Department Of Cardiology

BIMS Hospital is one of the top hospitals in Gujarat in the field of medical services. It is a revered cardiology hospital in Bhavnagar Gujarat which provides a range of quality care services in the healthcare sector with great focus on the treatment of ailments related to the heart and cardiovascular system, making it the best cardiac centre in Bhavnagar District. The department of cardiology at Bhavnagar Institute of Medical Science (BIMS Hospital) comprises of top cardiac experts who have appreciable experience in dealing with various types of cases in the cardiology and perform accurate diagnosis and the best interventional cardiac procedure in Bhavnagar. The doctors and staff work as a team to focus on catering to the healthcare needs of the patients and make it the best cardiology hospital in Gujarat. The hospital provides a range of procedures which are divided into invasive, non-invasive, and electrophysiology procedures.

WHAT IS CARDIOLOGY?

 Cardiology is the study and treatment of disorders of the heart and the blood vessels. A person with heart disease or cardiovascular disease may be referred to a cardiologist. Cardiology is a super speciality branch of internal medicine.

Our Cardiologist Specializes in diagnosing and treating diseases of the cardiovascular system. Our cardiologist will carry out tests, and they may perform some procedures, such as heart catheterizations, angioplasty, or inserting a pacemaker.

Heart disease relates specifically to the heart, while cardiovascular disease affects the heart, the blood vessels, or both.

SYMPTOMS THAT CAN INDICATE A HEART PROBLEM:

A buildup of fatty plaques in your arteries, or atherosclerosis can damage your blood vessels and heart. Plaque buildup causes narrowed or blocked blood vessels that can lead to a heart attack, chest pain (angina) or stroke.

Coronary artery disease symptoms may be different for men and women. For instance, men are more likely to have chest pain. Women are more likely to have other signs and symptoms along with chest discomfort, such as shortness of breath, nausea and extreme fatigue.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS CAN INCLUDE:

• Chest pain, chest tightness, chest pressure and chest discomfort (angina)
• Shortness of breath
• Pain, numbness, weakness or coldness in your legs or arms if the blood vessels in those parts of your body are narrowed
• Pain in the neck, jaw, throat, upper abdomen or back

You might not be diagnosed with coronary artery disease until you have a heart attack, angina, stroke or heart failure. It’s important to watch for cardiovascular symptoms and discuss concerns with your doctor. Cardiovascular disease can sometimes be found early with regular evaluations.

HEART DISEASE SYMPTOMS CAUSED BY ABNORMAL HEARTBEATS (HEART ARRHYTHMIAS)

• Fluttering in your chest
• Racing heartbeat (tachycardia)
• Slow heartbeat (bradycardia)
• Chest pain or discomfort
• Shortness of breath
• Lightheadedness
• Dizziness
• Fainting (syncope) or near fainting

HEART DISEASE SYMPTOMS CAUSED BY HEART DEFECTS

Serious heart defects that you’re born with (congenital heart defects) usually are noticed soon after birth. Heart defect signs and symptoms in children could include:

• Pale gray or blue skin colour (cyanosis)
• Swelling in the legs, abdomen or areas around the eyes
• In an infant, shortness of breath during feedings, leading to poor weight gain

Less serious congenital heart defects are often not diagnosed until later in childhood or during adulthood. Signs and symptoms of congenital heart defects that usually aren’t immediately life-threatening include:

• Easily getting short of breath during exercise or activity
• Easily tiring during exercise or activity
• Swelling in the hands, ankles or feet

In early stages of cardiomyopathy, you may have no symptoms. As the condition worsens, symptoms may include:

• Breathlessness with activity or at rest
• Swelling of the legs, ankles and feet
• Fatigue
• Irregular heartbeats that feel rapid, pounding or fluttering
• Dizziness, lightheadedness and fainting

HEART DISEASE SYMPTOMS CAUSED BY HEART INFECTION

Endocarditic is an infection that affects the inner lining of your heart chambers and heart valves (endocardium). Heart infection signs and symptoms can include:

• Fever
• Shortness of breath
• Weakness or fatigue
• Swelling in your legs or abdomen
• Changes in your heart rhythm
• Dry or persistent cough
• Skin rashes or unusual spots

HEART DISEASE SYMPTOMS CAUSED BY HEART VALVE PROBLEMS (VALVULAR HEART DISEASE)

The heart has four valves — the aortic, mitral, pulmonary and tricuspid valves — that open and close to direct blood flow through your heart. Many things can damage your heart valves, leading to narrowing (stenosis), leaking (regurgitation or insufficiency) or improper closing (prolapse).

