Treatments
On this page you will find information to help you better understand some of the treatments you may be offered
There are a variety of drug treatments that patients with heart problems can have. These vary from drugs such as aspirin, beta-blockers and statins to newer treatments such as novel anticoagulants to reduce stroke risk in atrial fibrillation.
https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/treatments/medication
ENQUIREStatins are medications that reduce the level of cholesterol in your blood and protect the insides of your arteries. Reducing cholesterol helps lower the risk of developing heart and circulatory diseases, including angina, heart attack and stroke.
https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/treatments/statins
ENQUIREAnti-arrhythmics are medications that help control irregular heartbeats, known as arrhythmias. Think of your heart as a well-timed drum, beating in a regular rhythm. Sometimes, this drum can start beating too fast, too slow, or with an irregular pattern. Anti-arrhythmics are like conductors that try to bring the drumbeat back to a steady and healthy rhythm.
These medications work by affecting the electrical signals in your heart. They can slow down a racing heart, speed up a sluggish one, or stabilise erratic beats. The goal is to help your heart maintain a normal and steady rhythm, so it can effectively pump blood to the rest of your body and keep you healthy. Anti-arrhythmics are prescribed by doctors to treat different types of heart rhythm problems and can help prevent serious complications related to irregular heartbeats.
ENQUIREImagine your blood vessels as a busy road, and platelets are like tiny repair trucks that help patch up any small cuts or damage. Sometimes, these repair trucks can get too enthusiastic and create clots that block the flow of traffic. Antiplatelets are like traffic controllers that help prevent these clotting trucks from causing a traffic jam. They do this by stopping the platelets from sticking together, which helps keep your blood flowing smoothly and reduces the risk of a harmful blockage.
https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/medical/drug-cabinet/antiplatelets
ENQUIREPicture your blood as a river flowing through your body. Sometimes, the river can get a little too thick, leading to the formation of dangerous clots that can block the flow. Anticoagulants are like river keepers that help prevent the blood from thickening too much. They do this by slowing down the clotting process, making it harder for clots to form and reducing the risk of blockages. This helps maintain a healthy flow of blood throughout your body and lowers the chances of serious complications, like strokes or heart attacks.
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/anticoagulants/
ENQUIREHeart failure is a condition where the heart isn’t pumping blood effectively, which can lead to various symptoms like shortness of breath, fatigue, and fluid retention. To help manage heart failure, specialist doctors often prescribe different types of medications often in combination to find the right mix for your specific condition. They help your heart work more efficiently and reduce the symptoms of heart failure, allowing you to lead a more comfortable and active life whilst also managing the possibility of complications and improving your prognosis.
ENQUIREHypertension occurs when the force of blood pushing against the walls of your blood vessels is consistently too high. To help manage this, doctors may prescribe various types of medications, often in combination. Everyone’s body reacts differently to medications, so it’s crucial to work closely with your doctor to find the right medication or combination of medications for you.
Managing your condition is essential because consistently elevated blood pressure can cause damage to the heart, arteries and kidneys as well as leading to strokes, aneurysms or vision problems.
ENQUIREAblation, also known as catheter ablation, is a treatment that aims to correct certain types of abnormal heart rhythms by blocking electrical pathways in the heart. It uses either heat (radiofrequency ablation) or freezing (cryoablation) on the area of your heart that’s causing the abnormal heart rhythm (or arrhythmia). This treatment creates scar tissue which:
- breaks abnormal circuits in the heart
- destroys areas of the heart muscle which are triggering arrhythmias.
