Do I need heart tests?
Coronary heart disease (CHD), where fatty deposits build
up in the arteries of the heart, is the leading cause of death in UK.
Other commonly seen problems are those affecting the rhythm of the heart
(cardiac arrhythmias) and narrowing and leaking of the heart valves.
As heart disease is often symptomless, it is advisable to have regular
check ups with a GP, who will refer anyone they feel is at risk. The following symptoms should always be investigated:
- Being out of breath
- Swelling of the feet and ankles
- Being unusually tired
- Palpitations, dizziness and fainting
State-of-the-art heart tests and scans at Spire Healthcare
Spire
Healthcare provides rapid access to all the latest cardiac
investigations and scanning technologies, allowing heart problems to be
quickly diagnosed and treated:
- Diagnostic blood tests
- 24 Hour blood pressure monitoring
- Exercise and 24/48 hour electrocardiogram
- Cardiac ultrasound (echocardiogram)
- Cardiomemo recording
- Cardiac MRI scanning
- Cardiac CT scanning
- Angiography
Expert treatment of heart conditions
The highly experienced cardiologists and cardiac
surgeons at Spire Healthcare are able to offer a number of procedures to
treat heart disease that do not require major heart surgery:
Coronary angioplasty
Coronary angioplasty is a minimally invasive procedure
whereby a mesh tube (stent) is inserted into a coronary artery through a
flexible tube (catheter), squashing down the fatty deposits and
allowing blood to flow freely once more. Taking around 30 minutes, it
is a safe, effective and very commonly performed treatment for coronary
heart disease.
Pacemaker implantation
A pacemaker is a small battery-operated device that
keeps the heart beating regularly. It is usually inserted under local
anaesthetic through a small incision near the collarbone and then guided
through a blood vessel to the heart. It is used in patients who have
abnormally slow heart rates (brachycardia), abnormally fast heart rates
(tachycardia) or heart block.
Cardioversion and ablation of arrhythmia
Cardioversion and ablation of arrythmia are both treatments to restore a normal rhythm to the heart.
