Don’t ignore your chest discomfort! A cardiologist’s health warning

There are many causes of chest discomfort, from indigestion to heart disease. The first is the least concerning and can be a nuisance, but the latter can mean a potentially lifethreatening condition, which, if not diagnosed and treated in time, can be fatal Dr Kare Tang is a consultant interventional cardiologist who practices in Essex and London. He sees many patients with chest discomfort presenting in the latter stages of heart disease or already having suffered a heart attack through not seeking previous medical attention on the assumption that it’s ‘ indigestion’ or that ‘ it’ll just go away’. Many of these patients require emergency admission when the condition worsens and may require emergency coronary stenting treatment to restore blood flow to the heart.

Some patients may require coronary bypass surgery as a result of too many blockages, but there are also patients who are too ill to undergo surgery or would prefer to avoid major open heart surgery.

Dr Tang is one of the few specialist cardiologists who can treat chronically occluded coronary ‘ fuel pipes’ to the heart, avoiding the need for major surgery. This is carried out under local anaesthetic with sedation with a high success rate.

Dr Tang sees many patients that suffer with angina chest pain, despite having received optimal medical treatment and previous coronary bypass surgery, which can fail over time. These patients can benefit from coronary intervention to restore the patient’s quality of life.

Previously, blocked coronary arteries — which were nigh-on impossible to open due to the various risks involved — are now being overcome thanks to the use of cutting- edge technology and clinical device advancement. Thankfully, this is proving to be very successful.

A new ability to carry out hightech imagery of blocked vessels allows for the accurate placement of drug-loaded stents to improve long-term success. This treatment has helped eliminate symptoms of chest pain, shortness of breath and fatigue caused by poor blood supply to the heart muscle.

If you don’t usually suffer from indigestion, be aware it could be from your heart and you should seek early clinical advice, as prompt treatment can be lifesaving. Time loss is heart muscle loss.

If you don’t usually suffer from indigestion, be aware it could be from your heart and you should seek early clinical advice