Shortness of Breath: Treatment, Procedure, Cost and Side Effects

Cardiac ablation is a procedure that can correct problems associated with heart rhythm. It is a procedure performed by an interventional cardiologist, a doctor who specializes in performing procedures related to the heart. During the procedure, small wires called electrodes are placed inside your heart to measure its electrical activity. When the source of the problem is identified, the tissue causing the problem is destroyed.

Methods of performing cardiac ablation: There are two methods of performing cardiac ablation:

1. Radiofrequency ablation: It uses heat energy to eliminate the problem area.
2. Cryoablation: It uses extremely cold temperatures to destroy the cardiac tissue. The type of procedure you will undergo depends on what kind of abnormal heart rhythm you have.

Cardiac ablation is conducted at a hospital by trained staff. You will be given a sedative before the procedure to help you relax. A small and flexible tube will be inserted through a cut into one of the blood vessels in the area. The doctor will use live X-ray images to carefully guide the catheter up into your heart. Sometimes, more than one catheter is needed to perform the procedure.

Why is cardiac ablation performed?

Cardiac ablation is used to treat certain heart rhythm problems that medicines cannot treat or control. These problems may be dangerous if they are not treated. Common symptoms of heart rhythm problems may include chest pain, fainting, slow or fast heartbeat, light-headedness, dizziness, and paleness, shortness of breath, skipping beats, and sweating.

Risks associated with cardiac ablation: Cardiac ablation carries a risk of complications, including the following:

• Bleeding or infection at the site where your catheter was inserted.
• Damage to your blood vessels where the catheter may have scraped as it traveled to your heart.
• A puncture in the cardiac wall.
• Damage to your heart valves.
• Damage to your heart’s electrical system, which could worsen your heart rhythm and a pacemaker may be required to correct it.
• Blood clots in your legs or lungs.
• Stroke or heart attack.
• Narrowing of the veins that carry blood between your lungs and heart.
• Damage to your kidneys from the dye used during the procedure.
• Death, in rare cases.

Results of cardiac ablation: Although a single cardiac ablation can be successful, some people required repeated intervention. Your doctor will tell if you need any other procedure such as pacemaker implantation to treat complex heart rhythm problems. You may also need to take medications, even after you have had an ablation. Some lifestyle changes need to be made that improve the overall health of your heart, especially to prevent or treat conditions that can cause or worsen heart rhythms, such as high blood pressure. Your doctor may advise you to use less salt, which can help lower blood pressure, increase your physical activity, quit smoking, avoid drinking alcohol, eat heart-healthy foods, maintain a healthy weight, and manage strong emotions such as anger.

Follow your doctor’s instructions about wound care, medications, physical activity, and follow-up appointments. Some people may still have episodes of an irregular heartbeat after cardiac ablation. This is a normal reaction as the tissue heals and should go away with time.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

Chest-related diseases such as asthma, bronchitis, congestion, and conjunctivitis are caused by various factors but off late, pollution has emerged as one of the prime culprits responsible for wreaking havoc on the chests of people. Nowadays, no one is immune from the ill-effects of air pollution. Be it children, adults, or the elderly, everyone is vulnerable to the smoke and toxin-filled air that has led to a rise in chest-related diseases such as coughing, congestion, breathing difficulties and similar disorders.

As, pollution is a constant problem, engulfing every city day after day, one is always prone to chest-related diseases and many people resort to allopathic medicines or home remedies to get rid of these problems. These remedies do provide relief but most of the time, it is temporary. Homeopathic medicine, on the other hand, has been found to be highly effective in treating chest-related problems and disorders. There are a good number of homeopathic medications available out there that can cure these diseases completely and provide permanent relief as well.

Also, these medicines do not carry any side effects. They are totally safe and can be taken by children as well as adults without any fear. The following are some of the common homeopathic medicines that can cure chest-related diseases caused by air pollution.

