transfusion; heart attack, stroke or death.

EKG is an essential non-invasive tool to assess the structural or functional anomalies in the heart and the associated blood vessels. It measures electrical activity across the heart and measures the rhythmic pattern.Click here for more information .

This is a non-invasive test to look at the heart and blood flow inside it. It is a type of ultrasound scan that uses high-frequency sound waves to create an image on a computer monitor, which is then analyzed by the cardiologist. It is extremely helpful in detecting any structural damage or defect in the heart or its various parts, and it can also study the flow of blood inside the heart chambers.

CABG stands for Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting. It is a type of surgery that is used to treat patients with severe coronary artery disease (CAD) and is also known as “open heart surgery “ or “bypass surgery” in layman’s language.

Plaque buildup narrows or obstructs the coronary arteries, which give blood and oxygen to the heart muscle. This is known as coronary heart disease.If the blockage becomes serious enough to cut off blood flow to the heart, it can cause chest pain or even a heart attack.

For more information click here

An electrophysiological study is a test that measures the electrical activity of the heart and is used to diagnose an arrhythmia, or irregular heart rhythms while Radiofrequency ablation(RFA) is the treatment to control or correct the irregular heartbeat. For more information click here

Healthy Hearts provides cardiac rehabilitation generally for patients with a history of severe cardiac events. The focus of the program is majorly on awareness, personal consultation, stress management, lifestyle management, and physical activity management.

Cardiologists are physicians who treat the heart and its diseases using diagnostics and medication. Unlike cardiac surgeons, they do not perform traditional surgical procedures. Cardiologists who additionally do minimally invasive procedures involving small incisions, e.g., pacemaker implantations and catheters, e.g., angioplasty, are called interventional cardiologists. These procedures are used to diagnose and treat diseases such as heart valve disorders, coronary artery disease, congenital heart disease, endocarditis, and peripheral artery disease.

Cardiologists who do minimally invasive procedures involving small incisions e.g. pacemaker implantations and catheters e.g. angioplasty, and don’t do any traditional surgery are called interventional cardiologists. The procedures done by interventional cardiologists usually require only local anesthesia, while cardiothoracic surgeons are specialized surgeons who perform surgery in the area of the heart and lungs that require general anesthesia.

Your treating doctor will usually go over your specific procedure or treatment in great detail. You can also contact Dr(Col) Monik Mehta if you have any further questions or need a second opinion. To contact or message Dr.(Col)  Monik Mehta click here