Private hospital highlights risk factors for cardiac issues

May 06, 2016 News

—offers screening package at reduced cost
Persons who suffer from chest pains and shortness of breath should not hesitate to visit their doctor. This was

Dr. Madhu Singh

the advice offered by Medical Director of the Dr. Balwant Singh Hospital, Dr. Madhu Singh, during a press conference at the hospital’s East Street, Georgetown location on Wednesday.
In fact Dr. Singh has warned that people with risk factors for heart disease, such as those who have a family history of heart disease, high blood cholesterol levels, diabetes, high blood pressure and smoking should swiftly seek medical attention.
These individuals, according to her, may very well be in need of an angiogram.
An angiogram, according to the Medical Director, is a special type of x-ray which is used to get a better look at the coronary arteries. The coronary arteries are blood vessels that supply blood to the heart.
The x-ray is essentially used to visualise the arteries that supply blood to the heart and an angiogram is performed to see if those arteries are blocked or if they have narrowed. If there is a blockage or narrowing, it will hamper the flow of blood to the heart.
According to Dr. Singh, all patients with an acute heart attack would require an emergency angiogram. She explained too that a stent is a special type of mesh tubing that is inserted into the coronary arteries supplying the heart. The stent is inserted as part of the angioplasty procedure which is performed to treat patients with narrowed arteries or blockages detected in those coronary
Dr. Singh underscored that the earlier a patient is able to access screening and needful medical attention that patient’s life could be saved.
An evaluation package to help address potential cardiac challenge is offered at the private hospital. Offered in the package are: fasting blood sugar, complete blood count, creatinine, lipid profile, electrocardiogram, 2-D echocardiogram and cardiologist consultation.
Patients are afforded the package at a cost of $25,000 Monday through Friday between the hours of 08:00 and 16:00 hours and between the hours of 08:00 and 13:00 hours on Saturday. “This is what we use to screen patients for heart disease and it is offered at a much cheaper cost than other institutions,” Dr. Singh assured.
But according to her, the Dr. Balwant Singh Hospital will from today be offering a special screening package to patients. The offer which will continue until tomorrow includes: Blood Pressure Test; Liver Function Panel (SGOT, SGPT and alkaline phosphatase), Kidney Function Panel (sodium, potassium, chloride, potassium, BUN and creatinine), Lipid Profile (Triglycerides, Total Cholesterol (LDL, HDL, VLDL), Complete Blood Count, Complete Urine Analysis, Fasting Blood Sugar and Electrocardiogram.
This package, according to Dr. Singh, “is being offered at a cost of $10,000, and is available only on two days (May 6 and 7, 2016). This is an incredible price and many should take advantage of the offer,” she urged.
Angiograms are offered at the hospital at a cost of $160,000. However, the hospital last week afforded patients this service at the considerably subsidized cost of $30,000. This initiative was introduced, Dr. Singh said, in order to raise awareness among patients.
“We had a lot of patients who showed an interest…a lot of people came to hospital and lot of them were screened in order to see who needed angiograms,” said Dr. Singh. The hospital, according to her, will likely offer another such programme within the coming weeks.

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