How are conditions like ASD and VSD treated, and at what age?
Many atrial septal defects and some ventricular septal defects can be closed with a catheter-based device rather than open-heart surgery, depending on the defect's size and location. Timing varies — some are watched during early childhood, while others need earlier intervention — and your cardiologist will guide you based on individual evaluation.
How is cardioversion different from ablation?
Cardioversion uses electrical energy or medication to reset the heart back into a normal rhythm quickly, but it doesn't address what's causing the arrhythmia — that's what ablation is for.
Does CRT cure heart failure?
No, but paired with medication and lifestyle changes, it can meaningfully improve symptoms, stamina, and day-to-day quality of life.
What is cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), and who needs it?
CRT is for certain heart failure patients whose heart chambers beat out of sync due to an electrical delay. It helps coordinate the contractions so the heart pumps more effectively.
Can I use a mobile phone or fly with a pacemaker?
Yes. Simple precautions — like keeping your phone at a distance from the device and letting airport security know you have one — are usually all that's needed.
Is getting a pacemaker major surgery, and how long does the battery last?
No — it's a minor, local-anaesthesia procedure with sedation, generally done in about an hour through a small incision near the collarbone. The battery typically lasts 8 to 15 years, and regular device checks keep track of its status.
When is a pacemaker recommended?
A pacemaker helps when the heart beats too slowly, irregularly, or has an electrical conduction issue that keeps it from pumping efficiently.
Are cardiac procedures painful in general?
Most are done using local anaesthesia, sedation, or general anaesthesia depending on what's involved, and the goal throughout is to keep you comfortable. Any soreness afterward is managed with medication.
Can an artery narrow again after angioplasty?
It's uncommon with today's drug-eluting stents, but it can happen. Sticking to your medications, attending follow-ups, and making lifestyle changes all lower the odds significantly.
Will I need blood thinners after getting a stent?
Most patients go on dual antiplatelet therapy — typically aspirin plus a second blood-thinning medication — for around 6 to 12 months, though your cardiologist will tailor the duration to your case, to keep clots from forming inside the stent.
