Cardiology

Any kind of problem within the heart or blood vessels (often referred to as the circulatory or cardiovascular system) can affect physical, mental and emotional health. If cardiovascular problems are left untreated, they will often get worse over time and have a more pronounced impact on health and quality of life.

Certain symptoms can be good indicators of a potential problem within the cardiovascular system. These include:

• Chest pain
• Breathlessness
• Palpitations
• Dizziness
• Collapsing
• Loss of consciousness

  Some symptoms are less obvious and are often only picked up during a routine test:

• Raised blood pressure
• Raised cholesterol

Any of these symptoms can be worrying, but it is important to know they are not always caused by a problem with your heart or blood vessels. However, it is always sensible to see a doctor for a proper assessment and advice.

Here at Bishops Wood Hospital, our Consultant Cardiologists investigate all cardiovascular symptoms.

With full diagnostic facilities, they will thoroughly investigate the cause(s) of your symptoms, diagnose the problem and tailor any treatment to your specific needs.

Cardiac relates to the heart. Cardiology is the medical speciality that investigates and treats diseases of the heart and/or blood vessels. A doctor who specialises in this area is known as a Cardiologist. 

Your heart is a muscle. With each beat, blood is pumped around your body through the blood vessels. Blood carries oxygen and essential nutrients through the body and helps to remove waste products.

If your heart is damaged and no longer able to function properly, or if any of your blood vessels become damaged, narrowed or even fully blocked, you may need medical intervention.

Common cardiovascular conditions include:

• Angina – chest pain caused by a reduced flow of blood to the heart
• Heart attack – caused when one of the arteries that supplies your heart is blocked
• Heart rhythm problems
• Valvular heart disease
• Heart failure
• Raised cholesterol
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• Coronary artery disease
• Cardiomyopathy – a disease of the heart that reduces the ability of your heart to pump blood around your body. Long-term, it can lead to heart failure.

When you first meet with your consultant here at Bishops Wood, they will ask you about your symptoms. They will want to learn:

• What symptoms you have?
• When you first noticed these symptoms?
• Whether they have been getting worse?
• Whether anything triggers your symptoms (for example, exercise or activity)?

They will take a clinical history and carry out a physical examination.

Your cardiovascular system is spread throughout your body meaning diagnosis can sometimes be quite complex. There are a number of useful tests and investigations that can be carried out to help with diagnosis. These include:

• Electrocardiogram (ECG) – a simple test that measures the electrical activity and rhythm of your heart
• Holter monitor/Patch Monitor - an ECG carried out over an extended time period (usually between 1 – 7 days)
• Exercise/Stress Test – used to see how well your heart functions at different activity levels. You will normally be monitored while on a treadmill or exercise bike
• Blood pressure monitoring – this is often carried out over a 24-hour period
• Echocardiography - an ultrasound scan of the heart. The ultrasound probe is moved around the front of the chest to show the structure and function of your heart.
• Transoesophageal echocardiogram – an ultrasound probe is passed down your oesophagus (food pipe) to visualise your heart. This can give a clearer view than standard echocardiography
• Coronary angiography and CT coronary angiography - specialised imaging of the blood vessels that supply the heart (the coronary arteries) using X-rays
• Cardiac MRI – specialised imaging of the heart with an MRI scan
• Coronary calcium score assessment – to measure the calcium level in the walls of your arteries. Can help show early signs of coronary artery diseases.  

Any of these tests can be arranged by your consultant where required. Once a diagnosis has been made, they will be able to plan the treatment that will be best for you.

Treatments for a cardiovascular problem may involve watchful waiting, medication or surgery, all of which can be arranged for you by your Bishops Wood consultant. Surgical treatments available include:

• Coronary angioplasty and stenting
• Coronary angiography
• Loop recorder implantation (ILR)
• Pacemaker implantation
• Cardiac Resynchronisation Therapy (CRTP / CRTD)
• Implantable cardio defibrillators (ICD)

Due to the complexity of some of these operations, your surgery may be carried out at another location. Regardless of the location of your surgery, it will still be carried out by your consultant.

Many heart conditions will need long-term monitoring, and follow-up appointments with your consultant at regular intervals will help ensure your peace of mind. If your symptoms re-occur, or if you have any questions or concerns at any time, it is very easy to contact us and arrange a time to see your consultant.

People choose to come to us for assessment and treatment of their heart conditions for a variety of reasons. Some will have been referred by their GP or a consultant in another speciality, while others will have been recommended to us by a friend or family member who we have previously helped.

Others will be concerned about their symptoms and choose to self-refer so that they can benefit from being seen by an expert sooner. We treat patients with private medical insurance and self-pay patients.

Many of the people we help are local to Northwood while others travel from other parts of Middlesex to benefit from our relaxed atmosphere and friendly approach.

Regardless of how you’ve been referred to us or the distance you’ll be travelling to visit with us, at Bishops Wood you will always benefit from:

• Rapid access – Many heart conditions are more easily treated when they’re found early. Early intervention can help prevent future health complications. If you have any symptoms suggestive of a potential cardiovascular problem, you will understandably want to get help as quickly as possible. We can arrange an appointment for you with an experienced Consultant Cardiologist, fast.
• Appointments to suit you - Consultations are usually in person at Bishops Wood, but we can also provide remote consultations via telephone or video call where required.
• Tailored treatment – Cardiovascular conditions are best managed and resolved with bespoke treatment suited to your specific needs. Your consultant will ensure you receive the best treatment for your specific condition.
• Multidisciplinary team - Your consultant is helped by other healthcare professionals at Bishops Wood, including nurses, physiotherapists and radiologists. If your case is particularly complex, it can be discussed with other specialists in a multidisciplinary team meeting so that the best treatment for you can be planned.
• Peace of mind – In an independent survey, 94.1% of the people we treated said they were likely or highly likely to recommend us to their friends and family. When you visit us, it’s easy to see how much the staff enjoy their work by the way they treat each and every person who walks through our doors for help. They would love to help you too.
• On-site parking – It is easy to get to us and our on-site car park has 178 spaces, meaning you won’t need to worry about where to park when you visit.

If any type of heart condition is causing you anxiety or concern, it’s reassuring to know that good help is available.

Your consultant will thoroughly investigate the cause(s) of your symptoms, talk you through suitable treatment options, and arrange treatment for you as soon as possible.

Why not book your appointment online now? We look forward to helping you.