What is bypass surgery?

Bypass surgery refers to a surgical procedure that helps in diverting the blood flow around a blocked or partially blocked artery of the heart. It is done to create a new pathway to the heart and improving the flow of blood to the heart muscle. During this surgery, a healthy, well-functioning blood vessel is taken from the arm, chest or leg and then connected to the other arteries in the heart so that the blood can bypass the blocked or the diseased area.

Problems such as shortness of breath and chest pain, due to poor flow of blood tend to improve after a bypass surgery. It may also improve the heart function and reduce the risk of a heart disease.

Indication

One may require a bypass surgery in the following cases:

· Suffering from severe chest pain that is caused due to the narrowing of the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle

· If more than one coronary artery is diseased, and the left ventricle is not functioning well

·The main coronary artery in the left is narrowed or blocked, as this artery supplies the maximum blood to your left ventricle

·An artery blockage that cannot be cured by angioplasty or a previously done angioplasty or stent placement has been unsuccessful

·Re-stenosis, which involves the narrowing of the artery even after a stent replacement

·In case of emergency situation such as a heart attack, where the patient does not respond to other treatments

What is Angiography and are there any alternatives for it?

An angiography of the heart is an imaging test that looks into the arteries that supply heart with blood. Angiography can detect if there is any blockage in the coronary arteries due to build-up of fat or Build-up of fluid around the heart & damage or injury in the heart valves. Where the blockage exactly is and how big it is.

CT Angiography is preferred because there are many benefits of this test. It is a non-invasive procedure. This test has lower risks of complications. It takes a minimal cost and time too.

A thallium stress test is another option, it is a nuclear imaging test that shows how well blood flows into the heart while you’re exercising or at rest. This test is also called a cardiac or nuclear stress test.

Why are cardiac ablations done?

Cardiac ablation is a minimally invasive heart procedure carried out by an Interventional cardiologist in a Cardiac Catheterization laboratory in order to treat abnormal heart rhythm (Arrhythmia).

It is also known as Cardiac catheter ablation or Radiofrequency ablation. It involves use of radiofrequency energy to destroy a small portion of heart tissue that is responsible for faulty electrical signals causing irregular heartbeat.

  

Under normal scenario, when heart is functioning normally, there are specialized cardiac muscle cells forming the cardiac conduction system that is responsible for generating and propagation of electrical signals to the heart muscles causing them to contract in coordination, so that the blood is pumped effectively.

RFA is usually recommended when medicines for treating arrhythmia are either causing side effects or are ineffective. Radiofrequency ablation helps in restoration of normal heart rhythm. It is important to note here that every patient with abnormal heartbeat does not require RFA. Most of the patients do get good results from medicines alone, however, few of them may not, for which the heart specialist will determine the viability and benefits of RFA after running certain tests and clinically evaluating the patient.

Medicines act on the abnormal heart tissue and try restore the normal heart rhythm whereas RFA (Radiofrequency ablation) destroys the trouble causing tissue once for all.

SVT (Supraventricular tachycardia), atrial flutter or fibrillation are the indications for RFA. Irregular heartbeat leads to ineffective pumping of blood by the heart causing symptoms such as fainting spells, shortness of breath and fatigue.

What is TR in cardiology?

Tricuspid valve regurgitation forth is a condition where the valve between the two right heart chambers (right ventricle and right chamber) doesn't close appropriately. The breaking down valve enables blood to stream once more into your heart's upper right chamber (right chamber).

Side effects:

Tricuspid valve regurgitation forth regularly doesn't cause signs or indications until the condition is extreme. You might be determined to have this condition when having tests for different conditions.

Detectable signs and indications of tricuspid valve disgorging may include:

·         Weariness

·         Declining exercise limit

·         Swelling in your stomach area, legs or veins in your neck

·         Irregular heart rhythms

·         Beating in your neck

·         Shortness of breath with action

You may likewise notice signs or indications of the fundamental condition that is causing tricuspid valve disgorging, for example, pneumonic hypertension. Pneumonic hypertension indications may incorporate weariness, shortcoming, trouble practicing and shortness of breath.

What is the best daily diet for a healthy heart?

Heart healthy diet

What to eat:—

·       Eat unrefined serials such as brown bread, bran flakes as they contain more fiber which delays the absorption of glucose.

·       Foods rich in fiber like dried beans, peas and lentils, fresh vegetables and fruits.

·       Whole grain cereals, breads, brown rice, oat bran etc.

·       Use non-fat or low fat milk and milk products as they contain less fat.

·       Vegetable both raw and cooked.

·       Garlic and herbs.

·       Oily fish like sardine, mackerel and salmon etc.

·       Fish and poultry (remove skin from chicken and choose lean cuts.)

·       Skimmed milk and low fat products.

·       Soybeans and soya milk.

·       Drink plenty of water and fluids (8–9 glass of water / day).

·       Use only 1–3 tsp. of oil (olive oil, canola, sunflower etc.) per day.

·       Do some regular exercise such as walking at least 30 minutes per day.

What not to eat:—

·       Avoid fatty foods.

·       Avoid saturated fat (fat from animal, ghee, butter, cheese). Instead use mono saturated or polyunsaturated (olive oil, canola oil,

·       Corn oil, sunflower oil, soy oil and safflower oil).

·       Sugar and sweet foods like fizzy drinks, / coke, Pepsi, 7-up) sweets, chocolates, cookies, energy drinks, custards.

·       Egg yolk (egg white can be used).

·       Fish packed in oil, fried foods.

·       Fruits canned or cooked with sugar.

·       Potato chips, corn chips, French fries.

·       Sugar, ketchup, syrup, jams, cakes, butter, ice-cream, sweet pickles, salad dressings, sausages etc.

·       Too much sodium and salt.

·       Reduce the amount of salt in cooking.

·       Do not add salt at the table.

·       Eat fewer high salt, high sodium foods, such as canned soups and processed foods.

·       Animal meats like mutton, beef and organ meats like kidney, liver, brain; sea foods like shrimps, oysters.

What are the symptoms of a heart stroke?

Symptoms of a heart stroke are:

·         Face Dropping

·         Chest discomfort (uncomfortable chest pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain, burning or heaviness)

·         Discomfort in other areas of the upper body (neck, jaw, shoulder, arms, back)

·         Shortness of breath

·         Sweating

·         Nausea

·         Light-headedness

How can high blood sugar make arteriosclerosis?

Two theories on this:

1.    Sugar is a powerful oxidizer. Anyone that has used sugar in cooking can attest to this. The theory is that high blood sugar levels oxidize LDL particles which makes them particularly nasty in the body. Since LDL is usually at the scene of the arterial plaque crime it is theorized that these oxidized particles are the problem.

2.    This one is indirect. It is the link between high blood sugar and high levels of insulin. Too much insulin in the body can be a major problem and can drive inflammation and arterial damage. There was a study done where the legs of dogs were either injected with insulin or a saline solution. The legs injected with insulin showed aterial plaque formation.

What is the difference between cardiologists and cardiothoracics?

Cardiologists and cardio-thoracic surgeons play different and equal important roles in the care of a patient with Heart Disease.

Cardiologists will generally handle the diagnosis and medical treatment or non-surgical methods like balloon angioplasty, coronary stents, ablation procedures or devices like pacemakers and defibrillators.

Cardio-thoracic surgeons will handle bypass surgery and surgical valve replacement procedures.

After surgery, the patient will usually follow-up with a cardiologist long term once released by the surgeon. Some newer procedures actually involve the talents of both cardiologists and cardio-thoracic surgery such a TAVR or percutaneous valve replacement procedures.