Finding the Right Reasons to Visit a Heart Specialist in Orchard (Singapore)
Every day we look in the mirror to check our physical appearance. It is a routine that we do to make sure that our features are clean, presentable, and intact. There may be times when we skip the mirror and rely on our senses and instinct to tell if the rest of the body – from the head down to the feet – is well and without a single part that is out of order. Only when we can confirm that there is no problem that we are finally satisfied, and then we can proceed with our daily activities without any worries. This personal check is very easy to perform on the parts that we can see – but how do make sure that all is well on the inside, too? Dr. Devinder Singh at Cadence Heart Centre is the person who can help you, especially when it comes to caring for one of the most important and hard-working organs in the body – the heart. Dr. Singh is the medical director and senior consultant cardiologist at Cadence Heart Centre in Singapore and with his wide experience in clinical cardiology, he is undoubtedly one of the best in his field. If you have any questions about heart matters, or you just want to give your heart the TLC it needs, all you have to do is to contact Cadence Heart Center, and its highly trained staff will be happy to assist you in getting the medical care and attention that you need.
You might wonder – of all the places that you could go for a check-up, why choose a heart clinic? This article will list the reasons why you should go to a heart clinic in Singapore. This will also tackle the whatsand when on everything heart related.
Before we discuss the whys, let us talk about the whats and the when first.
What is a cardiologist?
Simply put, a cardiologist is a heart doctor. They specialize in diagnosing and treating conditions and diseases of the heart and blood vessels, or the cardiovascular system. They also help patients manage their cardiac ailments such as heart attacks, irregular heartbeats and palpitations, valve problems, and high blood pressure. Once an accurate diagnosis has been made, the cardiologist can then create a customized treatment plan for the patient.
What happens when you visit a cardiologist?
Like other medical practitioners, the first thing that a cardiologist will do is to review the personal medical history of a patient and perform a physical assessment during the first visit. After checking the patient’s vitals, they may carry out some tests such as:
Electrocardiogram (ECG): the aim of this test is to monitor and record the electrical activities of the heart as well as its response to stimuli.
Exercise test or stress test: in order to assess the changes in the heart’s rhythm when the body is in motion and when at rest, the patient will be required to simulate a physical activity during an exercise test or stress test. This is usually conducted with the help of a treadmill or stationary bike. An exercise or stress test is also used to determine the stamina and limitations of the heart when it comes to rigorous physical activities.
Ambulatory ECG: an ECG device is attached to the patient’s chest while he or she is doing daily activities or exercising. There are tiny metal electrodes that are connected to the device, and these can record the rhythms of the heart.
Echocardiogram: Ultrasound is used to produce an image of the heart, complete with the inner structure of its chambers and surrounding parts. An echocardiogram can tell how well the heart is pumping blood and it can also determine if there are any signs of inflammation, infection, and abnormal growth around the heart and its valves.
When should you visit a cardiologist?
If you have any cardiovascular concerns, the first thing you need to do is to consult with your primary care doctor so that they can refer you to a cardiologist. If you experience any of these symptoms, you should get a referral to a cardiologist as soon as possible:
- High blood pressure
- Too fast or too slow heart rate
- Mild to moderate chest pain or discomfort
- Breathlessness accompanied by dizziness or fainting
- Swelling in the legs, leg pain, or inflammations caused by blood vessel diseases
After reviewing your medical history, assessing the symptoms, and performing diagnostic tests, your cardiologist will be able to provide the best treatment plan for your condition. It may include some medications and a cardiac procedure, both depending on the type and severity of the heart condition. You will also receive instructions related to exercise and proper diet. If you are a smoker or an alcohol drinker, you will be asked to limit, if not give up, these activities, too.
And now to the final question: why should you visit a cardiologist?
Even if you do not have any of the above symptoms, there are plenty of other reasons why you should schedule a visit to a cardiologist. Here are some of them:
Genetics/Family history of cardiac diseases
If there is someone in your family who has or has experienced heart problems, your risk of getting the same problem is high. Most heart diseases have a strong genetic connection. Do some research and ask questions to your family members about their medical history so you are aware of the patterns and symptoms. Then do the right thing and get a proper evaluation from a cardiologist. Prevention is always better than cure, as they say.
If you have high blood pressure and/or high cholesterol
These are two red flags that you should watch out for when you reach the age of 20s. Make it a point to get routine blood pressure and cholesterol checks to see if the numbers are rising as time progresses. If left untreated, high blood pressure and high cholesterol can be difficult to manage and may lead to more serious health issues.
If you have diabetes
Do you know that people with diabetes are more susceptible to heart disease by up to four times higher than those without diabetes? This fact should be enough to convince you to visit a cardiologist!
One final piece of advice: if you want to live longer and enjoy life, take care of your heart early!
For more information about heart matters, please contact the Cadence Heart Centre in Singapore. We will be happy to provide you with more reasons on why you should visit a cardiologist.
Cadence Heart Centre – Dr Devinder Singh
Mt Elizabeth Hospital, 3 Mount Elizabeth #14-13
Mt Elizabeth Medical Centre, Singapore 228510
(65) 8318 9884
(65) 6369 8789
(65) 6369 2789
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