A major concern in the country today is heart disease. It is estimated that about a staggering 2.5 % of the country’s population suffer from heart ailments. At Apollo Clinic Kolkata, it is our constant endeavour to provide a broad range of best-in-class cardiology services.
What is Cardiology?
Cardiology is the study and treatment of various disorders related to the heart. It is a broad-based medical speciality which is involved in the well-being and care of all the things that are associated with the heart and the arteries. It is a discipline that includes the diagnosis, treatment, symptoms, causes, as well as research into various heart diseases and injuries.
What is the first step?
The first step is to know the causes of the disease and the signs and symptoms to watch out for.
Causes of heart diseases or heart attack include pre-existing conditions such as high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, diabetes, stress, lifestyle habits such as smoking, and excessive consumption of alcohol or caffeine. Certain over the counter (OTC) and dietary supplements could also cause heart disease.
Symptoms differ depending on the kind of heart disease. However, some common symptoms of heart diseases include shortness of breath, back pain, chest discomfort, nausea, indigestion, heartburn or stomach pain, dizziness, jaw pain, light-headedness.
Heart diseases are often life-threatening. If you notice any of the above symptoms or any discomfort in your chest or arm, it is recommended to visit a cardiology clinic at the earliest.
How can we help you?
At Apollo Clinic Kolkata Cardiology Centre, we provide ongoing evaluation, diagnoses, and treatment for cardiac issues. We are firm believers of ‘prevention is better than cure’ and strongly emphasise on preventive care. We provide a number of preventive screening tests to check the heart health including:
Treadmill test (TMT) – A TMT or cardiac stress test helps your doctor assess how your heart responds when it is pushed. You will have to walk on a treadmill for 7-12 minutes, and the difficulty level is gradually increased. Throughout, your ECG, blood pressure and heart rate are monitored.
Electrocardiogram (ECG) – An ECG is a test that examines the natural electrical system of the heart. Electrodes are attached to your body and linked to an ECG machine. The machine traces your heart’s activity as lines on paper.
Depending on the symptoms, family and personal history, other diagnostic tests such as 2D echo test and blood tests may also be conducted.