A heart attack is a medical condition in which a blood clot blocks the blood flow to the heart causing discontinuation in supply of blood and oxygen to the remaining heart muscle. The blockage is often a buildup of fat, cholesterol and other substances, which form a plaque in the arteries causing irregular supply of blood to the heart resulting in heart attack or stroke. But latest advancement and current technology allows the re-opening of blocked arteries to preserve heart muscle and thereby enable proper supply of blood enabling appropriate heart function.

While most people are aware that the symptoms associated with heart attack is  mostly chest pain or feeling of pressure in the heart, which is majorly a sign of a heart ailment, but many patients may not know about atypical symptoms, says Dr. Rahul Kaiche, a cardiac surgeon in Nashik, Maharashtra. Atypical symptoms of heart disease could include shortness of breath, fatigue, dizziness and leg swelling, he says. It is also important to keep in mind that men and women often have different symptoms in cardiac diseases, says Dr. Rahul kaiche.

Nuclear cardiology is a technique for noninvasive evaluation of the heart, usually related to assessment for coronary artery disease and the pumping function of the heart. It is most commonly associated with stress testing, either exercise or with medication. With the use of Cardiolite, which is a common form of what we call perfusing agents, given with exercise and at rest, we are able to assess if any coronary artery blockages are present and how significant they are.

It’s important for patients to be their own advocate, which includes understanding why your physician is ordering certain tests, says Dr. Rahul Kaiche, a cardiac surgeon in nashik

Low-density lipoprotein, or “bad” cholesterol, is associated with an increased risk of heart disease because leftover LDL is deposited into your blood vessels. Doctors in the past recommended specific ranges for LDL. Today, they consider LDL levels as one of many factors in evaluating cardiovascular risk. LDL Cholestrol levels should be less than 100 mg/dL. Levels of 100 to 129 mg/dL are acceptable for people with no health issues but may be of more concern for those with heart disease or heart disease risk factors. A reading of 130 to 159 mg/dL is borderline high and 160 to 189 mg/dL is considered high.

Cholesterol is a fatty substance in the blood which is deposited within the arteries, producing progressive obstruction to many different organs, particularly the heart. Cholesterol has two components, HDL (good) and LDL (bad). The total numbers and the relationship of these components determine their predisposition to the development of plaques within the arteries of your heart. Thus it is essential that one must maintain it.

Most common adult valve problems arise from those on the left side of the heart, called the aortic valve and mitral valve. These valves can either develop narrowing or stenosis or leak significantly. Abnormalities of the heart valves can present in various ways, including chest pain, passing out, shortness of breath, irregularities or arrhythmia of the heart.