1. Phosphorous: This is very useful against problems caused by air pollutants, including conjunctivitis, asthmatic bronchitis, rhinitis, emphysema, and leukemia. It also helps with breathing problems such as shortness of breath, tightness in chest, heaviness, and coughing.
2. Sulphurous acid: It is very helpful in fighting persistent coughing, hoarseness, chest congestion, and constriction.
3. Natrum muriaticum: It is effective in treating cold sores, headache, allergy, and runny nose caused by a chest infection.
4. Sulphur: This works wonders for problems such as conjunctivitis and headache.
5. Bryonia: It is most suited in cases of persistent coughing, loose cough, dry cough, painful cough, headache, and fever.
6. Bromium: It is the best remedy in case of dust allergy, asthma, dry cough, and difficulty in breathing while sleeping.
7. Ammonium Carbonate: This is highly effective in frequent sneezing, plenty of discharge from nose, nose blocking at night, breathing through the mouth, difficulty in sleeping, emphysematous changes in lungs, a sensation of dust particles in the throat, wheezing, dry cough, and choking.
8. Spongia: It is known to work best against asthmatic bronchitis, dryness of the respiratory tract, rapid short breathing, waking up suddenly at night, and wheezing. It also brings relief in uneasiness caused by sudden changes in atmosphere and smoke.

All these homeopathic remedies have proven to be of great help in curing chest-related diseases and providing long-term relief to patients across age groups. Nevertheless, anyone who decides to take any of these medications should consult a homeopathy doctor first. The doctor will prescribe the right medication after diagnosing the problem. Self-medication should be avoided but if one wants to take these homeopathic medicines along with other medicines, one can do so as the former do not result in any side effect.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

There are different types of heart problems like coronary artery disease, congenital heart failure and cardiomyopathy, but their warning signs are the same i.e. shortness of breath. This is the reason why shortness of breath should never be taken lightly and should always be investigated for heart diseases.

Why does shortness of breath happen?
You may not be able to get in enough air while experiencing shortness of breath. Known medically as dyspnea, shortness of breath is often described as an intense tightening in the chest and a feeling of suffocation. This is one of the most frightening conditions experienced by a patient. You can experience dyspnea without any serious medical problems in these conditions

1. After strenuous exercise
2. In extreme temperatures
3. Due to obesity and
4. In high altitudes

But if you are not in any of these conditions, then shortness of breath is a sign of a serious medical problem usually involving your heart or lungs. These two vital organs transport oxygen to the rest of your body and remove carbon dioxide; hence problems with either of these organs can affect your breathing. Shortness of breath that comes on suddenly called acute, can be due to other causes too like:

1. Asthma
2. Excess fluid around the heart
3. Low BP
4. Heart failure
5. Blood clot in an artery in the lung
6. Collapsed lung
7. Pneumonia

If you have had shortness of breath that has lasted for weeks, then we call it chronic and its causes can be various diseases of the heart apart from asthma and COPD. There is no doubt that your heart may be in trouble, if you have chronic shortness of breath. You may be suffering from these heart conditions:

1. Cardiomyopathy or problems with the heart muscle cause symptoms like shortness of breath after physical exertion as well as fatigue, and swelling of legs and abdomen. Patients suffering from cardiomyopathy are at risk of sudden death due to cardiac arrest.
2. Heart arrhythmias is also called irregular heartbeat, and can cause slow or fast heartbeats. These also have symptoms like shortness of breath. Arrhythmias can cause strokes, heart failure and cardiac arrest.
3. Heart failure occurs when the heart is unable to pump blood efficiently to meet the needs of the body. This is a potentially fatal condition. One of the most common symptom is shortness of breath with exercise and while lying down. Fatigue is another common symptom.
4. Pericarditis or swelling of membranes around the heart is also characterised by shortness of breath.

Treatment of breathlessness can start after you are referred to a heart specialist for further tests to confirm the likely cause.
 

Coronary artery disease is one of the major killer diseases of the modern society. It is not a solitary problem but brings with it a multitude of issues including obesity, diabetes, stroke, and other metabolic disorders. A thorough understanding of what causes it and how to manage it can help save thousands of lives.

