When to See a Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeon: Key Symptoms
Fast heartbeat, lasting fatigue, cold sweats or chest pain? Learn when to see a cardiovascular surgeon and what tests to expect at the checkup.
The number of people with heart disease keeps rising, and coronary heart disease is now on the list of the number one killer diseases in Indonesia. This means we must always stay alert and keep up a healthy lifestyle, simply so that our hearts stay healthy and keep working effectively.
A healthy lifestyle means eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly and avoiding habits that can make heart health worse, such as smoking, foods high in saturated fat and alcohol.
Preventive action is also needed, such as a routine checkup with a heart specialist at least once a year. If you already have symptoms or a diagnosis pointing to heart disease, it is better to get checked every 6 months.
Read also: Getting to Know the Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeon
The Right Time to See a Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeon
Seeing a heart doctor is a preventive measure, so that you find out early if your heart's function is disrupted. The hope is that the problem can be addressed quickly, before it gets worse and forces you into heavier medical procedures.
In some conditions, though, you can also choose to see a thoracic and cardiovascular surgeon. This applies especially when you notice any of the following symptoms:
- You often feel a fast heartbeat even when you aren't doing any heavy physical activity.
- You feel prolonged tiredness that doesn't ease.
- Cold sweats appear often.
- You have trouble breathing or feel short of breath.
- Your chest hurts severely, even to the point that the pain spreads to other parts of the body such as the shoulders, back, neck and jaw.
When you see a thoracic and cardiovascular surgeon, you may be asked to take several tests. These include an ECG, CT scan, MRI, chest X-ray, Doppler test and others. The tests are done to learn about the condition of your heart, its structure, the electrical activity in the heart, blood flow and much more.
What You Should Do When Seeing a Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeon
There are several important things you should do when you see a thoracic and cardiovascular surgeon, including:
- Describe all the symptoms you feel in full detail.
- Tell the doctor if you have a history of serious illness or a family history of disease.
- Tell the doctor if you are taking any kind of medication.
- If you are allergic to certain drugs, tell your doctor.
- Tell the doctor about your daily lifestyle, for example whether you smoke.
For your heart checkups, you can trust Heartology Cardiovascular Center. At this heart and blood vessel care center, you will be treated by specialist doctors who are proven and experienced. One of the doctors at Heartology with expertise in Vascular & Endovascular Surgery is Dr. Dicky Aligheri, Sp.BTKV (K), whose expertise covers adult cardiac surgery, vascular and aortic surgery and intervention, heart failure surgery and circulatory support instrumentation.
