Myocardial
Stenosis and occlusions may occur in the coronary vessels due to atherosclerosis (vessel stiffness). As a result of this, disease conditions ranging from restrictive chest pain during exertion to acute myocardial infarction (heart attack) occur. Diagnosis of these disorders and treatment with medication, interventional methods, balloon, stent or surgery (bypass) are the most important subjects of cardiology.
Heart Failure
Heart attack is a disease caused by a decrease in the contractility of the heart due to valvular diseases and congenital heart muscle disorders. It manifests itself with complaints and findings such as shortness of breath, weakness, and edema.
Heart Valve Diseases
The workload of the heart increases as a result of thickening, calcification and deformation of the structures in the heart, which we call valves, from birth, as a result of cardiac rheumatism or due to aging. Over time, heart failure, rhythm irregularities and related complaints occur.
Hypertension
Blood pressure is the pressure exerted by the blood on the vessel wall. If this pressure rises above certain limits, it is called hypertension (high blood pressure). High blood pressure causes damage to all organ systems in the long run. The heart, kidney, brain and nervous system and the eye are the main targets.
Lipid Disorders
There is a relationship between high blood cholesterol and its subgroups and triglyceride levels and atherosclerosis. Their detection and appropriate treatment is very important in preventing and/or slowing the development of atherosclerosis.
Cardiac Rhythm Disorders
They occur as a result of disturbances in the formation and conduction of the electrical activity of the heart. The most common feeling of palpitation and sometimes the complaints of fainting or fainting are the discomforts that take the person to the doctor. Advances in diagnosis and treatment have led to the emergence of an advanced specialty (electrophysiology) in cardiology.
Peripheral Artery Diseases
They are disorders caused by arteriosclerosis in non-coronary vessels. It manifests itself with events such as leg pain, non-healing wounds, stroke in cerebral vessels, transient ismic attack when it is in the leg veins. As in coronary artery disease, it is treated with medication and interventional methods.
Preoperative Cardiac Examination
The probability of developing adverse events before, during and after the operation depends on the preoperative condition of the patient, the presence of concomitant diseases, and the urgency, size, type and duration of the surgical procedure.
Patients are classified as Low, Intermediate and High risk depending on their comorbidities. For example, Breast, Thyroid and Eye surgeries are in the low risk group. Gallbladder, Head and Neck surgery, Hip and Spine surgery are in the middle risk group. Liver, Lung, Esophagus, Bile ducts, Stomach, Vascular surgery are in the high risk group. It is reported that at least 167,000 heart problems develop annually due to non-cardiac surgery in the member states of the European Union, of which 19,000 are life-threatening. It is recommended that patients with Heart Failure, Congenital Heart Disease, Rhythm Disorder, Coronary Heart Disease, Uncontrolled Hypertension, Heart Valve Disease and using medication should be evaluated by a Cardiologist in order to have a problem-free surgical procedure.
The cardiologist decides whether surgical procedure is urgent, whether the patient has an unstable cardiac condition, whether the surgical intervention will cause adverse cardiac events (cardiac death and myocardial infarction) in the 30-day period following the procedure, the functional capacity of the patient, and whether additional testing will be required as a result of this information
Pregnancy and Cardiovascular Diseases
Before pregnancy, it is appropriate for married couples to know in advance the possibility of their unborn children being affected if they or their families have congenital, hereditary or subsequently diagnosed cardiovascular diseases. For example, the presence of Marfan syndrome, Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, severe valve stenosis and insufficiency pose a risk for the development of mother and baby.
If there is Diabetes, Hypertension, Kidney disease, Obesity, and smoking in pregnant women, they affect the metabolism of the baby and pose a danger to its development. However, risk can be reduced thanks to close follow-up and treatment of these diseases.
If the complaints of excessive weight gain, increasing shortness of breath, fatigue, swelling in the legs, palpitations, and headache have started during pregnancy, these findings and complaints may be due to heart failure, increased water and salt retention, and high blood pressure.
If there are drugs that are used continuously, if it is desired to know whether they will pass to the baby or whether they will pass into breast milk during breastfeeding, the cardiologist can evaluate and determine whether the drugs will be changed or the dose should be reduced.
If there are heart valve diseases due to rheumatoid fever, close follow-up of the patient is necessary, especially in the case of advanced valve stenosis or insufficiency.
If vitamin K antagonists are used due to a prosthetic heart valve, drug change or continuation should be adjusted according to the trimesters of pregnancy.
If there is unilateral or bilateral calf pain and chest pain during pregnancy, the evaluation of the patient becomes a priority in order to exclude the possibility of impaired pulmonary blood supply as a result of deep vein thrombosis. In such cases, it is recommended that pregnant women apply to the Cardiology Polyclinic in order to ensure a problem-free pregnancy.
Affected Cardiovascular System in Cancer Patients
Today, the diagnosed cancer is increasing due to the increase in the population, the increase in access to physicians and health services, the development of diagnostic tools and the prolongation of life expectancy and the survival is prolonged with treatments. The management of existing cardiovascular diseases or those that may develop after the procedures gains importance in people who are candidates for chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery.
Heart failure, rhythm disorders, and clot formation are gradually increasing as side effects of drugs used in Blood, Breast, Lung, Uterus, Prostate, Stomach, Pancreas and Liver cancers, which are frequently observed in the community. Major risk factors for cardiotoxicity include heart failure, coronary artery disease, ischemic heart disease with moderate or severe left ventricular dysfunction, left ventricular hypertrophy, cardiomyopathies, atrial fibrillation, and major cardiac arrhythmias such as ventricular tachycardia. In addition, age (50 years and over), family history of death from cardiovascular diseases at an early age (<50 years), hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol levels are also considered as other cardiovascular risk factors. It is important for these patients to be under the supervision of a cardiologist in terms of the selection of cancer drugs, the adjustment of the dose and drug interactions.
Neuro-Cardiological Diseases
Today, the diagnoses of Heart Failure, Coronary Vascular Diseases, Hypertension, Rhythm Disorders, Congenital Heart Diseases, Cerebrovascular Diseases are increasing day by day. In particular, the prolongation of life expectancy causes an increase in the elderly population. Therefore, existence of more than one of these diseases in the elderly is becoming increasingly common. Arrhythmias (especially Atrial Fibrillation) and conduction disorders (Atrioventricular heart blocks) caused by the diseases mentioned above can cause occlusion, decrease in blood supply and rupture (uncontrolled hypertension, dissection of the aortic vessel) of the vessels that supply the brain. As a result, they constitute major part of the clients of the neurology department with the diagnoses of epilepsy, fainting and stroke.
Stroke can develop as a result of blockage of blood flow to the brain. It is classified as Bleeding or Non-Bleeding. There is also a temporary, short-term, non-damaging condition called TIA. Stroke may occur suddenly, and may include weakness on one side of the body, facial weakness, dizziness, difficulty speaking and understanding, and severe headaches. The presence of cardiovascular diseases among the diseases that cause these conditions is worth examining. Therefore, your referral to the Cardiology department by a Neurology Specialist will be for the purpose of investigating a heart-related cause.