Causes: The circulatory system is mainly made up of the heart and a complex network of arteries and veins. The inner walls of these are lined with smooth muscles, allowing for free flow of blood. Gradually, over a period of time, given the density, the fat from the blood flowing through these vessels settles along the walls of these vessels. This attracts more fat, lipoproteins, and other inflammatory cells and so the process continues. This reduces the diameter of the blood vessels, therefore reducing the amount of blood supply to the target organs. If the target organ is a vital one like the brain or the heart, then it could lead to stroke or heart attacks.

Main causes for coronary artery disease include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, sedentary lifestyle, obesity, smoking, diabetes, and stress. Men are more prone than women, and family history and age puts them at higher risk.

Symptoms: Reduced blood supply to the target organ causes the following symptoms:

1. Shortness of Breath: A person with coronary artery disease will feel short of breath and tired with most activities, even like walking a few meters.

2. Chest Pain: A strong pressure sensation on the left side of the chest is an indication of coronary artery disease. Known as angina, it comes with stress and goes away once the stress is removed. It could sometimes radiate to the shoulder, down the arm, or up into the jaw also. These are classical symptoms of angina or heart attack and is considered an emergency. Of note, this is often mistaken for indigestion.

3. Palpitations: A sensation where you are able to hear your heartbeat.

4. Nausea and Excessive Sweating: Nausea and excessive sweating are also seen during angina.

Treatment: There are 3 modes to manage this.

• Medications:

  • Aspirin to reduce the viscosity of the blood.

  • Statin to control the cholesterol levels.

  • Beta blockers to control hypertension.

  • Nitroglycerin for temporary relief of angina pain.

• Surgical Procedures:  Surgical procedures including balloon angioplasty followed by placement of drug-eluting stents and coronary artery bypass surgery are done to manage more severe cases.

• Lifestyle Change: Lifestyle changes including reduced fat consumption, decrease body weight, stop smoking, increased physical exercise, and reducing stress are highly important in preventing further damage.

Once suspected, coronary artery disease can be effectively managed and the extent of damage controlled using the above techniques.

Pulmonary function test (PFT) is a diagnostic evaluation of the Lungs with a primary purpose of Diagnosing the Lung diseases and it's stage, to rationally treat the pulmonary impairment.

Pulmonary function testing has diagnostic and therapeutic roles and helps clinicians answer some general questions about patients with lung disease.

PFTs should be performed & interpreted by a Pulmonologist.

Pulmonary function testing is a diagnostic and management tool used for a variety of reasons, such as:

• Chronic shortness of breath
• Asthma
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Interstitial lung disease (ILD)
• Preoperative testing
• Impairment or disability
• Also as a tool to monitor the course of Disease (ASTHMA, COPD, ILD) and Individualise treatment plans, including Rehablitation.

Why is it necessary?

Just imagine not knowing Blood Glucose (Sugar) levels while treating a Diabetic patient, similarly Chest disease patients need Pulmonary Function Testing.

Which helps in:

• Differentiating between Asthma, COPD etc.
• Correctly Assigning the Stage of Asthma, COPD
• Choosing the Rationale & Cost effective treatment.
• Answering the most important question asked by patient, " Doctor I feel better than before, What should be my future medication course?

Frequency of Pulmonary Function Testing:

In most cases, at time of diagnosis and after that yearly (for comparisons with old reports).

Who should conduct PFT & Interpret the report:

Pulmonologist should perform 7 interpret all results of PFT Tests.

Why is PFT underused?

PFT is a speciality test, even today all medical centers treating Chest patients don't have this facility, hence most patients have not heard about it.

Is it a safe test?

Yes, patient has to only follow intructions to breathe in & out.

Will it be beneficial to all respiratory patients?

No, like all tests, PFT is a specific diagnostic tool with limitations.

Please consult your Chest Specialist before getting PFT Testing.