Dr Michael Ross MacDonald | The Harley Street

A health check-up in Singapore is an important step in keeping up to date on your current health. During a health check-up, your doctor can ensure that you are healthy and check on any health issues.

12 Lead ECG: A Patient’s Guide

12 Lead ECG is an important medical test that allows your doctor to analyze the electrical activity of your heart. A 12 Lead ECG is performed to check for a variety of conditions and requires 10 electrodes (two are in pairs) to be attached to your body. Once in place, the doctor can run the test and will have your results within 24 hours. For the 12 Lead ECG test, electrode placement is crucial to the accuracy of the readings.

Best Cardiologist in Singapore: A Comprehensive Guide, Top Tips, and Recommendations

Looking for the best cardiologist in Singapore to address your cardiovascular concerns and receive top-notch medical care? Then this article is for you. Cardiovascular disease (CVD), refers to a disease of the heart or within your blood vessels. When it comes to cardiovascular disease, you will of course want the best cardiologist in Singapore. After all, cardiovascular disease accounted for 7762 deaths (32.0%) in Singapore alone in 2021.

Holter Monitor

Holter Monitor is a small but incredibly useful wearable devices. These heart monitors track your heart’s rhythm to determine irregular heartbeats. Providing your doctor with valuable information regarding your heart’s condition.

2D Echocardiography

2D Echocardiography is a noninvasive procedure which allows your doctor to see your heart’s functions and structures. Utilising sound waves, this procedure is used to evaluate a wide range of conditions or diseases.

Cardiothoracic Surgeons In Singapore

Cardiothoracic surgeons in Singapore work to an extremely high standard, as you would hope from this level of surgery. Cardiothoracic surgeons specialise in surgery on the heart, lungs, and other thoracic organs found within your chest.

Angiogram Procedure

A coronary angiogram procedure is needed to assess for a variety of health conditions. Needing any form of medical procedure can be a stressful time and an angiogram is no exception. When undergoing this procedure, you want the best doctor possible to ensure you get the best care for your health. The doctors at Harley Street are highly experienced in angiography procedures and are expertly trained in providing you the best service at the time when you need it most.

The best cardiologist in Singapore has set the standards in cardiac treatments

Singapore is renowned for its excellence in healthcare. In fact, it is one of the top ‘healthcare tourism’ destinations in the world. Every year, half a million tourists visit Singapore for medical treatment alone, with half of those coming from Indonesia. Whether you are a native Singaporean, or are coming to Singapore for heart treatment, it’s important that you know what to expect and where to find the very best heart surgeons and cardiologists.

Benefits and Costs of Comprehensive Heart Screening

You are never too old, or too young, to care about your heart health. The most simple changes can improve the wellness of your heart and cardiovascular system, and might even save your life one day. One thing you can do for yourself is access comprehensive cardiac screening, which will give you a transparent view of your current heart health and help you better understand any lifestyle changes you need to make.

The Best Heart Specialists in Singapore

There are many fantastic cardiologists working across Singapore. When it comes to your heart health, you should never settle for less than the best, and make sure you have explored all the options open to you.

How Much Does It Cost to See a Cardiologist in Singapore?

There are fewer things more important than your heart health. But often, signs and symptoms of a cardiological problem can go unnoticed or overlooked. If you suspect you have a problem, it is crucial to see a trained, professional cardiologist in Singapore as soon as possible.

5 Reasons to See a Heart Specialist in Singapore

Heart specialists are not general doctors. They have specialized and extensive education and training to study internal medicine and the heart. They diagnose, manage and treat heart conditions resulting in better patient outcomes.

A Global Health Pandemic: What is Heart Failure?

One of the leading cardiovascular diseases that take a toll on health globally is heart failure. According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 6 million American adults are diagnosed with heart failure. In Singapore, heart failure is common, affecting 1 in 20 Singaporeans.

The Ultimate Guide to Heart Palpitations in Singapore

Symptomatic heart palpitations are incredibly common. While they are usually nothing to worry about, pounding and irregular heartbeats can indicate a serious heart condition in some cases. If you experience heart palpitations, you should get yourself checked by a cardiologist.

Introduction to Coronary Angiogram

Angiography is a broad term used to acquire anatomical and structural images of the vascular system, including the coronary arteries, using X-rays. The imaging procedure provides both anatomical and functional assessment of the heart and its surrounding structures. A Coronary angiogram is the gold standard test to look for blockages in the heart arteries.

What is a calcium score? What are the top 10 benefits?

According to the World Health Organization, cardiovascular diseases (heart attacks and strokes) are the primary cause of increasing deaths worldwide. Figures show that a quarter of patients who experience myocardial infarction display no clinical manifestations. The CT Coronary Calcium score, can help predict cardiovascular events and prevent death. It is a simple test that calculates the amount of calcium in your heart arteries. More calcium equals more coronary artery disease.

How Harley Street Can Help With Your Heart Bypass Surgery?

Coronary artery disease is incredibly common and unfortunately causes 1 in 3 deaths. One of the treatments for severe coronary artery disease is to undergo a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). This surgery bypasses the blockages in the heart arteries allowing you to return to a more normal way of life.

A heart doctor tells why he eats 100g of dark chocolate every week featuring Dr Michael MacDonald

Despite having a “terribly sweet tooth”, heart doctor Michael MacDonald tries to avoid consuming too many sweet and sugary treats for health’s sake. Once a week though, the 44-year-old who professes to be a “big fan of chocolate” permits himself a small bar of dark chocolate.

Cardiologist and Cardiac Surgeon - What is the Difference?

Cardiovascular disease is one of the top causes of death in much of the developed world. Both cardiologists and cardiac surgeons (also referred to as cardiothoracic surgeons) lead the fight against this deadly threat. While both professions are concerned with treatments of heart conditions, there are some critical differences between the two related fields. Both start their journeys by attending higher education programs that teach the building blocks of medicine, but that is where the similarities end. After a few years of medical education, their training diverges, the duties they perform differ, and their specialties can vary greatly.

Top 5 Dietary Tips to Prevent Gout

A form of arthritis, gout is caused by a buildup of uric acid, which occurs when the body contains too much purine. Purine is produced in the body naturally, but it is also present in many foods. The extra uric acid forms crystals around joints, especially in the big toes (although other joints are also often affected). It causes pain, which is sometimes intense, swelling, redness, stiffness, or any combination of these symptoms. It is wholly unpleasant, even in small flare-ups, but you can follow some dietary rules to lessen the number of flares and their severity.

My Mum/Dad had a Heart Attack - Is that Important for Me?

There are tons of great things passed down through families: heirlooms, recipes, pictures, and memories. Still, many things are less pleasant that are passed through family lines - one of these things is a higher risk for heart disease. If one or both of your parents have had a heart attack, you may be at risk for suffering the same fate, as it can indicate a strong family history of being genetically prone to heart attacks. It is by no means set in stone, but you should look into factors that may run in your family and take steps to promote a heart-healthy lifestyle.

Can You Do Too Much Exercise?

We all know that exercising too little, or not at all, can lead to several serious health issues. In the Covid-19 age, many of us are dusting off the treadmill, buying weights online, and breaking out the old running shoes. While exercising is a good practice that can improve your overall health, strengthen your body, and help ease mental health, there is such a thing as too much exercise. So how can you tell if your workout routine is too harsh?

What Exercise is the Best for Heart Health?

Keeping a regular workout routine is one of the best ways to improve your heart health. If that isn't reason enough to get your sweat on, it can also help you to lose weight, maintain a healthy weight, increase strength and lung capacity, and even improve your mental health - The list goes on and on!

Is Red Wine Really Good for the Heart?

Is red wine actually good for the heart? The short answer is yes - and no. It depends very much on your personal and familial health history, among other matters. This article will give you a good idea of the risks and rewards of red wine on heart health, but before going out to buy a bottle for health reasons, consult a medical professional. You should not start drinking red wine for health benefits without discussing it with your doctor, but if you already enjoy an occasional glass with your dinner, you may be at reduced risk for some heart-related health issues.

How can snoring affect your heart?

Has your partner ever said you snore? Have they ever mentioned that you sometimes stop breathing when you sleep? If so, you may have sleep apnea, a potentially serious sleep disorder that can have significant consequences for the heart and arteries.

5 Effective Ways to Lower Your Cholesterol Naturally with Your Diet

We know that having a high cholesterol is associated with heart attacks, strokes and death (cardiovascular disease) and that lowering cholesterol with medications called statins is an effective way to lower your risk of disease.

5 Simple Ways To Combat The Effects Of Stress On The Heart

When your body perceives a threat, it increases the production of stress hormones like adrenaline that alter the way multiple systems in your body function i.e. digestion and immune systems. When the threat diminishes the hormone levels return to normal.

How Does Stress Affect The Heart?

The stress response is a normal physiological response to help you deal with threats. When your body perceives a threat, it increases the production of cortisol and adrenaline. Cortisol raises your blood sugar and adrenaline elevates your heart rate and blood pressure. They are complex hormones that combine to alter the way multiple systems in your body function i.e. digestion and immune systems. When the threat diminishes the hormone levels return to normal.

RELATED VIDEOS

Blood in your Stools! What do you do?? Harley Street Health Episode 8

If we are honest with ourselves, most of us have probably seen some blood in our stools or on their toilet paper after wiping...! In this episode of Harley Street Health Dr Michael MacDonald talks to an expert on the bowel Dr Tan Wah Siew. She is a Colorectal Surgeon in Singapore. We talk about what you should do when you see blood, and when you need to see a doctor. We go through what your colorectal specialist will do during your visit and discuss the common causes of blood in the stools.

Varicose Veins: Everything you need to know

Varicose veins will affect a lot of us as we get older. They can be both painful, cosmetically unsatisfactory, and create other medical issues. In Harley Street Health Episode 6, Dr Michael MacDonald chats with our very own Senior Vascular Surgeon, