Cures for cardiovascular disease are possible, depending on a number of variables, including the patient's age, specific condition, and previous treatments.
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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Coronary heart disease is a chronic condition—once you develop the disease, you will always have it. The best cure is prevention. If you are diagnosed with coronary artery disease, you can make lifestyle changes to manage your risk factors for a heart attack. Medicine and medical procedures can also help you slow the disease's progression, reverse damage to your arteries, and improve your quality of life.
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The Society of Thoracic Surgeons answeredStatins have become one of the most widely prescribed medications in the world. While they are typically used to manage high cholesterol levels, a number of researchers have been investigating the benefits of statins in other conditions, such as severe infections or following organ transplantation. Statin therapy may improve wound healing in people who have undergone cardiac surgery and reduce overall recovery time. Researchers have found that statins appear to affect the inflammatory response after surgery. -
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The Society of Thoracic Surgeons answeredAmong diabetic patients with severe heart disease, coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery is better than stenting (percutaneous coronary intervention, or PCI) at improving long-term survival and reducing the risk of adverse complications, according to recent research.
Diabetic patients who require medical intervention for their heart disease should speak candidly with their doctor to determine the best treatment option for them. The study showed that this discussion should be informed by the general superiority of bypass surgery over stenting for this population. -
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Dr. Emile A. Bacha, MD , Thoracic Surgery (Cardiothoracic Vascular), answered on behalf of Columbia University Department of SurgerySee All 2 Answers
Sometimes it takes more than medicine to treat heart disease. In this video, cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Emile Bacha discusses when and why heart disease requires surgery.
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See All 2 AnswersMany healthcare providers may be involved in heart surgery, depending upon the presentation of the heart issue and also the reason that a patient requires surgery.- First, there would most likely be a primary physician to diagnose and possibly follow the problem after surgery such as a family medicine, internal medicine or emergency room doctor. This step may be bypassed if the patient already has an established relationship with a cardiologist for other heart issues.
- Next, a cardiologist will almost always be involved in the diagnosis and follow up process, if not perform the precedure themselves.
- For more complex cases that require opening the chest, a cardiothoracic surgeon will become involved.
- The actual surgery will also require the presence of an anesthesiologist to put the patient asleep during the procedure.
- Depending upon post-operative conditions and complications, various rehabilitation healthcare providers may become involved as well.
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Eastside Medical Center answeredSee All 5 AnswersHeart valve surgery involves working and repairing or replacing the heart valve of a patient. There are four heart valves in the heart, called the aortic valve, mitral valve, tricuspid valve and the pulmonary valve. Primarily the aortic valve and the mitral valve are the ones that give us trouble. They can either leak or they can narrow down or become "stenotic." The surgeon may choose to open up the heart and try to repair the valve either with open heart surgery or limited invasive surgery through robotic or portal surgery. If the surgeon cannot repair the valve, which is the best alternative, then the valve may be replaced either with an artificial valve from animal material or a mechanical valve. Mechanical valves are very durable but require blood thinners such as Coumadin. The future of valve surgery may include percutaneous valve repair or replacement, where doctors can place a new valve in the heart or repair the old one using a catheter inside the arteries and veins of the patient without having to cut their chest open. This is a new and exciting development. Stay tuned.
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Brigham and Women's Hospital answeredSee All 3 AnswersInterventional cardiologists treat narrowed arteries and weakened heart valves—often caused by coronary artery disease, heart valve disease, or peripheral vascular disease.
- Coronary artery disease is the narrowing of the coronary arteries, the tubes which supply the heart muscle with blood and oxygen. This narrowing of the arteries is caused by atherosclerosis—the buildup of fatty deposits, cholesterol, calcium, and plaque on the inner surface of the arteries. Atherosclerosis restricts blood flow to the heart, which can lead to heart attack or other heart problems. Symptoms may include angina (intermittent chest pain), shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, and/or weakness.
- Heart valve disease involves heart valves that are not working correctly to regulate the flow of blood through the heart chambers. This can arise from birth defects or through damage by rheumatic fever, bacterial infection, or heart attacks. Valves also can degenerate with the normal aging process. To compensate, your heart must pump harder, and may be unable to supply adequate blood circulation to the rest of your body. Two common forms of heart valve diseases are aortic valve stenosis and mitral valve regurgitation. Symptoms may include shortness of breath, chest pain, swelling of the ankles and legs, fatigue, dizziness, and/or fainting.
- Peripheral vascular disease involves the other arteries that run throughout your body. Like the coronary arteries in your heart, these vessels can become clogged and hardened through atherosclerosis, and can increase your risk for high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke, or limb loss. Symptoms may also include pain in the leg muscles (particularly calves and thighs) and/or severe aching pain in your toes or feet at night.
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Intermountain Healthcare answeredRegardless of whether you will be having an EP study or a cardiac ablation procedure, here are some things you can do to make things go more smoothly:- Follow the doctor’s directions about medications. You may need to stop taking blood thinners and other medications for several days before the study. Always check with your doctor before stopping any medications.
- Arrange for a ride. Get a ride to and from the hospital.
- Fast (no food or drink) for 6 to 8 hours before the procedure. If the procedure is in the morning, you should not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before the test.
- Tell the doctor if you are ill the day of the procedure with a cold, the flu, or anything else.
- Bring a list of all your current medications. List everything, including over-the-counter medications, herbal supplements, and vitamins.
- Tell the doctor if you have allergies to any medications or dyes.
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Intermountain Registered Dietitians , Nutrition & Dietetics, answered on behalf of Intermountain HealthcarePotential benefits of an electrophysiology (EP) study are:- Compared with other tests, it provides better information about the electrical system of your heart.
- It can help your doctor accurately diagnose the cause of a heart rhythm problem, find its source, and test medications to treat it.