Depending on which valve isn’t working properly, valvular heart disease signs and symptoms generally include:

• Fatigue
• Shortness of breath
• Irregular heartbeat
• Swollen feet or ankles
• Chest pain
• Fainting (syncope)

RISK FACTORS

Risk factors for developing heart disease include:

• Age: Growing older increases your risk of damaged and narrowed arteries and a weakened or thickened heart muscle.
• Sex. Men are generally at greater risk of heart disease. The risk for women increases after menopause.
• Family history. A family history of heart disease increases your risk of coronary artery disease, especially if a parent developed it at an early age (before age 55 for a male relative, such as your brother or father, and 65 for a female relative, such as your mother or sister).
• Smoking: Nicotine tightens your blood vessels, and carbon monoxide can damage their inner lining, making them more susceptible to atherosclerosis. Heart attacks are more common in smokers than in non-smokers.
• Poor diet: A diet that’s high in fat, salt, sugar and cholesterol can contribute to the development of heart disease.
• High blood pressure: Uncontrolled high blood pressure can result in hardening and thickening of your arteries, narrowing the vessels through which blood flows.
• High blood cholesterol levels. High levels of cholesterol in your blood can increase the risk of plaque formation and atherosclerosis.
• Diabetes. Diabetes increases your risk of heart disease. Both conditions share similar risk factors, such as obesity and high blood pressure.
• Obesity: Excess weight typically worsens other heart disease risk factors.
• Physical inactivity: Lack of exercise also is associated with many forms of heart disease and some of its other risk factors as well.
• Stress: Unrelieved stress may damage your arteries and worsen other risk factors for heart disease.
• Poor dental health: It’s important to brush and floss your teeth and gums often, and have regular dental checkups. If your teeth and gums aren’t healthy, germs can enter your bloodstream and travel to your heart, causing endocarditic.

PREVENTION

Certain types of heart disease, such as heart defects, can’t be prevented. However, the same lifestyle changes that can improve your heart disease can help you prevent it, including:

• Don’t smoke.
• Control other health conditions, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.
• Exercise at least 30 minutes a day on most days of the week.
• Eat a diet that’s low in salt and saturated fat.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Reduce and manage stress.
• Practice good hygiene.

WHAT WILL CARDIOLOGISTSDO?

A cardiologist will review a patient’s medical history and carry out a physical examination.

They may check the person’s weight, heart, lungs, blood pressure and blood vessels, and carry out some tests. An interventional cardiologist may carry out procedures such as angioplasties, stenting, valvuloplasties, congenital heart defect corrections, and coronary thrombectomies.

NON-INVASIVE CARDIOLOGY

BIMS Hospital is one of the best cardiac centre in Bhavnagar district with excellent services catering to the medical needs of the patients in a unique manner. The non-invasive cardiology procedures comprise of conservative procedures that do not require incision into the body or removal of tissue. These include:

• Electrocardiogram (ECG for both adults and children)
• Stress test treadmill test (TMT)
• 2D-Echo and Colour Doppler
• Transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE)
• Adenosine thallium and dobutamine 2D-Echo
• Computerized ECG processing and signal averaged ECG
• Non-invasive electrophysiology testing (NIEPT)
• Event recorder
• Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM)
• Holter monitoring

INVASIVE CARDIOLOGY

Our 24X7 cardiac centre in Bhavnagar District makes sure that the patients receive top-quality care round the clock and support which cures their cardiac problems and disorders on urgent basis. The team of heart specialists along with cath technician and supportive nursing staff work their best to find out the best possible solutions for heart disorders of patients from across India and the world after diagnosing them with precision through angiography in Bhavnagar. The invasive cardiology procedures involve procedures in which the body is invaded (entered) by puncturing or cutting (incising) the skin or by entering instruments. We provide advanced angiography in Bhavnagar performed by best cardiac experts. These different invasive procedures include:

• Coronary and peripheral angiography
• Coronary angioplasty and stenting
• Primary angioplasty in myocardial infarction (PAMI)
• Emergency percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA)
• Balloon valvuloplasties (BMV, BAV, BPC, etc.)
• Balloon angioplasties and peripheral vascular stenting (coronary, carotid, renal, mesenteric, iliac, etc.)
• Septal defect repair (ASD, VSD, PDA, etc.)
• Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF)

