Best Cardiologist in London

  Freezing Ablation vs Burning Freezing ablation and burning are both methods of destroying tissue. They are used to remove lesions, tumours, and other growths. The two methods have different benefits and drawbacks. Freezing ablation uses extreme cold to destroy tissue. It is a relatively new technique that is growing in popularity. It is non-invasive, which means there is no need for a surgical incision. The cold is delivered using a probe that is inserted through a small opening in the skin. This method is often used to treat tumours and other growths in the liver, lungs, and kidneys. The main benefit of freezing ablation is that it is very accurate. The probe can be controlled very accurately, which means that the tissue can be destroyed with precision. This is important, especially when dealing with tumours or other growths that are close to vital organs. Freezing ablation also has a low risk of causing pain. The cold numbs the area around the probe, so patients generally do no...

Atrial fibrillation (AF) and atrial flutter (AFL) are two conditions that cause an irregular heartbeat. They are similar, but there are some key differences. AF is the most common type of arrhythmia or abnormal heart rhythm. It is a result of electrical signals in the atria (the two upper chambers of the heart) moving independently of each other. This can cause the atria to quiver (fibrillate), which can lead to blood clots. AFL is a type of atrial tachycardia, which is a rapid heartbeat that starts in the atria. It is caused by abnormal electrical signals that make the atria beat too fast. This can also lead to blood clots. Both AF and AFL can cause shortness of breath, chest pain, and fainting. They can also increase the risk of heart failure and stroke. There is no definitive test for AF or AFL. Diagnosis is often based on a combination of symptoms, medical history, and tests such as an electrocardiogram (ECG) or a Holter monitor. Treatment for AF and AFL depends on the cause and ho...

  What is cardiomyopathy? Cardiomyopathy is a group of diseases that affect the heart muscle. The heart muscle becomes weakened and can’t pump blood as well as it should. This can lead to heart failure. There are many different types of cardiomyopathy, but the most common is dilated cardiomyopathy. This is when the heart muscle becomes stretched and thin. Other types of cardiomyopathy include: · restrictive cardiomyopathy  – This is when the heart muscle becomes stiff and can’t stretch enough to fill with blood. · hypertrophic cardiomyopathy  – This is when the heart muscle becomes thick and can’t pump blood properly. · arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy  – This is when the heart muscle in the right ventricle becomes thick and scarred. This can lead to abnormal heart rhythms. What are the symptoms of cardiomyopathy? The symptoms of cardiomyopathy can vary depending on the type of cardiomyopathy you have. But some common symptoms include: · shortness of b...

The heart is a four-chambered pump with its own electrical system. When the electrical system is faulty or in need of repair, a cardiac device, such as a pacemaker or defibrillator, is implanted. A pacemaker keeps the heart from beating too slowly. When the heart's own electrical system misses a signal to stimulate the heart to beat, a pacemaker sends the signal to replace it. A defibrillator, or ICD, corrects fast heart rhythms from the ventricles, or lower chambers of the heart. Most defibrillators have built-in pacemakers. A biventricular system is a pacemaker or defibrillator with two leads in the lower chambers or ventricles. This system helps the heart beat more efficiently and is often used to treat a condition called heart failure. Cardiac devices are small, lightweight, electronic devices that hold a battery and tiny computers. Typically, they are placed under the skin, just below the collarbone. Insulated wires, or leads, are threaded through large veins, ending up in the...

The cardiac cycle refers to the sequence of events that occur and repeat with every heartbeat. It can be divided into 2 major phases: systole and diastole, each of which subdivides into several smaller phases. Systole and diastole, when not specified otherwise, refer to ventricular contraction and relaxation, respectively. Reminders: - Blood flows from higher to lower pressure. - Contraction increases the pressure within a chamber, while relaxation lowers the pressure. - AV valves open when atrial pressures are higher than ventricular pressures and close when the pressure gradient is reversed. Similarly, semilunar valves open when ventricular pressures are higher than aortic/pulmonary pressures, and close when the reverse is true. The cycle is initiated with the firing of the SA node that stimulates the atria to depolarize. This is represented by the P-wave on the ECG. Atrial contraction starts shortly after the P-wave begins, and causes the pressure within the atria to increase, forci...

  It's really important that Myocardial Infarcts, that heart attacks, are diagnosed as soon as possible. The reason for this is that the longer that the heart goes without getting the proper supply of oxygen it needs, then the more the heart muscle is going to die. This principle is actually so important that in medicine there is a saying that goes, "Time is muscle." That really serves to underscore the importance that the faster you diagnose a heart attack and sort of localizing where on the heart the infarct has happened the faster you can treat it. Right, and the faster that you treat it, that means there is the best chance for a good outcome after having a Myocardial Infarct. Time is muscle. Let's say our friend Vinay had a heart attack and he gets himself, or somebody brings him to the hospital. When he gets to the hospital what is going to happen? What are the diagnostic steps that are going to take place? Well, it's an emergency, right? A suspected Myocardi...

  You have pacemakers and defibrillators. Pacemakers are able to pace your heart if your heart rate goes too slow, whereas defibrillators are just like the pads that you see on TV, when somebody goes into a deadly abnormal rhythm, they are shocked by the EMS team, and brought back into a normal rhythm. Well, this defibrillator is like having those pads with you at all times, so all defibrillators can shock somebody out of a very fast rhythm, but they also have pacemaker capabilities, so that if somebody's heart rate does drop too low, that defibrillator can also serve as a pacemaker. So defibrillators can be pacemakers, but pacemakers cannot shock like defibrillators. With pacemakers and defibrillators, the battery is located within the device, and these are relatively long-lasting batteries. They can last anywhere between five to 10 years depending on the device. Often times we're referred to for lead extractions for devices that may have been in for a long period of time. Aft...