Patients with heart problems may need to undergo what is known as cardiac catheterization in order to properly diagnose the cause or causes of their heart issues and to figure out how best to tackle them. Cardiac catheterization, otherwise colloquially known as \”heart cath\”, is a procedure that is considered invasive and this is mainly due to the fact that a catheter, i.e. a clear and narrow piece of tubing, is inserted via an accessible blood vessel. From there, the catheter is maneuvered until it reaches the patient’s heart. From there, doctors will be able to detect blockages, ruptures, etc.

Instead of having to unnecessarily open a patient’s chest just to make a proper diagnose, doctors have used the heart cath procedure as an ideal method of finding out what the problem is first before pursuing something like surgery. Once inserted, dye is introduced into the catheter and follows the path that is meant to replicate that of a regular blood vessel to the heart. From there, an x-ray is taken and this is where doctors can see what kind of problems a patient may be up against. Doctors call this a coronary angiography and it is commonly used worldwide.

The purpose of the dye is to highlight the formation of any plaque that may be found within the walls and arteries of one’s heart. When the plaque forms, it could lead to difficulty for blood to flow to and from the heart and could lead to a heart attack. This is what makes a heart cath vital in coming up with the right diagnosis for someone with one or more heart problems. The catheter keeps the dye within so it does not cause any sort of infection along one’s blood stream, heart, or any of the other vital organs.

When a heart specialist recommends a heart cath to a patient, there is no need to become immediately wary or frightened. This is indeed one of the best and preferred ways to safely see what is going on in one’s heart. The x-ray or ultrasound taken during the procedure can let the doctor know what potential problems one is facing and then can make the corresponding recommendations. Not everyone has to undergo surgery if they have a blockage of some sort since there are certain cases that can simply have medication prescribed and the current blockage is taken care of.

Any and all questions a patient and their family may have should be addressed directly to the physician in charge of the case. This may help ease any feelings of anxiety that one may be experiencing right before the heart cath procedure. A main reason for the anxiousness may be due to the fact that the patient is awake during the whole process but this is necessary in order to properly get the best assessment possible. Clear, open and honest lines of communication between the doctor and patient will enable the latter to place their full trust in the former.

Are you looking for more information regarding heart cath? Visit http://heartcath.org/ today!

Are you looking for more information regarding heart cath? Visit http://heartcath.org/ today!

Author Bio: Are you looking for more information regarding heart cath? Visit http://heartcath.org/ today!

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Keywords: heart cath,heart catheterization,heart cath procedure,cardiac catheterization