Here’s an overview of some common heart issues and their typical treatments:

1. Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)

  • Description: CAD occurs when the coronary arteries become narrowed or blocked, usually due to atherosclerosis (build up of cholesterol and other substances).
  • Symptoms: Chest pain (angina), shortness of breath, fatigue.
  • Treatment:
    • Lifestyle changes (diet, exercise, quitting smoking).
    • Medications (statins, antiplatelets like aspirin, beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors).
    • Procedures like angioplasty and stent placement or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

2. Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)

  • Description: Elevated blood pressure increases the risk of heart disease and stroke.
  • Symptoms: Often asymptomatic, sometimes headaches, dizziness.
  • Treatment:
    • Lifestyle changes (salt reduction, weight loss, physical activity).
    • Medications (diuretics, ACE inhibitors, calcium channel blockers, beta-blockers).

3. Heart Failure

  • Description: The heart’s ability to pump blood is inadequate to meet the body’s needs.
  • Symptoms: Shortness of breath, fatigue, swollen legs, rapid heartbeat.
  • Treatment:
    • Lifestyle changes (sodium restriction, fluid management).
    • Medications (ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers, diuretics, aldosterone antagonists).
    • Devices (pacemakers, defibrillators).
    • Advanced therapies (left ventricular assist devices, heart transplantation).

4. Arrhythmias

  • Description: Abnormal heart rhythms, which can be too fast, too slow, or irregular.
  • Symptoms: Palpitations, dizziness, fainting.
  • Treatment:
    • Medications (beta-blockers, antiarrhythmics).
    • Electrical cardioversion.
    • Catheter ablation.
    • Implantable devices (pacemakers, implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs)).

5. Valvular Heart Disease

  • Description: Involves damage or defect in one of the heart valves (aortic, mitral, tricuspid, or pulmonary).
  • Symptoms: Shortness of breath, chest pain, fatigue, palpitations.
  • Treatment:
    • Medications to manage symptoms (diuretics, blood thinners).
    • Valve repair or replacement surgery.

6. Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)

  • Description: Narrowing of the peripheral arteries, often in the legs, due to atherosclerosis.
  • Symptoms: Leg pain while walking (claudication), numbness, coldness in legs or feet.
  • Treatment:
    • Lifestyle changes (exercise, smoking cessation).
    • Medications (cholesterol-lowering drugs, antiplatelets).
    • Angioplasty or bypass surgery.

7. Congenital Heart Disease

  • Description: Structural heart defects present from birth.
  • Symptoms: Varies widely depending on the defect; may include cyanosis, fatigue, rapid breathing.
  • Treatment:
    • Medications (to manage symptoms).
    • Catheter-based procedures or open-heart surgery to repair defects.

8. Cardiomyopathy

  • Description: Disease of the heart muscle that affects its size, shape, or structure.
  • Symptoms: Fatigue, breathlessness, swelling of the legs, palpitations.
  • Treatment:
    • Medications (beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, diuretics).
    • Lifestyle changes.
    • Device implantation (pacemaker, ICD).
    • Heart transplant in severe cases.

9. Aortic Aneurysm

  • Description: An abnormal bulge in the wall of the aorta, which can rupture if untreated.
  • Symptoms: Often asymptomatic; possible back or abdominal pain.
  • Treatment:
    • Monitoring for smaller aneurysms.
    • Surgical repair or stent graft for larger or symptomatic aneurysms.

These are some of the most common heart issues, but there are many others with varying treatments. Our cardiologists can work with you to tailor treatments to the specific condition, severity, and individual patient needs.

At Precious Medical Group (PMG), we are here to assist you further. Please feel free to contact us for any enquiry.