In life, there are few things as vital as heart health when it comes to maintaining a healthy lifestyle and having the highest quality of life you can. In addition to having a strong diet and exercise routine, seeing a cardiology clinic in Long Island, NY, is important as well.
However, genetics and family history are major indicators of whether you’ll have heart problems in your life or not. Therefore, despite your best efforts, you may still experience heart trouble. It’s important to know the difference between the different types of cardiac care.
Invasive
Invasive cardiology is the term used to describe open heart or minimally invasive surgical procedures to treat heart conditions and abnormalities. Some of the types of invasive cardiology procedures include the following:
- Angioplasty: A tiny balloon is inserted into clogged veins to push plaque against the arterial wall to increase blood flow.
- Stenting: Usually done in conjunction with angioplasty, a small metal coil is placed to permanently hold open a clogged vein.
Non-invasive
Just as it sounds, non-invasive cardiology is used to describe procedures that are performed without inserting needles, fluids, or anything else into the body. Some of the most common non-invasive cardiology techniques include the following:
- Nuclear cardiology: Study of cardiovascular disorders through various means of imaging.
- Echocardiography: Also known as an EKG, this involves an ultrasound being used to create images of the heart and surrounding body structures to identify abnormalities.
- Cardiac electrophysiology: This is a term used to describe the study of electrical currents that generate a person’s heartbeat.
- Stress testing: A doctor will monitor your exercise to provide them with key information about your heart’s performance while under physical stress.
- Heart monitoring: Heart monitors are basically tape recorders that record the heart’s electrical activity over a period.
- CT scans: Images that your cardiologist uses to examine the heart for abnormalities such as disease and atherosclerosis.
Interventional
There are other times when interventional cardiology may be necessary to treat certain cardiac conditions, such as clogged or hardened veins, valve obstructions, and oxygen supply issues. Interventional cardiology is often seen as invasive but doesn’t require surgery. A small flexible tube known as a catheter is inserted in the body to repair damaged or weakened blood vessels, narrowed arteries, or other parts of the structure. Interventional cardiac procedures are used to treat common heart conditions such as coronary artery disease, heart valve disease, and peripheral vascular disease.
The importance of your heart health cannot be overstated. Interventional cardiology in Long Island, NY, is extremely critical in making sure you have a long and happy life. Make an appointment with Peconic Bay Medical Center today when you need a caring and compassionate cardiologist to help you care for your heart.