Cardiovascular Diseases: Early Diagnosis Key to Save Lives

Reviewed by: Manipal Hospitals

Posted on 06 Jun 2024

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With the growing consumption of alcohol and tobacco, unhealthy foods, and adoption of sedentary lifestyles, the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases is surging sharply across the globe. As per a study conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO), around 17.9 million people succumb to cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) every year. Moreover, these illnesses were responsible for nearly 32% of all deaths globally in 2019. Visit Manipal Hospital to know more about the treatments for Cardiovascular diseases.

CVDs basically refers to the disorders of the heart and blood vessels, such as:

Cerebrovascular diseases: which are diseases of the blood vessels supplying blood to the brain
Coronary heart diseases: which are diseases of the blood vessels supplying blood to the heart muscle
Peripheral arterial diseases: which are diseases of the blood vessels supplying blood to the legs and arms
Congenital heart diseases: which are birth defects that affect the functioning and development of the heart
Rheumatic heart diseases: which are caused due to damage to the heart valves and heart muscle from rheumatic fever, caused due to streptococcal bacteria
Pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis: caused due to blood clots in the leg veins, which can dislodge and easily move to the lungs and heart

While most of the above-mentioned ailments are characterized by symptoms, such as chest pain, shortness of breath, chest tightness, fainting, rapid or slow heartbeat, and sudden swelling in the abdomen, ankles, legs and feet, some conditions, such as atherosclerosis, exhibit no symptoms at all until they become life-threatening. In other cases, the symptoms may be vague or mild and include fatigue, backache, weakness, dizziness, or indigestion. Women with myocardial infarction are more likely to experience nausea rather than chest pain.

Furthermore, in some cases, people with blood clots experienced no symptoms until a heart attack or pulmonary embolism. Thus, owing to the high fatality rate of these diseases and the lack of symptoms in many cases, it is crucial to diagnose them early with invasive as well as non-invasive methods to provide timely treatment and prevent the loss of life.

Invasive Methods

Blood Tests:

Blood tests including cholesterol tests are usually recommended to patients for determining the risk of heart diseases and a heart attack. Book an appointment today to have the blood test for Cardiovascular diseases treatment in Goa. A complete cholesterol test is performed for checking 4 types of fats in the blood:

High-density Lipoprotein (HDL) Cholesterol: Also known as the ‘good’ cholesterol, HDL cholesterol assists in carrying away LDL cholesterol and clearing the arteries.
Low-density Lipoprotein (LDL) Cholesterol: Also known as ‘bad’ cholesterol, the presence of large amounts of LDL indicates the build-up of fat in the arteries, which reduces the flow of blood, thus augmenting the risk of a heart attack.
Total Cholesterol: It is the sum of all cholesterol in the blood.
Triglycerides: They are, basically, a type of fat in the blood. High levels of triglycerides are usually associated with diabetes, excessive consumption of alcohol and diabetes.

Coronary Angiography & Cardiac Catheterization

Cardiac catheterization involves the insertion of a long flexible tube through a blood vessel in the groin or any other part in the body, which is followed by moving the tube towards the heart to conduct tests to check for heart abnormalities and blood vessel problems.

Besides the above-mentioned tests, a doctor may also recommend a C-reactive protein (CRP) test to check signs of inflammation in the body. The results of cholesterol tests and CRP are used to assess the risk of heart diseases.

Non-Invasive Tests

Non-invasive tests are generally recommended after the completion of blood tests. Some of the most commonly prescribed non-invasive tests are:

Electrocardiogram: Also known as an EKG, an electrocardiogram is performed to monitor electrical activity in the heart and detect irregular heartbeats.
Echocardiogram: It is an ultrasound of the heart and involves the use of sound waves to create an image of the heart, thus helping doctors evaluate heart muscles and heart valves.
Stress Test: It is recommended to monitor the heart’s reaction to stress during physically strenuous activities.
CT Scan: It employs the use of multiple X-ray images to develop a cross-sectional picture of the heart, thus assisting doctors in conducting a thorough scan of the heart.
Heart MRI: During a heart MRI, radio waves and large magnets are used to develop pictures of the blood vessels and heart while it is beating.

Caused due to poor lifestyle choices, diet, and stress, cardiac diseases are rapidly becoming a significant health burden across the globe. Moreover, due to a lack of awareness about the symptoms and the necessary diagnostic procedures, the fatality rate of these illnesses is rising sharply. Thus, the early diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases is critical to mitigate the loss of life and ensure better patient care and treatment.

High-density Lipoprotein (HDL) Cholesterol: Also known as the ‘good’ cholesterol, HDL cholesterol assists in carrying away LDL cholesterol and clearing the arteries.
Low-density Lipoprotein (LDL) Cholesterol: Also known as ‘bad’ cholesterol, the presence of large amounts of LDL indicates the build-up of fat in the arteries, which reduces the flow of blood, thus augmenting the risk of a heart attack.
Total Cholesterol: It is the sum of all cholesterol in the blood.
Triglycerides: They are, basically, a type of fat in the blood. High levels of triglycerides are usually associated with diabetes, excessive consumption of alcohol and diabetes.

Non-invasive tests are generally recommended after the completion of blood tests. Some of the most commonly prescribed non-invasive tests are:

Electrocardiogram: Also known as an EKG, an electrocardiogram is performed to monitor electrical activity in the heart and detect irregular heartbeats.
Echocardiogram: It is an ultrasound of the heart and involves the use of sound waves to create an image of the heart, thus helping doctors evaluate heart muscles and heart valves.
Stress Test: It is recommended to monitor the heart’s reaction to stress during physically strenuous activities.
CT Scan: It employs the use of multiple X-ray images to develop a cross-sectional picture of the heart, thus assisting doctors in conducting a thorough scan of the heart.
Heart MRI: During a heart MRI, radio waves and large magnets are used to develop pictures of the blood vessels and heart while it is beating.

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