31^st World Heartcare Summit

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is treatment that helps your heart beat in the correct rhythm. Use a pacemaker to restore a normal heartbeat pattern. A CRT pacemaker coordinates the timing of the upper chambers (atria) and lower chambers (ventriculum) of the heart. ICD may reduce the risk of sudden death in some people with heart failure. The ICD can fix a heart rate that is too fast or too slow without using a shock. Cardiac rehabilitation  can begin while you are in the hospital or right after you leave the hospital. Cardiac rehabilitation programs typically last about 3 months, but range from 2 to 8 months.

Cardiac surgery or cardiovascular surgery is surgery on the heart or large blood vessels performed by cardiac surgeons. Heart bypass surgery is serious but relatively safe. Surgeons perform hundreds of thousands of heart bypass surgeries each year, and many people who do get relief without long-term medication.The more severe the heart disease, higher the risk of the complications. Open heart surgery usually takes 3 to 5 hours. During the procedure, the doctor makes an incision about 7 to 8 inches long in the middle of the breastbone. After you are discharged from the hospital, it usually takes 6 to 8 weeks for your breastbone and chest muscles to heal as you gradually return to your normal routine.

"Heart diet" is the informal term for a heart-healthy diet. A meal plan emphasizes foods that promote heart health, such as vegetables and fruits rich in omega-3 fatty acids,  whole grains, lean meats, and oily fish such as salmon and tuna. A heart diet prioritizes foods like vegetables, whole grains, and oily fish. These foods are good for heart health. The diet also limits processed foods high in sugar and salt. This is because these foods may increase your risk of heart disease. One way to start is to create a daily meal plan that emphasizes vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, and limits high-fat foods (such as red meat, cheese, and baked goods) and high-sodium foods (such as canned or processed foods).

Cholesterol deposits  or plaques are almost always to blame. This accumulation  narrows the arteries and reduces blood flow to the heart. This can cause chest pain, shortness of breath, or heart failure. Coronary artery disease (CAD) can be treated, but there is no cure. This means that if you are    diagnosed with CAD, you will have to learn to live with it for the rest of your life. By lowering your risk factors and eliminating your fears, you can live a full life despite your CAD. Atherosclerosis is believed to progress over many years, but it is increasingly noted that it progresses over several months to 2-3 years in a small number of patients without traditional factors for accelerated atherosclerosis. Therefore, the term rapid progression of atherosclerosis has been used in recent years.

Acute coronary syndrome  is a term used to describe a variety of conditions involving a sudden and reduced blood flow to the heart. One such condition is a heart attack (myocardial infarction). This is when cardiac tissue is damaged or destroyed due to cell death. Acute coronary syndrome  refers to a group of disorders in which blood flow to the heart is reduced. Some examples are ST elevation myocardial infarction, non-ST elevation myocardial infarction, and unstable angina. Acute coronary syndrome is usually caused by the build-up of fatty deposits (plaque) in the walls of the coronary arteries, the blood vessels that supply oxygen and nutrients to the heart muscle. When plaque deposits rupture or crack, clots form.

Acute Cardiac care refers to a level of care where the patient requires immediate but brief   treatment. This treatment may be in response to a serious episode, especially one involving chronic illness, trauma, or while recovering from surgery. Acute is considered short term. It is the opposite of   chronic or long-term treatment. The Acute Cardiac Units are nine wards that treat adult patients with a variety of acute heart conditions. These conditions include heart failure heart failure, and heart rhythm problems. People who are transferred to long-term acute care hospitals spend an average of 25 days or more. The length of your stay is determined by how well you are doing and how much progress you have made during your stay. When you are ready to leave the hospital, your case manager at LTAC Hospital will let you know.

Heart valve disease  is when the valves in the heart are damaged or diseased. Valve disease has many causes. A normal heart has four chambers (right and left atrium, right ventricle and left ventricle) and four valves. Aortic stenosis (AS), organic and ischemic (functional) mitral regurgitation, and tricuspid regurgitation  are the most common valve disorders in the elderly. Drugs are not a cure for heart valve disease, but treatment can often relieve symptoms. Even if you have no symptoms, you may eventually need heart valve surgery to repair or replace a diseased heart valve. If another heart condition requires   surgery, the doctor can repair or replace the diseased valve at the same time.

