International Modern Hospital: Conscious care is essential

While genetics raises risks of heart disease, residents should keep an eye on lifestyle factors, says Dr Kais Mrabet, Specialist Interventional Cardiologist at International Modern Hospital. Excerpts from an interview:

International Modern Hospital (IMH) is equipped with the full gamut of services to treat cardiac patients. We have a fully equipped cardiac catheterisation lab for interventional treatment. 24/7 emergency cardiac care is delivered by doctors with extensive experience in handling complex cardiology cases including heart attacks, uncontrolled hypertension, heart failure and arrhythmias.

Preventing heart attacks
Regular and thorough testing based on different driving factors like past medical history, family medical history, and other lifestyle factors is crucial. Once the all-round diagnosis is carried out the cardiologist will suggest ways to bring down risks to the cardiac health - including by medical treatment, lifestyle management, medications and exercises. We will delve deeper to eliminate the root cause of cardiac problem. This could be by cutting down on smoking, reducing salt/sugar intake, avoiding junk food, or losing weight. People with cardiovascular risk factors such as diabetes, hypertension, and cholesterol should ensure that these parameters are well controlled. Practicing regular exercise for at least 30 minutes, five days a week is recommended.

Role of family history
There is a family history of cardiovascular disease if a family member - males less than 50 years of age or females less than 45 years of age - has suffered ischemic heart disease. In such cases, their relatives should be proactive in terms of their heart health.

Precautions during Covid-19
Data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that Covid-19 patients with cardiovascular disease are six times more likely to be hospitalised and 12 times more likely to die than patients without any chronic health problems. Therefore, cardiac patients are categorised as 'high risk' in case of contracting Covid-19. They should be extra careful in adhering to the precautions prescribed by the Dubai Health Authority. In case they are suspected to have contracted the virus, they should consult a doctor at the earliest.

Complications due to current pandemic
There are two major heart-related complications:

Acute Myocarditis: Inflammation of the heart that can lead to heart failure.
Pulmonary Embolism: The most common complication observed among patients with Covid-19. It can lead to heart failure, breathing difficulty and may require respiratory assistance.

International Modern Hospital (IMH), established in 2005, is a tertiary multi-speciality hospital with state-of-the-art facilities and expertise in all specialities, and with capabilities of providing treatment to all types of medical and surgical emergencies.
What set us apart is our unrivalled legacy in keyhole surgeries, where we are seen as the preferred referral partner for complex keyhole surgical cases in the region. In addition, our 24×7 Care across key specialities is another pillar that differentiates us from the rest.

Moving forward, our focus is to be the preferred hospital for 'Family healthcare and wellbeing'. To achieve this, we have a team of finest healthcare professionals who offer unparalleled treatment and care. We are also committed to redefining the entire patient care experience and provide an outstanding service to patients round-the-clock. Because when it comes to your family's health, there can be no compromise.

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