Cardiology is a field of medicine
that deals with conditions affecting the heart, including congenital problems
as well as acquired conditions including coronary artery disease and congenital heart failure. When English physician William Harvey published his studies on
the anatomy and physiology of the heart and circulation in 1628, the subject of
cardiology had its beginnings. Research findings in the field of cardiology has
paved a way for a life changing treatment option for the cardiac disorders.
Cardio problems are one of the leading causes of death in the world.
The heart (cardio) and blood vessels are referred to by the word cardiovascular (vascular). Arteries,
arterioles, and capillaries are all parts of the cardiovascular system. The
system that transports blood throughout the body and houses the heart and blood
vessels. This system aids tissues in obtaining the necessary amounts of oxygen,
nutrients, and waste removal. The body's cells and organs receive vital
nutrients, hormones, oxygen, and other chemicals via the cardiovascular system.
It is crucial in assisting the body in coping with the demands of stress,
exercise, and activity. In addition to other things, it aids in maintaining
body temperature.
Heart electrical activity,
heartbeat rhythm, blood flow through the heart's chambers and valves, ease of
blood flow through the coronary arteries to the heart muscle, and the presence
of tumours or structural abnormalities in the cardiovascular system can all be
learned from cardiovascular diagnostic and screening tests. To better
understand issues affecting the heart, new tests are constantly being
developed. These consist of ailments, harm, and issues that exist from birth
(congenital). To evaluate the progression of coronary artery disease and
evidence of existing damage, a number of blood tests are available for
examining cholesterol transport behaviour, HDL, LDL, triglycerides, lipoprotein
little a, homocysteine, C-reactive protein, blood sugar control: fasting, after
eating or averages using glycated albumen or haemoglobin, myoglobin, creatine
kinase, troponin, brain-type natriure Many new physiologic indicators of
atherosclerosis and heart health are being created, tested, and used in
research.
The term "cardiovascular
disease" (CVD) is used to refer generally to conditions that affect the
heart or blood vessels. Unhealthy eating, inactivity, usage of tobacco
products, and abusing alcohol are the main behavioural risk factors for heart
disease and stroke. Individuals may experience elevated blood pressure,
elevated blood glucose, elevated blood lipids, as well as overweight and
obesity as a result of behavioural risk factors. These "intermediate risk
variables" can be assessed in primary care settings and point to an
elevated risk of consequences like heart attack, stroke, and heart failure. Additionally,
pharmacological therapy for diabetes, high blood lipids, and hypertension is
required to lower cardiovascular risk and stop heart attacks and strokes in
those who have these disorders.
Invasive, Non-invasive and
Interventional cardiology are the three branches of cardiology. Open or
minimally invasive procedures are used in invasive cardiology to identify and
treat structural or electrical problems in the heart. These minimally invasive procedures
include angioplasty and stenting. A soft, gooey coating called arterial plaque
is made up of cholesterol, calcium, fat, and other components found in your
blood. The blood flow could be hampered if your arteries are blocked with too
much plaque. An angioplasty can be used in this situation. This procedure
includes inserting a tiny balloon into your clogged vein to force plaque
against the walls, improve blood flow, and assist your heart in returning to
normal function. A cardiac stent, which is frequently done in conjunction with
angioplasty, is a thin metal or plastic coil or tube that can keep a blocked
vein open permanently. Cardiologist might advise any of these two
operations if you have blocked veins.
A computerized tomography (CT)
coronary angiogram is an imaging test that looks at the arteries that supply
blood to the heart. A CT coronary angiogram uses a powerful X-ray machine to
produce images of the heart and its blood vessels. The test is used to diagnose
a variety of heart conditions. This quick but detailed and high-resolution scan
shows your healthcare provider problems with your heart structure, valves,
arteries, aorta and more. Cardiac CT uses advanced CT technology, with or
without intravenous (IV) contrast (dye) to better visualize your heart
structure and associated blood vessels. With multi-slice scanning, your
healthcare provider can get high-resolution, 3D images of your moving heart and
great vessels.
Nuclear cardiology studies use
non-invasive techniques to assess myocardial blood flow, evaluate the pumping
function of the heart as well as visualize the size and location of a heart
attack. Among the techniques of nuclear cardiology, myocardial perfusion
imaging is the most widely used. A nuclear stress test uses a small amount of
radioactive material (tracer) and an imaging machine to create pictures showing
the blood flow to your heart. The test measures blood flow while you are at
rest and during activity, showing areas with poor blood flow or damage in your
heart.
Cardiac
disease is a general term
that includes many types of heart problems. It's also called cardiovascular
disease, which means heart and blood vessel disease. Cardiac disease is the
leading cause of death in the United States, but there are ways to prevent and
manage many types of heart disease. The causes of heart disease depend on the
type of disease. Some possible causes include lifestyle, genetics, infections,
medicines, and other diseases.
The field of valvular heart disease
(VHD) has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past ten years, partly
due to the advancement and development of less invasive transcatheter
techniques to valve repair or replacement. Numerous well-designed randomised
studies have supported this change, although they have focused almost
exclusively on equipment and methods. Valvular heart disease is a cardiovascular
disease which involves the damage in any of the four valves i.e aortic, mitral,
pulmonary and tricuspid valves. Aortic stenosis (AS), organic and ischemic
(functional) mitral regurgitation, and tricuspid regurgitation are the most
common valvular disorders in older adults.
The blood arteries that transport
oxygen and nutrients throughout your body and eliminate waste from your tissues
are affected by vascular disease (also known as vasculopathy). Plaque, which is
composed of fat and cholesterol, slows or obstructs blood flow in your arteries
and veins, causing common vascular issues. Changing one's lifestyle can
frequently be helpful, but some people also require medicine or surgery.
- Cardiac Development and Embryology
- Simple Congenital Heart Disease
- Complex Congenital Heart Disease
- Ventricular Septal Defect
- Cyanotic and Non-Cyanotic
- Pulmonary Valve Stenosis
- Right Ventricular Hypertrophy
- Coarctation of the Aorta
- Antiarrhythmic
- Drugs
- Principles of Diuretic Usage
- Calcium Channel BlockersLipid Lowering Agents
- Inotropic Drugs
- Beta-adrenergic Receptor Blockers
- Cardiomyopathy
- Heart valve disease
- Aortic disease
- Gestational Diabetes
- Myocardial Ischemia
- Open Heart SurgerySurgery
- Modern Beating Heart Surgery
- Minimally Invasive Surgery
- Pediatrics Cardiovascular Surgery
- Risks of Cardiac Surgery
- Lung Volume Reduction Surgery
- Lung Cancer Surgery
- Heart Palpitations
- Irregular Heart Rhythms
- Hypertensive Crisis
- Ambulatory Blood Pressure
- Refractory Hypertension
- Control of Blood Pressure
- Manage Stress
- Maintain a Healthy Weight
- Screening of Cholesterol Level
- Type 2 Diabetes Screening
- Maintaining a Healthy Weight
Scientific Highlights
- Cardiology
- Cardiovascular System
- Diagnostics Tests in Cardiology
- Cardiovascular Diseases
- Invasive Cardiology
- Cardiac CT
- Nuclear Cardiology
- Cardiac Disease
- Valvular Heart Disease
- Vascular Disease
- Congenital Heart Disease
- Cardiovascular Pharmacology
- Pregnancy and Heart Disease
- Cardiothoracic Surgery
- Hypertension
- Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease
- Epidemiology of Cardiovascular Disease