The heart is an essential organ of the body to ensure the proper functioning of your body. If you wake up and find that your heart is not functioning as it should, you should seek medical advice from qualified medical experts immediately. You should consult your doctor quickly because you do not want your quality of life to be affected. If your heart is not appropriately treated, you may experience adverse effects, and in some extreme cases, it could be fatal. If at all possible, visit the experienced cardiologists at Blue Ridge cardiology to know you are with experienced specialists.
When going for a check-up, your primary concern as a patient will be if you will be required to undergo a complicated surgery. However, today experts can use interventional cardiology and will ensure that your treatment is less invasive.
Specifics of heart disease
Heart disease is a leading cause of death among females and males in the United States. Over 600,000 people in America die annually, and according to the report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this is 25% of all the deaths. Coronary and vascular diseases are also included as heart diseases. The most common heart disease is coronary heart diseases, and every year the disease claims the lives of over 370,000.
The work of interventional cardiologists
An interventional Blue Ridge cardiology specialist can be said to practice a subspecialty of cardiology. The process, which is known as cardiac catheterization includes insertion of tubes that are flexible through the small holes in the skin. They are then threaded through the blood vessels ensuring that any blockages in the tubes are removed. With this technique diseases such as coronary disease, congenital heart disease, heart valve disease and vascular disease can be treated.
Procedures
Different patients have different needs. Various procedures are performed such as the following:
- Stenting and angioplasty are done through the insertion of a tube via a vessel in the wrist or leg, and it is then led to the heart or the desired part of the body. There is a dye that is injected which is vital in guiding the physician. The physician then inflates a balloon that is in the tubes, and this is to stretch the artery and through the stretching blood flow is increased through the artery.
- Atherectomy is done through the implementation of small blades. The small blades are useful in cutting plaque deposits that are present in the blood vessels. There is also carotid stenting that is useful as it ensures that the carotid arteries are open. These are the main blood vessels that are going to the brain. With this procedure, the chances of stroke are reduced.