Infection  causes inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis). Infections are often caused by viruses. This is one of the most commonly found causes of DCM. Many other cases are likely to be inherited. Primary myocardial diseases include dilated or infiltrative cardiomyopathy ischemia, myocardial infarction, myocardial degeneration and necrosis (eventually leading to fibrosis), bacterial or viral myocarditis, neoplasia, and trauma. The cause of dilated cardiomyopathy is unknown. Electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG): An EKG records the electrical activity of the heart and shows how fast the heart beats and whether the rhythm is regular or irregular.An EKG can detect cardiomyopathy, as well as other problems, including heart attacks, arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms), and heart failure.

The pulmonary circulation  is a transport system that diverts deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs to be resaturated with oxygen before being distributed to the systemic circulation. The pulmonary circulation carries oxygen-poor blood from the right ventricle to the lungs, where it receives a new blood supply. It then returns oxygen-rich blood to the left atrium. The pulmonary circulation includes the pulmonary artery (also called the "right ventricular outflow duct"), left and right major pulmonary arteries and their lobe branches, intrapulmonary arteries, large elastic arteries, small muscular arteries, arterioles, capillaries, veins, and large arteries. The lymphatic system plays an important role in maintaining dry alveolar membranes and preventing the accumulation of tissue fluid around the pulmonary circulation.

Acardiac arrhythmia (uh-RITH-me-uh) is an irregular   heartbeat. Heart rhythm problems (cardiac arrhythmias) occur when the electrical signals that control the heart beat don't work properly. Faulty signals cause the heart to beat too fast (tachycardia) or too slow (bradycardia) or irregularly. Atrial Fibrillation (AF) – This is the most common type, in which the heart is irregular and beats faster than normal.  Bradycardia – when the heart beats more slowly than normal. Narrowed heart arteries, heart attack, abnormal heart valves, previous heart surgery, heart failure,  cardiomyopathy, and other heart damage are risk factors for almost all types of arrhythmias.

Heart failure occurs when the heart muscle cannot pump blood properly.   Blood often backflows, causing fluid to pool in the lungs (congestion) and legs. Fluid build-up can cause shortness  of breath and swelling of the legs and feet. Poor blood flow can make the skin appear blue (cyanosis). Most people with end-stage heart failure have a life expectancy of less than 1 year. 4. The main causes of heart failure   are diseases that damage the heart, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes. The most common conditions   that can lead to heart failure are coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, and a previous heart attack. If you've been diagnosed with one of these conditions, it's important to manage it carefully to prevent developing heart failure.

In heart valve disease, one or more of the heart's valves do not work properly.   The heart has four valves that keep blood flowing in the right direction. In some cases, one or more valves do not open or close properly.This can interfere with blood flow through the heart to the body. Any valve in the heart can be affected, but the aortic valve is most commonly affected.   Another common type of heart valve condition occurs when the opening of the valve becomes narrow and stiff, preventing the valve from fully opening when blood is trying to pass through it. This is called stenosis.  Most heart valve conditions are treatable.  Medicines can treat symptoms or prevent the condition from getting worse. Your doctor may also suggest surgery or other procedures to repair or replace a defective heart valve.

Pericardial disease  can present clinically as acute pericarditis, pericardial effusion, cardiac tamponed, and constrictive pericarditis.  Later, the patient may develop chronic or recurrent pericarditis. Pericardial effusion may result from inflammation of the pericardium (pericarditis) after disease or injury. In some circumstances, certain cancers can cause large amounts of exudate.  Blockage of pericardial fluid or pooling of blood within the pericardium can also cause this condition. Depending on the severity of the accumulation, pericardial effusion can be treated with medication. If the medical team determines that excess fluid needs to be drained, they may recommend a procedure called pericardiocentesis, which uses a needle and a small catheter to drain the fluid.  Pericarditis pain can usually be treated with over-the-counter pain relievers such as aspirin or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, etc.).   Prescription strength pain relievers are also available.

Cardiac Nursing  is a nursing specialty that works with patients suffering from various conditions of the cardiovascular system. Cardiac nurses help treat conditions such as unstable angina, cardiomyopathy, coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction, and cardiac arrhythmias under the direction of a cardiologist.  Cardiac care nurses provide postoperative care to patients recovering from cardiac surgery, as well as on-going care to help manage a patient's heart condition, such as administering medications and performing health assessments.