What if a complaint you assume is simply “feeling under the weather” is actually an early sign of heart disease? Many people only realise that something is wrong with their heart after their symptoms have worsened. Yet recognising the body’s signals early can be an important step towards preventing more serious complications.
Unfortunately, this situation is still common. Many people only seek medical attention when their symptoms begin to interfere with their daily activities or have even progressed to an emergency. This is why heart disease is often treated too late, even though its early symptoms can actually be recognised sooner.
The Indonesian Association of Cardiovascular Specialists (PERKI) emphasises the importance of raising public awareness about the prevention of cardiovascular disease, while also highlighting that the burden of heart disease in Indonesia remains high, as reflected in part by the increasing number of claims for heart disease treatment. Therefore, early detection of symptoms and control of risk factors are important steps that should not be delayed.
According to dr Putri Reno Indrisia, Sp.JP, FIHA, CCK, a Cardiologist and Vascular Specialist at Bethsaida Hospital Gading Serpong, many patients seek medical attention at a late stage because early symptoms are often mistaken for common complaints, such as:
- Feeling tired quickly, even during light activities;
- Shortness of breath when walking or climbing stairs;
- Chest pain that feels like pressure or tightness; and
- An irregular or racing heartbeat.
“Other complaints, such as sudden dizziness, cold sweats without an obvious cause, and swelling in the legs, can also indicate problems with the heart or blood vessels. These various symptoms, which often appear subtly, are why regular examinations from an early stage are important as part of preventive measures, particularly for people with risk factors,” she explained.
When symptoms begin to appear, or risk factors are already present, the most appropriate step is to undergo a comprehensive examination. Addressing this need, the Heart & Vascular Center Bethsaida Hospital, available at Bethsaida Hospital Gading Serpong and Bethsaida Hospital Serang, provides comprehensive and integrated services, ranging from diagnostic examinations to further treatment. Supported by a one-stop service concept, patients can undergo examinations and treatment more comfortably and efficiently through an integrated service.
Supported by Modern Diagnostic Technology
The integrated Heart & Vascular Center Bethsaida Hospital at Bethsaida Hospital Gading Serpong and Bethsaida Hospital Serang is equipped with modern diagnostic facilities to support the rapid and accurate evaluation of heart conditions. Examinations can be carried out using a 512-slice CT scan for detailed cardiac imaging, 3 Tesla MRI for further examinations, as well as echocardiography and treadmill tests to comprehensively assess heart function.
A Cath Lab is also available for coronary angiography to visualise the heart’s blood vessels and detect any narrowing or blockages.
Comprehensive Cardiac Treatment and Procedures
If examination results indicate narrowing or blockages in the blood vessels, appropriate and measured follow-up treatment is needed to help prevent the risk of a heart attack at an early stage.
At the Heart & Vascular Center Bethsaida Hospital, a range of comprehensive cardiac procedures is available, including Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI), commonly known as heart stent placement; Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG), or heart bypass surgery; Drug-Coated Balloon (DCB) treatment; Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery (MICS), or heart surgery performed through small incisions; and Endovenous Laser Ablation (EVLA) for certain vascular conditions.
Although various treatment options are available, the management of heart disease remains highly dependent on the complexity of each patient’s condition. According to dr Fani Suslina Hasibuan, Sp.JP(K), FIHA, an Interventional Cardiologist at Bethsaida Hospital Serang, the condition of patients’ coronary blood vessels can vary considerably. In certain cases, blockages can be more complex, including bifurcation, or a blockage in an area where a blood vessel branches; Chronic Total Occlusion (CTO); narrowing that extends along the length of a blood vessel (diffuse disease); and blockages affecting more than one blood vessel (multivessel disease).
“In cases where the blockage has become hardened or calcified (severe calcification), atherectomy procedures, which help address plaque or calcified blockages in the blood vessels, are often required. Several treatment options can be used, such as Rotablator (a device used to remove hard calcified blockages), Intravascular Lithotripsy (shock waves used to break up calcium deposits), and the Orbital Atherectomy System (a rotating device used to remove hard plaque), depending on the condition of the plaque based on intracoronary imaging, or imaging of the heart’s blood vessels, such as IVUS (ultrasound used to view the inside of blood vessels) or OCT (a detailed laser camera used to view the inside of blood vessels).
“Additionally, in cases of multivessel disease, determining which blockages need to be treated also requires physiological assessments such as Fractional Flow Reserve (FFR), Resting Full-cycle Ratio (RFR) or Diastolic Pressure Ratio (DFR) to ensure that heart stent placement is appropriately targeted, while also ensuring that the procedure is carried out with greater precision and safety,” she explained.
Integrated Care and Emergency Services
The Heart & Vascular Center Bethsaida Hospital is also supported by comfortable inpatient rooms with 24/7 cardiac monitoring, an Intensive Cardiac Care Unit (ICCU) for critically ill patients, such as those experiencing heart attacks, as well as 24/7 emergency services integrated with the Emergency and Heart Attack Center.
The readiness of these facilities and medical teams is an important part of ensuring that patients receive prompt, appropriate and coordinated treatment, particularly in emergencies when every minute matters.
With the support of the integrated Heart & Vascular Center at Bethsaida Hospital Gading Serpong and Bethsaida Hospital Serang, cardiac services ranging from early detection to treatment are now more accessible, supported by modern facilities, comprehensive interventional technology and experienced medical teams. Early examinations are an important step towards preventing complications and maintaining quality of life in the long term.