Cardiology

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is a serious heart disease that affects one or more of the four small heart valves. Damage to the valve remains after an illness called acute rheumatic fever (ARF). During ARF, the tissue of the heart valve and sometimes other parts of the heart (lining of the heart or muscle) become inflamed and this is called carditis. After carditis, the heart valves can be damaged, followed by scarring, and the result is disruption of normal blood flow through the damaged valves. Some of the blood may flow backward through a leaky valve that does not close properly, or a leaky, scarred valve may not open properly. When the heart is damaged in this way, the heart valve may not function properly and heart surgery may be necessary to repair or replace the damaged valve. Routine antibiotics are prescribed for people with RHD to prevent recurrent ARF and subsequent valve damage. Causes Rheumatic heart disease is caused by rheumatic fever, which affects many connective tissu

Invasive cardiology (also known as interventional cardiology) is a minimally invasive procedure to identify abnormalities of the human heart. Invasive cardiology processes are generally minor surgeries that require penetrating the patient's skin for treatment. It uses open or slightly invasive surgery to identify or treat structural or electrical abnormalities within the structure of the heart. Invasive cardiologists do a variety of slightly invasive procedures to diagnose and treat cardiovascular disease. what includes: Common types of invasive cardiology: Angioplasty: When plaque clogs arteries, it is difficult for blood to flow normally. Angioplasty inserts a small balloon into the blocked vein and pushes the plate against the walls, allowing more blood flow. Stent placement: The placement of a stent is usually performed in conjunction with an angioplasty. A cardiac stent is a small metal coil that permanently holds a blocked vein open. Cardiac catheterization: In a cardiac cath

Heart attack means the death of a part of the heart muscle due to loss of blood supply. Blood is usually cut off when a blood clot blocks the artery that supplies the heart muscle. When part of the heart muscle dies, a person experiences chest pain and electrical instability of the heart muscle tissue. Other names Myocardial infarction (MI) Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) Acute coronary syndrome Coronary thrombosis Coronary occlusion Causes When one or more of your coronary arteries become blocked it leads to heart attack. Over time, fatty deposits, including cholesterol, form substances called plaques, which can narrow the arteries (atherosclerosis). This condition, called coronary artery disease, causes many heart attacks. During a heart attack, a plaque breaks down and leaks cholesterol and other substances into the bloodstream. Blood clots at the site of the break. If the clot is large, it can block blood flow through the coronary artery, depriving the heart of oxygen and nutrien

If your pediatrician has any questions about your child's heart, he or she can refer him to a pediatric cardiologist. Pediatric cardiologists specialize in diagnosing and treating heart problems in children. In children requiring cardiac surgery, pediatric cardiologists work with pediatric cardiac surgeons to determine the best treatments and interventions. Many heart conditions affect children. Some are structural differences from where they were born. Others have an electrical system that controls the heartbeat. Pediatric cardiologists are specially trained to diagnose and manage these problems. If you are concerned about your child's heart, talk to your pediatrician if you need a referral to a pediatric cardiologist. Education and Training Those who wish to become pediatric cardiologists must have a four-year undergraduate degree. Then they should also have: Faculty of Medicine four years Three years of pediatric residency Certification by the American Board of Pediatrics Th