FAQ

USEFUL QUESTIONS

What is white blouse syndrome?
In this case, while the patient has normal blood pressure, the measurements made in the doctor’s office, but also in some patients and at home are high.

This patient is at risk of being prescribed antihypertensive treatment that will cause further drop in blood pressure, which may cause orthostatic phenomena (dizziness while standing and possible fainting). Especially in coronary patients, very low blood pressure has been shown to reduce survival.

What preparation do I need to do Stress Echo, Fatigue Test or Exercise echo?

You will be instructed by your doctor to modify your medication (your doctor will advise you on whether or not you want to stop taking any of the medicines you are taking. You may need to stop taking bradycardic drugs such as b-blockers, calcium antagonists. or antiarrhythmic drugs).

• If the test requires the administration of a contrast agent, be sure to get it (your doctor may prescribe it) and have it with you.
• To bring with you the results of the tests you may have done in the past (eg coronary artery bypass, heart triplex, fatigue test, scintigraphy, etc.) and information about any allergies.
• You can have a light meal 3 hours before the test.
• It is good that the area has been tidied up before (eg men – chest).
• Make sure you wear comfortable clothes and shoes (bra is essential for women).

Can I bring my children with me during the exam?

Of course. We have activities for our little friends of all ages. Children can also watch pleasant screenings during the exam depending on their age and mood.

Do you have contracts with insurance funds?

We have a contract with EOPYY, EYDAP, NTUA as well as with private insurance.

Can I get my results by e-mail?

After the obligatory declaration of consent of personal data, ONLY if you have it in writing electronically (by e-mail).

Can I get my results by phone?

After the mandatory declaration of consent of personal data, the results are not given by telephone.

When do I get the results of my exams?

Results immediately, shortly after your appointment or at a pre-arranged appointment.

The results, based on the mandatory declaration of personal data consent (GPDR), can only be given to the examinee himself unless it has been stated in writing that other specific persons can be given it.

How can I come? Can I use my car?

If you wish to come by public transport, you can use either the metro, trolley or bus. If you want to get your car, there is free parking around the doctor’s office, where you can easily park your car.

How do I make an appointment?

You can make an appointment in the following ways:

• Shortly, in the secretariat of the doctor’s office, the opening hours: daily 9am-9pm and on Saturdays 9am-1pm
• Online, at the telephone numbers of the doctor’s office: 2110102558, 2110136676, the opening hours of the secretariat
• Electronic via the form on our website
• Electronic via Doctoranytime, VriskoDoctor, NowDoctor or other collaborating medical appointment website

MEDICAL QUESTIONS

What is heart failure?

The heart is a pump that serves to circulate blood to all the organs of the body. When this pump cannot pump enough blood to pass it to the rest of the body, we say that there is heart failure.

Heart failure is divided into left and right heart failure, depending on whether the left or right part of the heart is involved. It is also characterized as systolic or diastolic heart failure, depending on whether it concerns the systolic (the force with which the heart contracts) or the diastolic (the elasticity of the myocardium and consequently the volume of blood that the heart can handle) heart function.

What are cardiomyopathies and where are they due?

Myocardial infarction is a disease of the heart muscle that does not all have the same cause. Many times, in addition to the causes that cause them, the symptoms also differ, but also the treatment that must be followed. Myocardial infarction is sometimes characterized by a disturbance in the mechanical function of the myocardium, which can be either systolic or diastolic, other times due to a disturbance in its electrical function that causes arrhythmias, and finally due to abnormal dilation or hypertrophy of one or both ventricles.

People with myocardial infarction have a very large heart that is dilated or very stiff or has abnormally thick walls. Myocardial infarction often puts the patient at risk for heart failure or even sudden death. Myocardial infarction can occur at any age, although some are more common at certain ages.

Myocardial infarction not only has one cause (sometimes the cause is unknown), but it depends on different factors in each case. Some of these are the result of heart disease, which affects the heart and others depend on gene mutations. In this case, myocardial infarction occurs in more than one person in the family. Finally, it can be the result of a variety of other conditions, such as hypertension, a virus or alcohol abuse.

What is an aneurysm?

The arterial aneurysm could be classified as a hidden time bomb because it develops and develops silently, while its existence is suddenly revealed when it grows large enough to rupture. Then the symptoms are very intense, but the treatment is difficult, with the result that the mortality rate reaches very high percentages, even today. An aneurysm is a description of the different types and dimensions of arterial wall enlargement.