An ablation is started using the same technique as an electrophysiology (EP) study and is often carried out at the same time. The EP study can discover if you have extra electrical pathways in your heart that could be causing your abnormal heart rhythm.
https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/treatments/ablation
ENQUIREA pacemaker implant is a device that is implanted into patients who have a slow pulse (also called bradycardia). The pacemaker operation can take up to an hour. The pacemaker consists of a battery (generator) and leads. The leads are special wires that are inserted into the heart from a vein under the collar bone using an x-ray to guide the wire into the heart. The leads are then tested to make sure they are in the correct position. The leads are then connected to the generator which is buried under the skin. If you have a pacemaker implant you will need to have regular checks to make sure it is working properly (every 6 to 12 months).
https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/treatments/pacemakers
ENQUIRECardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) is a specialised pacemaker implanted into patients with heart failure where the left and right ventricles of the heart stop working together. Only patients with a certain type of heart failure benefit from CRT. The procedure is very similar to that of a pacemaker with wires placed into the heart via a vein under the collar bone. However, CRT pacemakers have a third wire that is placed around the back of the heart to allow the left and right ventricles to work together again. CRT pacemakers can help improve heart failure symptoms as well as heart function.
ENQUIREAn ICD is a device that is implanted into patients who are at risk of having a cardiac arrest due to a serious disturbance of the heart rhythm. Usually this occurs in patients with heart failure, but it can also happen in a number of hereditary conditions that predispose to cardiac arrest.
The operation is performed under a local anaesthetic with wires inserted into the heart using x-ray to guide placement. These wires are then connected to a generator and buried under the skin on the left side of the chest. The procedure is very similar to that of a pacemaker but the generator is usually larger than a pacemaker. Patients with ICD implants usually need to have them checked every 6 months to ensure they are working properly.
An electrical cardioversion is a treatment which aims to get your abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia) back to a normal pattern. It’s done by sending controlled electric signals to your heart through electrodes placed on the chest.
https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/treatments/cardioversion
ENQUIREA coronary angioplasty procedure is a treatment for blocked or narrowed heart artery or arteries. It can be used to treat angina or a heart attack. It is usually performed via the wrist using an x-ray to guide a catheter and wire into the affected artery. The narrowed artery is then opened with a balloon and kept open with a ‘stent’ a small metal pipe made of a tiny meshwork to help keep the artery open.
https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/treatments/coronary-angioplasty-and-stents
ENQUIREYour heart has a complex system of arteries delivering oxygen and nutrients to all its parts. Sometimes these arteries get clogged up to the extent that the only or best solution is to replace them. During the operation, the surgeon takes a healthy blood vessel from another part of your body (usually your leg) and uses it to create a detour, bypassing the blocked artery.
Although it sounds daunting, this surgery now has a very high success rate and the surgeons we work with have even started using endoscopic techniques to harvest the vein, replacing what was previously a long incision in the leg with just a 2cm cut.
https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/treatments/coronary-bypass-surgery
ENQUIREYour heart has four valves that act like doors to keep blood flowing in the right direction. When one or more of the valves in your heart is not working as it should sometimes the best solution is to operate to replace or repair it.
In heart valve surgery your chest is opened so that the heart can be accessed directly in order for the surgeon to repair the damaged valve or replace it with either a mechanical or a tissue (biological) valve.
https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/treatments/valve-heart-surgery
This is a minimally invasive procedure performed through small incisions, usually in the groin or chest, without the need for open-heart surgery. A replacement valve is inserted and guided to the heart through a catheter (thin tube) usually via the femoral artery or a small incision in the chest.
Obviously, this is a less invasive procedure than traditional heart valve surgery and as a result has benefits including a shorter recovery period with patients often able to resume normal activities sooner. It is often recommended for older patients or for those considered higher risk for traditional surgery due to age or underlying health conditions.
https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/treatments/tavi
Both procedures have their own benefits and risks and at Exeter Heart your surgeon will be able to advise you on which is the most appropriate for you. The choice between the two depends on a number of factors including the type and severity of the valve disease as well as your age and overall health.
ENQUIRECardiac rhythm surgery involves procedures aimed at correcting abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias) that can disrupt the heart’s natural rhythm and function. The choice of procedure depends on various factors, including the type of arrhythmia, its severity and the patient’s overall health. Cardiac rhythm surgeries aim to restore a normal heart rhythm, improve heart function, and reduce the risk of complications associated with irregular heartbeats.
ENQUIREThe availability of consultants from all the sub-specialities was why I came to Exeter Heart.