TESTS DONE AT CARDIOLOGY DEPARTMENT:

• ELECTROCARDIGRAM (ECG or EKG): This records the electrical activity of the heart.
• Ambulatory ECG: This records heart rhythms while the person carries out exercise or their regular activities. Small mental electrodes are stuck on to the chest, and these are connected by wires to a Holter Monitor, which records rhythms.
• Chest X-ray: The chest X-ray gives the cardiologist information about your lungs and the heart’s size and shape. The amount of radiation from a chest X-ray is extremely small and doesn’t cause any long-term side effects.
• An Exercise test, or stress test: This shows the changes of heart rhythm when resting and exercising. It measures the performance and limitations of the heart.
• Echocardiogram: This provides and ultrasound picture that shows the structure of the heart chambers and surrounding areas, and it can show how well the heart is working. Echocardiography can measure how well the heart is pumping blood, known as cardiac output. It can detect inflammation around the heart, known as pericarditis. It can also identify structural abnormalities or infections of the heart valves.
• Cardiac Catheterization: A small tube in or near the heat collects data and may help relieve a blockage. It can take pictures and check the functioning of the heart and the electrical system. Catheter-based techniques with fluoroscopy can be used to treat congenital cardiac, valvular, and coronary artery diseases.

SPECIAL HEART RHYTHM TESTING:

• HOLTER MONITOR: I)Holter monitor is a way to record every beat of your heart for 24 Hrs. Cardiologist may recommend a Holter monitor to make sure that our are not having any dangerous heart rhythms that might need more treatment. II) A Holter monitor is a small recorder that is attached to your body by stickers similar to those used to make and electrocardiogram (ECG). It does not hurt, but sometimes the stickers can irritate the skin during the recording time. You will keep a diary of events during the 24-hours period that you wear the monitor. This record will help the doctors know when you are active, sleeping or having any symptoms that might be caused by a heart rhythm problem. III) Since a Holtermonitor is usually only worn for 24 hours, it’s particularly helpful when you are having symptoms that are happening at least once a day. If symptoms are happening less often, your doctor may recommend and event monitor instead.
• EVENT MONITOR: Event Monitoring is a way to record the heart rhythm when your symptoms occur less than once a day. The event monitor is a recorder that’s even smaller than a Holter recorder. You will wear it for most of each day. – Typically for 30 days at a time. The monitor is always recording, but not saving. When you have a symptom, you’ll push a button on the recorder, which will save the rhythm just at that time and sometimes for brief time before the button was pushed. When you make a recording, you will send it through your telephone to your doctor.
• IMPLANTABLE EVENT RECORDER: An implantable event recorder, which is also known as an implantable loop recorder, is a device that can record your heart rhythm for up to 14 months. This device is placed under the skin through a minor operation. This is the best way to record very serious rhythm problems that may be happening only rarely. The recorder records certain heart rhythms automatically and when you or your child places a special activator over the device. Your Cardiology doctor will use a special instrument to display and print the heart rhythms that the recorder saved.
• EXERCISE STRESS TESTING:I) Exercise stress testing is a test of your heart rhythm and stamina while you exercise. You may run on a treadmill at standard speeds and ramps or ride a stationary bike at a steadily increasing resistance, while connected to ECG lead, which continually record your heart rhythm. In some centers you may also need to breathe into a tube so the amount of oxygen you use can be measured. This gives information about how well the heart works. II) The stress test gives information about the effect on exercise on your blood pressure, heart rate, heart muscle and heart rhythm. If you have symptoms during exercise, this test will help to recreate them to see whether they are caused by the heart. III) The test takes about 10-15 minutes to set up, 10-15 minutes to do and an additional 10-15 minutes of observation afterward. If you are scheduled for the test, you should bring gym, clothes and sneakers appropriate for jogging.

All the above procedures performed at this cardiology hospital in Gujarat have high-success rates. The entire team of doctors and staff at our hospital make it a point to provide affordable and quickly accessible healthcare facilities like the best angiography in Bhavnagar for the needful patients. This has built trust and confidence of the patients on the doctors and staff at the BIMS Hospital. So, your search for the best cardiology hospital in Bhavnagar District ends at BIMS Hospital.