Early detection and managing heart disease
IF ONLY I had known earlier that I had heart problems. How could I have known that I was at risk of having a heart attack? I went for regular checks and everything was always fine. I eat well and train regularly, so how did I still end up having a heart attack?
These are frequently asked questions by patients after having a heart attack or undergoing bypass surgery. And how often do we hear of people who suddenly died of a heart attack, yet never experienced any signs or symptoms?
Are we missing some crucial information that seriously affects and jeopardises the quality of an individual’s life?
Before medical advances, a lack of technology made it hard to evaluate and properly quantify physiology, which is the actual functioning of body parts in relation to each other.
Anatomy, however, which deals with the structure of body parts, was much easier to visualise, quantify, evaluate and report on.
Hence the emphasis was taken away from physiology. Yet physiology is a fundamental principal of life.
Even the determination of whether a person is alive or dead is based only on physiological aspects.
Medical approaches should, therefore, focus carefully on both aspects to achieve optimal success, bearing in mind it is always advisable to choose noninvasive, risk-free methods as the first line whenever possible, rather than opt for tests that use dyes or radiation, for example, which may decrease kidney function and result in renal failure and a need for dialysis.
Fortunately, non-invasive physiological tests are now available in South Africa for the early detection and management of heart disease.
Why take unnecessary risks? For example, the threedimensional vasculography (3DVG) assessment is an excellent physiological test that provides answers to questions asked by patients and medical professionals alike.
It is currently the only test worldwide for early detection, prevention and management of cardiovascular disease.
Other tests such as an ECG, the stress test, Echos and cardiac markers are not equipped to detect cardiovascular disease in the early phases.
These conventional tests are valuable to confirm if a patient has already suffered an attack.
Unique to 3DVG is the measurement of actual blood flow in ml/min/100g to the different regions of the heart in comparison to tests that focus on structural changes to the coronary arteries alone, without blood flow measurement.
DVG assists in determining the urgency of treatment or surgery since it measures how the heart is coping with its function after a heart attack or with a blockage.
3DVG measures 64 parameters simultaneously and provides a 23-page report on a patient, giving the healthcare practitioner sufficient information to plot the way forward with the most appropriate treatment.
Where patients are already diagnosed or have undergone angiograms or bypass surgery, 3DVG is used to confirm earlier findings and evaluate the success of any procedures, as well as assist with future medical management and medication.
Should patients still be symptomatic after surgical procedures, 3DVG establishes the root cause of the recurring chest pains, tiredness and shortness of breath so that an appropriate treatment can be selected.
The test measures vascular compliance, which is the elasticity of blood vessels – their ability to expand and contract sufficiently. Patients with recurring symptoms generally present poor vascular compliance as the underlying cause.
Those who would benefit from 3DVG include: symptomatic patients above the age of 30; asymptomatic patients above the age of 35 who want to know their risk status; patients with a family history of heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes; people who are highly stressed or perform physically or mentally demanding jobs; those who suffer from chronic sinus problems or gum disease; those who require optimisation of medication; those who are at high risk for surgery or do not want to undergo invasive procedures; and patients who require a second opinion before going for coronary artery bypass surgery.
3DVG is the only test that measures the total burden on the heart and the risk of a cardiovascular event or sudden death. It provides guidance on the most appropriate treatment regimens. The dawn of a new era has begun, the technology is now available. Should you risk not doing it?