Heart disease

What is heart disease?

Heart disease (also known as cardiovascular disease) is an umbrella term for conditions affecting the heart and blood vessels.

When your heart is not working effectively, it has trouble sending enough blood, oxygen, and nutrients to your body, which can cause adverse symptoms.

Different conditions fall under the category of heart disease. These include:

Arrhythmia
Heart infections
Angina
Coronary heart disease
Valvular stenosis
Congenital heart disease
Atherosclerosis
Cardiomyopathy
Heart failure
Heart attacks (as a result of coronary heart disease)
Stroke

Risks

Many modifiable factors can put you at risk of developing heart disease. These include:

Inactive lifestyle
Having a BMI (body mass index) higher than 25 (being overweight)
Eating unhealthy foods
Smoking
Illegal substance use
High cholesterol
High blood pressure
Type 2 diabetes

Some non modifiable factors can put you at risk, including a family history of heart disease, connective tissue disorders, age, ethnicity and sex.

Diagnosis

During your initial appointment, we will assess your symptoms and evaluate your medical and family history. This will help us determine your risk of heart disease and decide whether you may have the condition.

If we suspect a heart issue, we will investigate further to determine what may be troubling you. Some initial tests we may perform include blood tests and an ECG to check your heart’s health and detect any signs of abnormalities. If we detect anything unusual with the heart, we may conduct further tests.

Treatment

Treatment will depend on the type of heart disease discovered and your individual needs. We may suggest options such as medications or surgery to help tackle your condition.

However, our first suggestion will be to implement key lifestyle changes to make sure you are as healthy as possible and tackle your heart concerns naturally first. These changes may include:

Implementing a healthy diet and regular exercise routine
Quitting smoking, drinking, and taking recreational drugs
Building a healthy sleep routine
Implementing stress management techniques such as yoga, meditation, and tai chi

Key symptoms of Heart disease

dizziness

Dizziness

Dizziness is the sensation of feeling off balance or light-headed. You may feel as though your surroundings or you are spinning or moving (called vertigo).

Fatigue

Fatigue is the feeling that you lack the energy or motivation to do anything physically and mentally.

Recommended tests for Heart disease

CT-scan

CT scan

A heart CT scan uses many X-rays from different angles to build images of your heart using a scanner and computer. This can help us see problems with the structures of the heart and issues with valves, arteries, and more.

CT-scan

MRI scan

A heart MRI scan uses magnetic and radio waves to show detailed pictures of the inside of your heart. Like a CT scan, this test can show issues with the heart and the surrounding vessels.

Echocardiogram

An echocardiogram is an ultrasound scan that shows the heart’s structure and surrounding blood vessels. It allows us to analyse how blood flows through them and assess the heart’s pumping chambers.

Book your consultation  with Dr Ravi Assomull today

Looking after your heart is the most important thing you can do to improve your longevity and quality of life in the long term.

We’re here for you during your journey to better heart health. We provide tests and management strategies to help identify what might be wrong and where you can improve your lifestyle to reach prime heart health.

Book an appointment today to speak to our expert Integrative Cardiologist, Dr Ravi Assomull, about your heart concerns.

You can email us at: enquiries@cardiologist.london

Or call us at: 020 3576 2885

Frequently asked questions

Short answers from Dr Ravi Assomull, consultant cardiologist - each one is also available as a video.

What is coronary heart disease?

Coronary heart disease results from plaque build up in the heart arteries. In this video, Dr Ravi Assomull explains how stable disease differs from a heart attack. Watch Dr Assomull's answer (0:57).

What are the symptoms of heart disease?

Heart disease can be silent or present with exertional chest pain and breathlessness. In this video, Dr Ravi Assomull explains how symptoms develop and how heart attacks can occur suddenly. Watch Dr Assomull's answer (1:8).

How can heart disease be diagnosed?

Heart disease can often be detected accurately using modern imaging techniques. In this video, Dr Ravi Assomull explains how CT coronary angiography identifies plaque and narrowing in the coronary arteries. Watch Dr Assomull's answer (0:27).

How can I prevent heart disease?

Most coronary heart disease is preventable with the right lifestyle and medical management. In this video, Dr Ravi Assomull explains how diet, exercise, sleep, and risk factor control reduce cardiovascular risk. Watch Dr Assomull's answer (0:27).

Can coronary heart disease be cured?

Coronary artery disease cannot be cured but can be very effectively controlled with modern treatments. In this video, Dr Ravi Assomull explains how stents, lifestyle changes, and medication reduce risk and prevent further heart problems. Watch Dr Assomull's answer (0:53).