The management of advanced stages of heart and/or lung disease, characterised by increasingly debilitating symptoms, uncertainty and diminishing quality of life, is a challenging proposition. This is further compounded by fear, anxiety and a lack of knowledge about seeking timely as well as the right medical opinion.
Dr. Kumud Kumar Dhital, Cardiothoracic & Transplant Surgeon, Program and Surgical Director of Heart & Lung Transplantation and MCS at Apollo Hospitals, Chennai, stresses the importance of approaching physicians with specialist training and experience in managing advanced and complex heart or lung diseases.
A Comprehensive Approach
Navigating advanced heart and lung disease requires a comprehensive approach and often calls for multidisciplinary care, advanced monitoring and customised treatment strategies. Understanding the complex interplay between the heart and the lungs is crucial for effective management, as the respiratory and cardiovascular systems are intricately linked.
Effective management necessitates collaboration between cardiologists, pulmonologists and other specialists to address the underlying causes of heart and lung disease and optimise personalised therapeutic strategies for better patient outcomes.
Dr. Kumud Kumar says patients with worsening symptoms such as severe breathlessness, persistent cough, leg swelling, chest pain, fatigue or increasing difficulty with daily tasks should seek specialist opinion. These signs often indicate that the heart and/or lungs are struggling to maintain adequate function. Delaying specialist opinion only increases the risk of complications.
Early referral is therefore crucial for those already diagnosed with advanced heart or lung disease and whose symptoms are not managed by standard medications. Patients who need to make repeated visits to the emergency department or frequent hospital admissions should seek expert assessment more urgently.
Apollo Hospitals has experienced professionals with dedicated expertise in managing advanced heart and lung diseases, where patients can benefit from:
Comprehensive evaluation through investigations and accurate diagnosis using the latest technologies.
Personalised care plans adjusted for the stage of disease severity.
Multidisciplinary reviews and counselling.
Full access to a range of treatments, from optimising medications and oxygen therapy to implantation of appropriate supportive devices and, where indicated, even heart and/or lung transplantation.
Patients with advanced heart and/or lung disease seeking additional specialist expertise should ask their doctor for a referral or make an appointment by calling the hotline number at Apollo Hospitals.
Apollo Hospitals supports and complements ongoing care towards limiting symptoms, improving quality of life and maximising every opportunity to prolong the lives of patients with advanced heart and lung disease.
“The input of experienced physicians is often vital in preventing delayed or missed diagnoses or recognising suboptimal treatment, and ensuring that opportunities for more advanced life-saving interventions are not missed.”
Dr. Kumud Kumar Dhital
Cardiothoracic & Transplant Surgeon
Program and Surgical Director, Heart & Lung Transplantation and MCS
Apollo Hospitals, Chennai
For more details, Call 044 4040 1066 | Email : infochennai@apollohospitals.com
