Heart Conditions

Angioplasty is a medical procedure in which a balloon is used to open narrowed or blocked blood vessels of the heart. If the blockage is not too severe, a balloon catheter may be used to open the heart artery as an alternative to open heart surgery.

The procedure begins with the patient lying on a padded table. Mild, local pain medicine will be given and the catheters are then inserted in an artery (either wrist area or near groin). The patient will be awake during the procedure, unless requested to be sedated. The heart arteries will be visualized by using x-rays and dye, where the severity of blockages will be identified.

A balloon catheter is then inserted within the blockage and inflated, thus widening the blocked artery (s). This will restore adequate blood flow to the heart muscle. In some cases, blood-thinning medicines may be given to prevent formation of a blood clot. In most cases, a device called a STENT will then be placed to keep the artery open.

Atrial Fibrillation happens when your heart beat is irregular, often very rapid. That can lead to blood clots in the heart, which may cause stroke and other heart-related complications.

Those who experience atrial fibrillation may have symptoms such as:

• Chest pain
• Palpitations
• Fatigue
• Light headedness
• Breathlessness
• Reduced exercise ability

Coronary artery disease is a condition that affects your heart arteries. This disease happens when plaque build-up narrows or blocks the heart arteries, which affects the flow of blood to the heart. This disease may lead to heart attack and serious complications like heart failure.

Symptoms of coronary artery disease can include:

• Chest tightness and pain
• Breathlessness
• Cold sweat
• Numbness

Cardiac Arrhythmia happens when the heart rate is too fast, slow or irregular. This abnormalities in the heart beat may be caused by medical conditions such as:

• Coronary Heart Disease
• Heart attack
• Thyroid disorders
• Excessive intake of alcohol / caffeine
• Stress or anxiety related

Globally, heart disease remains the number one cause of death, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). In Singapore, approximately 17 people die each day from a heart disease, making it the 3rd leading cause of death here.

Majority of heart attacks occur when a blockage plaque “ruptures” or develop a crack on the inner aspect of the blood vessel. Clot develops at this site and grows to completely block the channel of the artery. When this happens, blood supply to the heart muscle will be cut off. A heart attack will take place. 

Common symptoms of heart attack includes:

• Chest discomfort or pain, which may radiate to shoulders and arms, jaws or between the shoulder blades in the back
• Shortness of breath
• Unexplained anxiety (A sense of impending doom)
• Cold sweats
• Weakness and Sudden fatigue
• A feeling of skipped heartbeats