Simply put, the artery wall extends to a benign point, causing it to overflow and form a balloon-like mass in the area. This expansion also involves thinning of the wall and therefore a risk of rupture. Aortic aneurysms are the most common and also have two special features: their rupture is accompanied by very high mortality on the one hand and on the other hand they can be diagnosed with a very simple and cheap examination, the ultrasound.

What is a heart blow?

Blows are the abnormal sound signal – like a whistling or rustling – produced when the heart beats and is due to an irregular flow of blood in or near the heart. The blast is perceived when the doctor examines the heart with a stethoscope.

The murmur may be congenital (congenital) or may occur in later life. It is not an isolated condition, but it may indicate an underlying heart function disorder or be normal, that is, it may be due to normal hearing and flow of heart function. The harmless blow, often called an “innocent” blow, is usually not accompanied by specific symptoms. If the murmur is considered alarming or dangerous by the doctor, it may be accompanied by the following symptoms:

• Black skin tone, mainly on the lips and fingertips of the palm
• Swelling (swelling) or sudden weight gain
• Shortness of breath
• Chronic cough
• Swelling of the liver
• Swelling of the veins in the neck
• Decreased appetite and underdevelopment (in children)
• Increased sweating after minimal physical exertion or in a state of relaxation
• Chest pain
• Dizziness or fainting

Examination by the treating physician is necessary to determine if the bladder is innocent or indicates congenital heart disease or damage to the heart valves.

What are the risk factors for coronary heart disease?

Modifiable risk factors

1. Cholesterol
2. Arterial hypertension
3. Diabetes mellitus
4. Smoking
5. Obesity
6. Personality

Non-modifiable risks

1. Gender. The male population has an increased risk of developing coronary heart disease compared to the female population. It is believed that hormonal factors contribute to the onset of the disease.
2. Family history of early coronary heart disease: Children whose parents have coronary heart disease, especially when it occurs before the age of 50, have an increased risk of developing the disease.
3. Age: The risk of developing the disease increases with age. Thus, for men the risk increases after the age of 45, while for women after the age of 55 or earlier if they develop early menopause without undergoing estrogen replacement therapy.

Major risk factors include diabetes, cholesterol, high blood pressure, smoking and a family history of coronary heart disease.

What is coronary angiography and angioplasty?

Coronary angiography (or cardiac catheterization) is an invasive diagnostic procedure that is performed on patients with certain or potential heart disease, such as angina, coronary heart disease, or myocardial infarction. The test is performed under local anesthesia at the puncture site. From a vessel (artery), more commonly the carotid artery in the hand or the femoral artery in the leg, a flexible tube is inserted, which is directed to the heart by X-ray.

With the help of contrast media we get images from the vessels of the heart (coronary vessels), that is, if and at what points they have stenoses, as well as information about the function of the heart (ejection fraction, pressures, valves). In the event that serious damage (narrowing) is found in the vessels of the heart, which are then judged by the invasive cardiologist to be treatable with angioplasty (balloon), then this is usually done immediately afterwards. With the help of special tools the damage of the vessel is opened and the stent is placed.

It is important to note that stents are likely to close again (re-anesthesia) and therefore require proper medication and regular follow-up by a treating cardiologist to minimize this risk.

What is covert hypertension?

This is exactly the opposite of white blouse syndrome. While the patient has high blood pressure during the day due to the stressful environment in which he lives and works, when he measures his blood pressure when he visits his doctor he finds it normal.

Systematic diagnosis usually requires systematic measurements and placement of a pressure holter, ie the placement of a blood pressure monitor for 24 hours.

What does the Holter of the heart show?

The Holter Rhythm is a portable electrocardiograph that records the electrical activity of a walking patient’s heart for 24 hours.

This test is usually considered necessary when your doctor suspects an arrhythmia, often based on the symptoms you report, such as e.g. that your heart is beating fast or fast or that you are feeling “fluttering”. The test is painless and does not require special preparation on the part of the subject. Cables from the device are applied to his skin, and then he is asked to follow his usual daily routine.

How do you know if you have a heart attack?

It’s not a matter of self-diagnosis, but what matters most is the moment you feel something weird about calling for immediate help. More specifically, if you notice the following symptoms, then seek medical attention immediately.

Chest discomfort: The discomfort in the heart area can last a few minutes or go away and return. The discomfort is perceived by most as pain or suffocating pressure.

Pain in one or both hands, back, neck, jaw or stomach are worrying signs of a heart attack.

