The Beat Goes On With Heart Care Innovations
The long history of excellent heart care at Adventist HealthCare has reached new heights with the advanced Structural Heart Program at Adventist HealthCare White Oak Medical Center.
Leading the program is skilled interventional cardiologist Homam Ibrahim, MD. He brings extensive experience in multiple devices and techniques that allows him to customize treatment options to individual needs.
WHAT ARE STRUCTURAL HEART CONDITIONS?
Dr. Ibrahim: Any condition that affects the structure of the heart, such as the valves, walls or tissues. If you have a structural heart condition you may have been diagnosed with any of the following:
- Regurgitation or "leaky" valves that don't close properly, allowing blood to leak into other areas of the heart
- Stenosis or narrowing of the valves, limiting the amount of blood that is pumped through the heart
- Septal defect or a hole in one of the walls of the heart
These types of conditions make it harder for the heart to pump blood and can lead to heart failure if left untreated.
HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE A STRUCTURAL HEART PROBLEM?
Dr. Ibrahim: Sometimes you are born with a structural heart condition, or it could be caused by another heart problem such as an infection or a buildup of plaque or calcium that may be deposited on your valves. It may also simply be due to aging.
You may experience symptoms like:
- Chest pain
- Fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- Lightheadedness
- Passing out
A structural heart condition is diagnosed by a cardiologist. Your doctor may use imaging, an echocardiogram and possibly a CT scan, along with your medical history, to help make your diagnosis and develop a treatment plan.
WHAT ARE THE TREATMENTS?
Dr. Ibrahim: Procedures to help heal a structural heart condition have come a long way. Open-heart surgery is no longer the only option. Minimally invasive procedures that utilize a catheter or other small device can be used to repair or replace the area of the heart that is affected. These options offer a quicker recovery and fewer complications. Often you can expect to be discharged the very next day after certain procedures and get back to your normal activity within four to five days. Many people who have undergone these types of procedures report they feel better immediately after the procedure while still in the hospital. Programs like we have at Adventist HealthCare place all your care at one location, streamlining the time to treatment, helping you get back to your normal activities faster.
Get to know Dr. Ibrahim at AHCYou.com/F24Doctor and call 240-637-7060 to schedule an appointment.
