All of the following are common symptoms and concerns that are often due to nothing serious but can occasionally be due to serious underlying disorders of the heart that may need urgent treatment:
Breathlessness: Can be disorders of heart valves, the heart pumping function (heart failure), electric rhythm disturbances of the heart (abnormal heart rhythm) and narrowing of the arteries that supply the heart.
Chest pain: This can be due to angina, which is caused by narrowings of the arteries that supply the heart, which may need urgent assessment and treatment. It can also be a symptom of a heart attack.
Family history: Are you worried that there is a serious history of heart problems in your family and that you may need to be screened?
High blood pressure: This is a very common problem that up to 25% of the population has. It is a silent killer because often patients can have no symptoms due to high blood pressure and left untreated it carries a significantly increased risk of heart attack, heart failure, stroke, eye problems and kidney failure. In a majority of cases it can be safely be controlled with tablets.
Palpitations: This is a very common problem that can often occur in people with normal hearts. However, there are serious disorders of the heart such as atrial fibrillation that require investigation and treatment.
Why worry unnecessarily? You can come and have a professional opinion and tests in pleasant surroundings by making an appointment with Dr Hogg at Albyn Hospital. This will reassure you that either nothing serious is wrong with your heart or if their is an opinion it can be dealt with in a timely manner to prevent further problems, ensuring your heart is in the best possible shape for the future.
Investigations
NON INVASIVE CARDIOLOGY INVESTIGATIONS
Non-Invasive Cardiology investigations are commonly requested by Cardiologists when investigating your heart. Dr Hogg with Albyn Hospital provides a number of non-invasive cardiac investigations including exercise ECG testing, trans-thoracic, echocardiography, 24hr ECG monitoring, cardiomemo recording and 24hr blood pressure monitoring. These investigations may be recommended at the time of your consultation or may be booked separately if required.
Coronary angiography remains the gold standard for the diagnosis of coronary artery disease and assessment for its treatment options including PCI (Percutaneous Coronary Intervention).
CORONARY ANGIOGRAPHY
Performed as a day case procedure under local anaesthetic, Dr Hogg has access to modern cardiac catheterisation facilities at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary (an angiography suite is not present at Albyn Hospital). High resolution, digital images allow accurate interpretation of the extent and severity of coronary artery disease undertaken by Dr D Hogg who is an expert.
Treatments
HEART FAILURE
Heart failure is becoming increasing sophisticated in its diagnosis and management.
Dr Duncan Hogg with Albyn Hospital has the facility to provide rapid and accurate diagnosis of heart failure and determine its underlying aetiology.
PERCUTANEOUS CORONARY INTERVENTION (PCI)
Dr Hogg has been performing PCI at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary since 2009. With the use of clinically proven drug eluting stent technology and advanced technology such as pressure wire and intra-vascular ultrasound assessment. The state of the art facilities here combined with continuous cardiothoracic surgery and cardiothoracic intensive care cover means you can relax in the knowledge that you can have your procedure in the safest possible environment.
PERMANENT PACEMAKER
Dr Duncan Hogg undertakes all forms of cardiac pacing for brady-arrhythmias, including single and dual chamber pacing using the latest in cardiac pacing technology.
Patient information about this procedure can be found here.
Heart Health Screening
Dr Duncan Hogg with Albyn Hospital provides a “Healthy Heart Screening” service. This involves a consultation with a consultant cardiologist, ECG, risk factor assessment including total cholesterol and sub-fraction analysis. Further investigations are tailored to individual needs and can include an exercise ECG test to assess the heart under physical stress, cardiac ultrasound examination (echocardiography) to look for structural abnormalities of the heart and associated structures. On occasion it may be recommended that a CT scan of the coronary arteries is necessary to evaluate the possibility of coronary artery disease. For further details, contact us.
