Dr Nishith Chandra, Principal Director, Interventional Cardiology, Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, Delhi, decodes the latest American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines, which have been updated after a decade. These make strength training mandatory, advocate diabetes medications like Semaglutide and Mounjaro for protecting the heart and recommend using beta blockers for shorter periods. And most importantly, they discourage the overuse of the heart stress test
The guideline is also endorsed by the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions
“Earlier, the moment I told my patient they had blocked arteries, they would panic. But the messaging from the latest and updated guidelines from the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American College of Cardiology on chronic coronary disease (CCD) is clear — Heart disease is treatable and doesn’t always mean invasive surgery. With good medication and a guideline-directed medical therapy, a diagnosis doesn’t mean morbidity. Besides, equal weightage to lifestyle management and preventing triggers can take care of CCD in patients. The thrust on preventive cardiac health has been the key shift in the guidelines,” says Dr Nishith Chandra, Principal Director, Interventional Cardiology, Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, Delhi. Apart from improving lifestyle markers, the AHA guidelines, which have been updated after a decade, make strength training mandatory, advocate diabetes medications like Semaglutide and Mounjaro for protecting the heart and recommend using beta blockers for shorter periods. And most importantly, they discourage the overuse of the heart stress test.
Chronic coronary disease (CCD) is an umbrella term used to describe a variety of long-term vascular and heart conditions in which there is inadequate blood flow to or from the heart as arteries become narrowed by a buildup of fatty material within their walls. It applies to people with chronic, heart-related chest pain; people who have had a heart attack, coronary stent or bypass surgery; and people who have evidence of reduced blood flow to the heart based on diagnostic testing. “Since India has a huge burden of cardiac health issues, this emphasis on modifiable factors and recalibrating treatment parameters mean they can live long,” says Dr Chandra.
No comments:
Post a Comment