Heart Disease Treatment in Davenport

Interventional cardiology uses specialized imaging and catheter-based approaches to treat heart disease, such as congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease and congenital heart disease. These minimally-invasive procedures include:

Angioplasty

A tiny balloon at the tip of the catheter can be inflated to open a blocked artery and improve blood flow. The balloon compresses plaque — cholesterol deposits — against the wall of the artery. In some cases a laser at the tip of the catheter is used to break up the plaque.

Diagnostic Angiography

The doctor examines the inside of your arteries and veins for narrowed areas, blockages and other problems. Angiography can also be used to examine the carotid artery and vessels in the lower body and legs.

Stent Placement

A small mesh tube called a stent is placed in an artery to hold it open and improve blood flow.

Healthy lifestyle changes — such as limiting alcohol or caffeine and lowering stress — can help with some heart arrhythmias. If these steps don’t help, your cardiologist may suggest:

Cardioversion

If your heart is beating too fast, this procedure can help. It uses an electroencephalograph (EKG) monitor and a cardiac defibrillator to deliver an electrical shock to the heart, restoring a normal rhythm.

Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD)

An ICD device is placed just under your skin with tiny wires to your heart. When the device detects an abnormal rhythm, it sends an electric shock to restore normal heartbeat. Some ICDs also act as pacemakers.

Pacemaker

This implanted device can be placed just under the skin with tiny wires that connect to your heart. Impulses from the pacemaker are timed to keep your heart beating at a regular rate.

Medications can be very effective in treating heart conditions. They may be used on their own or in combination with other treatments. Depending on your specific condition, your cardiologist may recommend one or more of these medications:

• Ace inhibitors to help relax your blood vessels
• Beta-blockers to slow your heart rate
• Blood pressure medicines to keep your blood pressure in normal range
• Blood thinners to keep clots from forming
• Cholesterol medicines to lower your blood cholesterol
• Diuretics to eliminate excess water from your body
• Medicines to increase your heart’s pumping strength

Today’s stroke care includes advanced treatment techniques that provide better stroke recovery than in the past. Depending on your type of stroke, you may be treated with:

• Medicines to dissolve a clot and restore blood flow
• Procedures to stop bleeding in the brain or remove blood and reduce pressure
• Thrombectomy to remove a blockage

After your initial stroke treatment, your team will help you get started with our stroke rehabilitation. This program will help you recover functions you may have lost because of your stroke. Our skilled, compassionate stroke recovery specialists include speech therapists, occupational therapists and others who will help you get back to living your life.