Your initial consultation at Woodlands will begin with your consultant asking for a detailed medical history, and an outline of the symptoms you’ve been experiencing. They may ask you questions such as:
- What symptoms have you noticed?
- How long have you had these symptoms?
- Have you had any previous heart concerns?
- Do you have a family history of heart problems?
- Do your symptoms get worse after exertion/exercise?
- Have your symptoms been getting increasingly frequent?
A clinical examination will follow this, and your consultant will likely check your blood pressure. If you have reported any of the notable symptoms of a heart condition, like chest pain, shortness of breath or palpitations, diagnostic scans may be required.
These scans can take many forms, depending on your specific symptoms. One common scan is an echocardiogram; an ultrasound scan specifically of your heart. This is often used if your consultant suspects you may have narrow or leaking heart valves, and is the go-to scan for investigating heart failure.
Ambulatory Heart Monitoring is another option, which constantly monitors and records your heart rate over a set period of time. The monitoring kit is worn continuously, sometimes just for 24-48 hours, sometimes for a period of 5-10 days. This data can then be analysed by your consultant to help track if anything in particular triggers a spike in heart rate.
Normally, this monitoring is done with an Electrocardiogram (ECG), where sensors are placed on your arms, legs, and chest, tracking the electrical activity of your heart. This is often done during your initial consultation, and no preparation is needed beforehand. An ECG can detect a variety of heart diseases, such as arrhythmia, cardiomyopathy, coronary heart disease and heart attacks.
These initial investigations are all non-invasive. Occasionally, your symptoms may need further analysis, so a CT coronary angiogram may be used to get a definitive diagnosis, especially in cases where angina is suspected. This involves a flexible tube (catheter) being inserted through your groin or arm, travelling up towards your heart and the surrounding arteries. A dye is injected, and then x-ray scans are taken, highlighting any areas which may be blocked or narrowed.
This specialist test would need to be organised for a future date and may involve a visit to another facility.
Once a diagnosis has been confirmed, your consultant can form a treatment plan for you, outlining all possible options and explaining the expected outcomes, taking into account your goals for recovery. Ultimately, you will have the final say on how you wish to proceed.
Treatment is always consultant-led and consultant-delivered, ensuring you are overseen by the same consultant from day one, right through to the end of your treatment.