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Why should we go for a heart screening?

Do you know coronary heart disease and stroke together is the number one killer in Singapore?

One in five people has coronary heart disease and one in 24 suffers from stroke.Are you at risk of getting coronary heart disease?

The risks are higher if you are older age, male gender/ postmenopausal woman or have a bad family history.

What do I hope to achieve by having a heart screening?

For heart health assessment, we evaluate your global risks which include your weight, BMI, waist circumference, blood pressure, blood lipids, blood glucose, smoking and stress level. In addition we also do a complete wellness assessment.

What makes Dr Tan different from rest of the heart specialist?

Legendary Chinese Yellow Emperor clearly stated about 2500 years ago that a “Superior” doctor is the one who prevents illnesses rather than treats illnesses. I concur with this ancient wisdom totally. A superior doctor will give no medicine but will interest his patients in the frame of mind in diet, exercise, cause and prevention of disease.

I aspire to be a superior doctor. I always keep an open mind. I continue to explore and learn both contemporary and complimentary alternative medicine to health so that I can provide better care for my patients. I believe in combining western and eastern wisdom in disease prevention.

Live according to your “body clock”, eat with knowledge and awareness, and include meditation and Qi Kong as part of your routine exercise will greatly improve your health.

Over the years, I have adopted this philosophy and have helped many patients in regaining their health through personalized healthcare management.

Please allow me to show with you some of my patient’s testimonials and experience.

Why should I go for heart disease management?

Unhealthy lifestyle (dietary imbalance and lack of exercise) is the root cause of coronary heart disease.

We will help you to understand why you are at risks and how you can help to change yourself. A personalized healthcare prescription will be given.

Over the past 15 years, I have helped many patients who are at risk of developing coronary heart disease by early intervention.

What are the benefits of having heart disease management?

We adopt a holistic approach to your health. Health is more than physical illnesses; it also encompasses mental, spiritual and social health.

In addition to provide medicines, stress management is equally important in achieving good health.

Early prevention, early knowing and early treatment are the key to achieving good “heart” health.

Any unique way that Dr Tan can help you improve your heart health with the right management programme?

We prescribed a unique program based on your needs. If you are committed to work together, we are confident that you can expect the positive results.

Valvular Heart Surgery

Valvular stenosis or leakage will lead to progressive heart damage. If the valvular disease is severe, early intervention is needed in order to prevent permanent muscle damage. Timing of surgery is often the most important aspect in managing valvular heart patients.

Treatment options include:

• Valve repair
• Valve replacement
• Percutaneous valve intervention

Aortic Aneurysm Surgery

Aneurysm dilatation of the aorta will lead to fatal outcome once it ruptures. Size of the aneurysm is the most important risk factor for aneurysmal rupture.

Early intervention and elective operation will help to prevent this dreadful outcome.

Thoracic and Abdominal Aneurysm Repair Surgery

What is the Problem and why I need this kind of surgery?

If the size of the thoracic aneurysm is greater than 6 cm, surgery will need to be considered. As for abdominal aortic aneurysm early repair is indicated if the aneurysm is greater than 4.5 cm in size.

After the surgery, what improvements do I have?

Benefit of elective repair is to save life by preventing sudden aneurysm rupture. Once the aneurysm ruptures, it is often fatal.

New treatment option in aneurysm includes:

• Endovascular stenting

Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery

Bypass surgery may be performed in the following groups of patients:

1. Patients whose angina has not been controlled with medications,
2. Patients who are not good candidates for balloon angioplasty and
3. Patients whose coronary arteries have re-narrowed after angioplasty.
4. In patient with left main stenosis, evidence has shown that the patient's life expectancy will be improved, regardless of whether there are symptoms present.

Bypass surgery is generally done if any of the following conditions are present:

• Debilitating angina that failed to be controlled by medication (heart arteries are narrowed so that too little blood reaches the heart muscle) and often several coronary arteries are blocked at the same time.
• Multiple diseased coronary arteries and the heart's main pump (left ventricle) is functioning poorly.
• Left main coronary artery, which serves the left ventricle, is severely narrowed or blocked.
• Coronary artery blockage that's not suitable for balloon angioplasty or the artery has re-narrowed after angioplasty.

Benefits of coronary artery bypass surgeries include:

• Prolonged survival
• Relief of symptoms such as chest pain or shortness of breath
• Improve exercise tolerance
• Reduce the need for angina medications
• Prevention of fatal heart attacks

Peripheral Anterior Bypass Surgery

Blockages in the blood vessels in the lower limbs will lead to pain on walking and poor wound healing.  When the blockages are greater than 70%, patients usually will start to have symptoms. Progressive worsening of symptoms despite of adequate medication is an indication for surgery.

Treatment options:

• Peripheral artery bypass such as aorto-femoral, femoro-popliteal or popliteal tibial bypass grafting.
• Endovascular dilatation and stenting

Arterio-venous Fistula

What is the problem and why I do need this kind of surgery?

Vascular access is needed for hemodialysis in patients with end stage kidney failure. An arterio- venous fistula can be created in the forearm for such purpose.

Varicose Vein Surgery

What is the problem and why I need this kind of surgery?

Varicose veins are dilated, tortuous vein present usually in the lower limbs. Although the pathophysiology is multi-factorial, in primary varicose veins the main abnormality is valvular dysfunction. This may occur in the deep, perforating or superficial long and short saphenous veins.

Long standing disease can lead to venous hypertension, hyperpigmentary skin changes and stasis ulcer. Clear indications for surgery are signs of chronic venous insufficiency, superficial thrombophlebitis and bleeding.

Treatment options include:

• Surgery- Ligation and stripping, ligation of perforators
• Endovenous Laser Treatment
• Injection sclerotherapy

After the surgery, what improvements do I have?

Varicose vein surgery is not curative, and early surgery in uncomplicated veins will not prevent development of future varicosities. It has been shown, that quality of life is reduced in patients with varicose veins compared with the general population, and that this is improved by surgery.