If you have been diagnosed with heart disease, it will be prudent to conscientiously take the medications prescribed by your specialist, make the necessary lifestyle adjustments so that your condition does not worsen, and report for regular medical checkups. Likewise, you have to stay alert and recognize the common warning signs of a heart attack or stroke. The rule of thumb is that it is better to be safe than sorry. But while consulting your doctor or checking into a healthcare facility at the onset of symptoms is ideal, it can also be inconvenient and costly. This is especially so if you have developed a fear of the disease and have a tendency to overreact to the slightest twinges of chest pain and the like. But certainly, a quick reassurance from the doctor is important for the patient and his family’s peace of mind.
The good news is that it is now possible for patients to be connected to their cardiologist at all hours of the day. Recently launched by The Medical City (TMC) is the CareNow Healthy Heart System, a state-of-the-art technology that makes use of a mobile phone with a built-in mini electrocardiogram (ECG). It is extremely useful for early detection of abnormal heart rhythms and potentially dangerous heart conditions. The device does not make use of wires, and one records his heart rhythm by simply using the left hand to hold the two side contacts with the two right fingers touching the bottom contact of the phone. The CareNow ECG mobile is conceptualized, designed, and manufactured in Singapore by Ephone International (S) Pte Ltd.
Through the device, one can send ECG rhythm strip recordings to The Medical City’s 24-hour Health Concierge. The ECGs are then read by a team of trained and qualified doctors, nurses, and cardiac technicians who are specifically trained in the field of arrhythmia. Within minutes, they will analyze and respond to the patient’s ECG readings by sending SMS message to his CareNow ECG phone for ECG rhythm interpretation and further instructions. Thereafter, the ECG recordings are stored in a patient’s CareNow Virtual Health Folder, a personalized and secured web-based account.
The CareNow ECG mobile is convenient because it makes use of any SIM card supplied by the telecommunications providers in the Philippines. The service can also be accessed from overseas as long as the SIM card has data roaming. The device is recommended for “patients with a strong family history of heart diseases, especially sudden cardiac arrest; have risk factors for heart disease such as smoking, obesity/overweight, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes; have undiagnosed chest pains or frequent palpitations; those with episodes of “blacking out” or frequent dizziness; those who travel frequently, especially to places with scarce medical support; those who have undergone an invasive heart procedure such as angioplasty, bypass/heart surgery or device implantation; and persons who are concerned about their overall health.”
The cardiology specialists at TMC, however, accede that the device has its limitations. They tell us that a single-lead ECG tracing cannot be comparable to a 12-lead ECG tracing, and the 30-second tracing may not catch abnormal heartbeats. “Artifacts” in the ECG tracing that can lead to inaccurate readings may appear if the patient does not use the device correctly and response time may be impeded by slow Internet connections or poor mobile signals. They warn us, “Some heart attacks can present with normal ECGs.”
Data from the World Health Organization (WHO) show that cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the number one cause of death globally, and that more people die annually of CVDs than of any other cause. The WHO figures indicate that “an estimated 17.3 million people died of CVDs in 2008, representing 30 percent of all global deaths. Of these deaths, an estimated 7.3 million were due to coronary heart disease and 6.2 million were due to stroke.”
The morbidity rates are expected to rise even more so that by 2030, almost 23.6 million people will die from CVDs, mainly from heart disease and stroke. Among the symptoms to watch out for are pain or discomfort in the center of the chest and pain or discomfort in the arms, the left shoulder, elbows, jaw, or back. Other symptoms of a heart attack may include any of the following: shortness of breath, difficulty in breathing, nausea, fainting, dizziness, severe headache, and cold sweat.
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For more information, call The Medical City’s Cardiovascular Center at 988-1000/988-7000 local 6299/6243, or e-mail mail@medicalcity.com.ph.