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"Coronary artery
disease is the number one killer in the western countries but its
incidence is rapidly increasing in the urban areas of Pakistan,"
emphasizedDr. Sajid Hamid Dhakam, Assistant Professor of Medicine
and Dr Sohail Abrar, Senior Instructor and Consultant Cardiologists
at Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH). They were giving a joint
presentation on "Evaluation of Chest pain" at 'Signs, Symptoms and
Care', a monthly health awareness program held on August 2, 2003.
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| Evaluation
of Chest pain” at ‘Signs, Symptoms and Care’,
a monthly health awareness program was held on August 2, 2003. |
During the first
part of the presentation Dr. Sohail Abrar described the causes of
chest discomfort and the importance of its evaluation. "The most
common symptom of heart attack is chest pain, but not all patients
with heart attack develop chest pain and may have other symptoms
such as shortness of breath or palpitations. Immediate admission
to the hospital after the onset of chest pain can lead to timely
diagnosis and treatment which can prevent damage to the heart muscle
and its complications. ECG remains an important diagnostic tool
but a normal ECG does not rule out the possibility of heart attack."
Stress test,
nuclear scans and stress echocardiograms play an important role
in the diagnosis of chest discomfort added Dr. Sohail Abrar who
is also the Director of Non-Invasive cardiac diagnostic services
at AKUH. He explained to the audience in detail how these tests
are performed at AKUH, their diagnostic utility and limitations.
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| The
panelists gave explanation to the queries of the audience at
the end of the programme. |
During the second
part of the presentation Dr. Sajid Dhakam discussed the role of
coronary angiography and angioplasty, "Coronary Artery Disease is
the most common form of heart disease caused by narrowing of arteries
supplying blood to the heart which in turn leads to low blood supply
to the heart muscle and results in chest pain commonly known as
angina. If in addition to the narrowing, a blood clot is formed
it completely and abruptly cuts off blood supply to the heart muscle
leading to 'Heart Attack' or in medical terms 'Acute Myocardial
Infarction'. Now emergency angiography and angioplasty during heart
attack have been shown in numerous medical studies to be superior
to medical treatment, as angioplasty more effectively and completely
restores blood supply to the heart muscle than clot dissolving medications".
He then explained in detail the procedure of angiography and angioplasty
to the audience.
Dr. Sajid Dhakam
concluded by saying that the patients who have suffered a heart
attack need to be compliant with their medications, educate themselves
about their health problems and follow up with their physicians
regularly. Cessation of smoking, control of high blood pressure,
high cholesterol and diabetes can prevent recurrence of blockages
and symptoms. Cardiac rehabilitation and exercise plays a pivotal
role in the return of these patients to their normal daily routine.
The panelists,
Dr. Khawar Kazmi, Dr. Aamir Hameed, Dr. Najaf Nadeem, Dr. Javaid
Tai, Dr. Fahim H. Jaffery and Dr. Azam Shafquat, gave explanation
to the queries of the audience, at the end of the programme.
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