Shortness of breath

Unusual reactions of the body, such as sudden cold sweats, nausea, dizziness, vomiting and intense fatigue.

What is a heart attack?

Myocardial infarction (“heart attack”) is undoubtedly a dramatic experience and at the same time the leading cause of death. It occurs when a branch of the coronary arteries of the heart is completely blocked resulting in abrupt cessation of blood circulation and the threatened necrosis of the corresponding part of the heart.

Usually the blockage of the artery is caused by a thrombus (blood clot), which suddenly forms on an atherosclerotic plaque and completely blocks the lumen. The latter is part of the atherosclerosis, a long-term process of lipid accumulation and other components in the arterial wall that results in gradual narrowing of the vessel.

What is atrial fibrillation?

The human heart has four cavities: two atria (right and left) and two ventricles (right and left). Under normal circumstances, in each heartbeat, the atria first contract and then the ventricles. In atrial fibrillation, the sinuses contract at a completely irregular and very fast rate, with the result that the ventricles follow with arrhythmic contractions.

The three types of atrial fibrillation:

• Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation – irregular electrical stimuli and accelerated heart rate start abruptly and stop automatically. Patients may have mild or severe symptoms. Symptoms can last for a few seconds or minutes, or last for hours or even days.
• Persistent atrial fibrillation – in this case the atrial fibrillation lasts for more than 7 days and only stops when the patient is taking medication.
• Chronic atrial fibrillation – The patient’s normal heart rate cannot return to normal. Paroxysmal and persistent atrial fibrillation can occur more and more frequently and eventually turn into chronic atrial fibrillation.

What is an artificial heart pacemaker and in which cases is it required?

The pacemaker is a small electronic device that produces electrical pulses that allow the heart to contract rhythmically. These electrical pulses are transmitted to the heart through special cables. The artificial electrical system provided by a pacemaker and its cables can be used for single stimulation (vaginal or ventricular only) or double stimulation (both vaginal and ventricular).

Pacemakers are very complex devices and only work when the normal heart rate falls below a set limit. They remain silent but always ready when the heart returns to normal. This ensures cardiac stimulation only when needed and saves battery power. Some pacemakers are designed to stimulate the heart at different rates depending on the patient’s physical activity.

In which cases is it required:
The heart has a natural pacemaker, the vein node, which allows it to beat at a normal rate and pace. When the heart rate is delayed, the heart does not meet the body’s needs for blood and symptoms such as fatigue, dizziness, fainting occur. An artificial pacemaker is then placed, which gradually reduces and eventually eliminates the symptoms.

The pacemaker is implanted:

Damage to the sinus node. Sometimes, the rate at which electrical signals are sent to the heart fluctuates irregularly or is low and the body does not have the blood it needs. Such lesions are often caused in the elderly.

Damage to the treatment system. Problems can also occur with the electrical pathways that carry the stimuli to the heart, and while the vein sends signals, they arrive late or do not reach the atrioventricular node at all. An example of such damage is aortic calcification.

In intra-abdominal disorders. In patients with heart failure, the pacemaker synchronizes the electrical stimulus in the heart and improves its performance.

What is coronary heart disease?

Coronary heart disease is now the leading cause of death in modern Western societies. It is the disease of the coronary arteries through which the heart is nourished and oxygenated. Coronary heart disease is caused by the formation of cholesterol-rich atherosclerotic plaques on the wall of the coronary coronary arteries, resulting in narrowing of their lumen and obstruction of blood flow through them. Thus, the blood that reaches the myocardium through the coronary artery is not sufficient for the needs of the heart and cardiac ischemia and pain, known as angina, occur.

What signs will motivate you to see a cardiologist right away?

1. Chest pain
2. Feeling of pulse
3. Easy Fatigue
4. Persistent shortness of breath
5. Dizziness
6. Nausea and loss of appetite
7. Cyanosis
8. Sweating
9. Swelling
10. Physics

What does Νational Organization for the Provision of Health Services cover?

The Organization has set a ceiling on visits, referrals and prescriptions

• Visits within the organization’s ceiling are completely free.
• In the exams there is a 15% participation.
• There is a restriction on the issuance of referrals and strict indications to approve a paraclinical examination by the electronic prescription system.
• There is a ceiling on the issuance of prescriptions every month (maximum average expenditure per insured person) and planning is needed for the uninterrupted service of the insured.
• The prescriptions and visits of the Organization are made by appointment depending on the demand and its current availability.