A trial conducted by the Singapore General Hospital found that cardiac arrest patients could triple their chances of survival by using a treatment technique known as Therapeutic Hypothermia. During this treatment, an unconscious patient’s body is rapidly cooled from 37°C to between 32°C and 34°C, where the temperature is maintained for 12 to 24 hours. This is done either by wrapping large cooling gel pads around the torso or by pumping cool saline into a catheter that is inserted into … [Read more...]

The chest pain a person feels 24 hours before a heart attack may actually save his/her life. Up to 40 per cent of heart attack patients experience chest pain, which is also known as pre-infraction angina. According to the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation (MHIF), knowing the early warning signs of a heart attack can help to prompt identification and treatment. In a study done by MHIF, researchers here looked at data from 245 patients who suffered a heart attack. It was found that … [Read more...]

The history of yoga dates back as far as 5,000 years ago in ancient India. Today, it is practised by many around the world to help with relaxation, improving flexibility and health. From hatha yoga to astanga, yoga offers numerous benefits for your heart. A study by Ohio State University found that women who did not practise yoga regularly had 41 per cent higher levels of pro-inflammatory cytokine IL -6, a substance that increases inflammation in our body and causes heart disease. The … [Read more...]

In February 2013's e-Newsletter, we talked about how consuming too much Chinese New Year goodies can increase the risk of  heart disease. Here, we would like to go a step further and offer you some invaluable practical tips to help you control your appetite this festive season. 1)     Avoid an empty stomach when going for house visits When we are hungry, we tend to eat more. Fill up your stomachs with healthy fibre-rich food such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains and calcium-rich … [Read more...]

What is it? A heart screening a.k.a. cardiac screening is a diagnostic test that is used to detect and evaluate any underlying heart diseases or conditions. It is often deployed as a preventive measure to easily counter any complications before it worsens and causes further complications. Many different types of heart screenings are available, and the ones that the patient undergoes may differ depending on the individual. A normal screening for a healthy person would take about an hour or … [Read more...]

Good for the Heart Baked Turkey is one of the dishes that cannot be missed during Christmas. It is actually healthier as compared to other meat choices like beef and ham, containing less cholesterol and saturated fat. Not only that; it is also rich in tryptophan, an essential amino acid that helps your body to produce vitamin B. Reducing the amount of sauce to go with it helps to cut down cholesterol and saturated fat intake, lowering the possibility of getting heart related diseases. Next … [Read more...]

Who is it for? MitraClip Therapy is a form of minimally invasive surgery/procedure which is used to treat patients suffering from Mitral Valve Prolapse (MVP) with Severe Mitral Regurgitation (MR). What is Mitral Valve Prolapse (MVP)? The mitral valve is one of four valves located at the heart, namely between the left atrium and left ventricle. The mitral valve has two flaps or ‘leaflets’ which opens and closes to control the blood flow between these two chambers. When this valve … [Read more...]

Who is it for? Bioabsorbable Vascular Scaffolds (BVS) are made from synthetic polymers that have been specifically produced for safe use in the human body. Many patients who are eligible for the regular cardiac stent are also eligible for the new BVS technology. Until more experience with this technology is obtained, certain subsets of patients are currently deemed unsuitable for this new breakthrough in treating coronary artery disease. These include those with extensive calcified … [Read more...]

Who is it for? Cardiac stenting, or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), is recommended for people who suffer from narrow or blocked coronary arteries as a result of coronary artery disease (CAD). It is also used as an emergency treatment for heart attack cases by quickly opening the blockage and reducing heart muscle damage. What is percutaneous coronary intervention? PCI, also known as coronary angioplasty, is a non-surgical method used to open narrowed coronary arteries that supply … [Read more...]

About Your Heart The human heart has four valves and the aortic valve is one of them. The aorta is the main artery carrying blood out of the heart. (When blood leaves the heart, it flows through the aortic valve, into the aorta.) TAVI: Who is it for? Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) is recommended for high-risk older patients who have Aortic Stenosis and are not suitable for open heart surgery. High-risk patients include those who have a calculated surgical risk – following … [Read more...]