At your first visit to a cardiologist you will get a thorough review of your medical history and assessment of risk factors of coronary artery disease. Blood pressure, heart rate and electrocardiogram will be obtained. You will have a complete cardiac/vascular exam. The cardiologist will review the data with you and answer all your cardiac questions or concerns.
Heart Disease Treatment
Treatment options for heart disease depend on the type of disease you have. Less severe blockages in arteries are treated with lifestyle modification, control of risk factors and medications while severe blockages are treated with medication, angioplasty or bypass surgery. Some patients may be eligible for cardiac rehabilitation, a medically supervised program designed to help you heal your heart and keep it healthy.
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Dr. Rachel P. Sosland, MD , Cardiology (Cardiovascular Disease), answered on behalf of HCA Midwest HealthSee All 3 Answers -
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Dr. Narayana S. Rattehalli, MD , answered on behalf of Regional Medical Center Bayonet PointSee All 3 Answers
Most patients are able to go home within five to seven days following open heart surgery. A patient can expect to be fully recovered after three months. Learn more from Narayana Rattehalli, MD from Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point in this video.
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SCAI answeredSee All 3 AnswersIn November 2011, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new treatment for heart patients with severe aortic valve stenosis who are not good candidates for open-heart valve replacement surgery. This new procedure, called transcatheter valve replacement (TAVR), replaces the diseased aortic valve through a tube that is placed in the patient’s leg, or through an incision in the chest that is much smaller than traditional surgery.
As part of a conversation with your physician about the possible benefits and complications of TAVR, you might consider asking the following questions:
- How will percutaneous aortic valve replacement benefit me? Will I live longer? Will I feel better?
- What personal risk factors and potential benefits should I consider when making this decision?
- Is this new treatment safe? What are the risks?
- Where can I learn more about the procedure?
- Should I wait until more people have the procedure or other new devices become available?
- Can I receive this treatment at a local hospital or do I need to travel? Who would perform the procedure?
- Have other people had this procedure? What are the odds that I will survive?
- What will happen if I don’t have this procedure?
- How can I find a doctor with the expertise and experience to do this procedure?
- How many times has my cardiologist performed the procedure? What is his or her success rate?
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UCLA Health answeredSee All 2 AnswersThere’s some controversy about whether statins may increase your risk of developing diabetes, however the overwhelming number of studies have demonstrated that not only do statins lower your cholesterol, but it decreases your risk of heart attack, stroke, some types of dementia and also cancers. Statins have been around for over 20 years and so far they’ve been very well tolerated. Statins are among the most frequently prescribed heart medications in the world. -
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Dr. Enrique Rivera, MD , Cardiology (Cardiovascular Disease), answered on behalf of Blake Medical CenterSee All 2 Answers
Patients don't necessarily need a stent if they have a blockage because there are other treatment options, such as surgery. Watch this video with Enrique Rivera, MD, from Blake Medical Center to learn more.
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The Society of Thoracic Surgeons answeredMen and women are treated differently for coronary artery disease (CAD). Women with CAD are at a significant disadvantage compared with men because they do not consistently receive the same intensive, invasive evaluation and treatment as men. Men receive greater access to effective cardiac treatments, including medications and revascularization, while women remain undiagnosed for many years. In a study of 1,254 people (627 men and 627 women) treated for CAD, significantly fewer women received three arterial grafts when compared with men (7.3 percent vs. 10.5 percent). The researchers found no difference in the percentages of bilateral internal thoracic artery and radial artery use between men and women.
Most clinicians assume correctly that women are less likely to receive multiple arterial revascularization, but they tend to believe that this is solely on the basis of a gender bias. This study shows that gender does not play a significant role in this decision. There is no reason that, when adjusted for all risk factors, the degree of multiple arterial revascularization in women should be any different than what men receive.Women with coronary heart disease (CHD) typically receive less complete surgical revascularization with arterial grafts than men do, but not because of gender bias. Instead, factors such as delayed diagnosis of CHD in women may contribute to the differences in treatment.
By the time women present with heart disease, they are slightly older and may be facing more comorbidities such as obesity and diabetes. As a consequence, these higher operative risks may preclude women from undergoing the more complex multiple arterial revascularization procedures that men receive. -
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SCAI answeredSee All 3 AnswersCardiac rehab helps people make healthy choices and develop positive exercise and eating habits in a safe environment. These lifestyle changes help to reduce the chance of blockages in other arteries in the future. Cardiac rehab programs usually meet two to three times per week and require exercise in addition to the formal meetings.
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Piedmont Heart Institute answeredSee All 3 AnswersExpect to stay in the hospital 1 to 2 days so your health care team can check your heartbeat and make sure your implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) is working properly.
You'll need to arrange for a ride home from the hospital because you won't be able to drive for at least a week while you recover from the surgery.
For a few days to weeks after the surgery, you may have pain, swelling, or tenderness in the area where your ICD was placed. The pain usually is mild, and over-the-counter medicines can help relieve it. Talk to your doctor before taking any pain medicines.
Your doctor may ask you to avoid vigorous activities and heavy lifting for about a month after ICD surgery. Most people return to their normal activities within a few days of having the surgery.
This answer from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute has been reviewed and/or edited by Dr. William D. Knopf.
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The patient is placed on the heart-lung machine (cardiopulmonary bypass), which takes over the function of the heart and lungs during the operation.- Step 1: The heart is cooled and stopped, and a clamp is placed across the aortic valve. The aorta is transected (divided) just above where the coronary arteries originate. The coronary ostia (openings) are removed as small buttons of tissue. The remainder of the ascending aorta is removed except for the valve tissue.
- Step 2: Sutures (stitches) are placed under the valve and passed outside of the aortic annulus (ring of tissue surrounding the valve). A proper vascular graft is selected and attached to the heart with the prepared sutures.
- Step 3: The valve is then carefully positioned within the graft to eliminate leaking. A fair bit of customized tailoring is then performed to ensure that the valve leaflets will open and close properly. The valve tissue is completely attached to the graft with a continuous suture technique. Two small holes are created in the graft for reattachment of the coronary arteries.
- Step 4: Finally, the end of the graft is attached to the aortic arch while the brain is carefully protected with a special perfusion technique known as antegrade cerebral perfusion (ACP).
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Piedmont Heart Institute answeredSee All 3 AnswersDuring cardiac rehabilitation (rehab), you'll learn how to:
- Increase your physical activity and exercise safely.
- Follow a heart healthy diet.
- Reduce risk factors for future heart problems.
- Improve your emotional health
This answer is based on source information from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.