General Cardiology & Cardiac Imaging

Overview:

Arrhythmias are problems with the heart’s rhythm, causing it to beat too fast, too slow, or irregularly. They can range from harmless to life-threatening.

Symptoms:

• Fluttering in the chest
• Racing or slow heartbeat
• Chest pain
• Fainting or dizziness

Treatments:

Treatments include medications, lifestyle changes, and procedures like pacemaker implantation, catheter ablation, or defibrillator use.

Overview:

Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is a common heart rhythm problem where the upper chambers of the heart beat fast and unevenly. This can raise the risk of stroke and heart failure.

Symptoms:

• Fast, irregular heartbeat
• Feeling your heart race (palpitations)
• Shortness of breath and fatigue

Treatments:

• Medications – Blood thinners to prevent clots, and drugs to control heart rhythm.
• Cardioversion – Electric shocks or medication to reset heart rhythm.
• Ablation – Heat or cold energy to fix faulty heart signals.
• Watchman Implant – A device that lowers stroke risk.

Overview:

Cardiomyopathy is a disease of the heart muscle that makes it harder for the heart to pump blood. It can lead to heart failure and other complications.

Overview:

Congenital heart disease refers to structural defects in the heart present from birth, affecting normal blood flow through the heart.

Symptoms:

• Cyanosis (bluish tint to skin, lips, and nails)
• Rapid breathing or shortness of breath
• Fatigue, especially during feeding in infants
• Swelling in the legs, abdomen, or around the eyes

Treatments:

Includes medications to manage symptoms, catheter-based interventions, or surgery to repair the defect.

Overview:

Overview:

Heart failure occurs when the heart is unable to pump blood effectively, leading to symptoms of fluid buildup and decreased oxygen delivery to the body.

Symptoms:

• Shortness of breath (dyspnea)
• Swelling in legs, ankles, and feet (edema)
• Fatigue and weakness
• Rapid or irregular heartbeat

Treatments:

Includes lifestyle changes, medications (e.g., diuretics, beta-blockers), and in some cases, surgical interventions like implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) or left ventricular assist devices (LVADs).

Overview:

Hypertension is a chronic condition where the force of blood against the artery walls is consistently too high, increasing the risk of heart disease, stroke, and other complications.

Overview:

A heart attack occurs when blood flow to a part of the heart is blocked, often due to a blood clot, causing damage to the heart muscle.

Symptoms:

• Intense chest pain or pressure
• Pain radiating to the arm, neck, or jaw
• Sweating and nausea
• Shortness of breath

Treatments:

Immediate treatments include medications (e.g., thrombolytics, aspirin), emergency angioplasty, or coronary artery bypass surgery to restore blood flow.

Overview:

Overview:

Valvular heart disease involves damage to or dysfunction of one or more heart valves, disrupting normal blood flow through the heart.

Symptoms:

• Heart murmur
• Fatigue
• Swollen feet or ankles
• Dizziness or fainting

Treatments/Procedures:

• Medications to manage symptoms
• Valve Repair (surgical or transcatheter)
• Valve Replacement
• Mechanical or biological prosthetics
• Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) for aortic valve disease
• Balloon Valvuloplasty for valve stenosis