CaRi-heart technology
Revolutionary new technology to assess the risk of a serious heart condition or heart attack – many years before anything happens.
Q&A with Professor Gerry Carr-White
Consultant Cardiologist at The Cardiac Clinic, part of HCA Healthcare UK
When did you join the HCA Healthcare UK family and why did you want to become a cardiologist?
I joined The Cardiac Clinic back in 2007 – so I’ve already spent well over a decade here treating patients. What drew me into medicine was knowing that I can positively impact another person’s quality of life. This is especially evident in cardiology, as the treatment outcomes are so great.
What do your patients come and see you for?
At The Cardiac Clinic, we see an incredibly wide spectrum of patients – from young patients who are concerned about inherited heart conditions and what it means for them, to those patients who are a bit older and have suspected heart failure – where the heart is unable to pump blood around the body properly and can become weakened or stiff.
At the clinic, we also specialise in the preventative side of cardiology – picking up heart problems at the earliest possible stage and effectively treating them. In these instances, patients might come to us with symptoms such as chest pains or feeling faint, and can receive treatment before their condition becomes serious.
It's important that both men and women present any cardiac symptoms that they have as soon as possible. Many think that heart attacks are a ‘male heath issue’, however coronary heart disease – the main cause of heart attacks – is the biggest killer of women worldwide, so, it’s equally as important that both men and women see a doctor if they’re concerned.
What are the biggest changes in the way that cardiac complaints are diagnosed and treated in recent years?
With regards to the diagnosis side of things, cardiac MRIs are now becoming standard procedure in looking at the heart muscle and whether there’s any scarring there. The technology behind cardiac CT scans are also amazing these days, you can get a very in-depth view of the arteries using this diagnostic method.
When it comes to new treatment methods, in some cases, injections are now being used to treat patients with high cholesterol, either as a replacement or in addition to the statin medication patients take.
At the clinic we also offer percutaneous treatments for patients with valve diseases, instead of major heart surgery. These minimally invasive procedures repair or replace the diseased heart valve without removing the damaged one.
How has COVID-19 impacted heart health?
COVID-19 has had a huge impact on people’s cardiac health and this only looks to continue. A recent study by the British Heart Foundation found that around half of 1,216 patients who received a heart scan while in hospital due to COVID-19 showed abnormalities in their heart function, with around one in seven showing severe abnormalities which are likely to have a major effect on their survival and recovery.
I’ve seen many patients whose cardiac health has been affected, and I have also seen patients, who, months after a positive COVID-19 diagnosis, are experiencing cardiac complaints for the first time. ‘Long COVID-19', as it is now being coined, can even affect those who are physically fit – in the last few months in particular I’ve seen lots of otherwise physically fit patients who have come to me after experiencing heart palpitations or chest pains.
People’s lifestyles during the various lockdowns that we have experienced will also have an impact. Some for the better as people have embraced health and fitness, whereas in some cases, people have become more sedentary, and their diet might have become unhealthier.
Why choose The Cardiac Clinic
The Cardiac Clinic is a specialist unit, with a whole team of cardiac experts who have dedicated their lives to diagnosing, treating and monitoring heart conditions. Not only are the treatment types for patients comprehensive, but it’s also a place where we believe that flexibility for patients is important.
That's why at this clinic, you can either choose to have your first appointment virtually or in clinic, and if you choose to visit our clinic, we can find a time which suits you best.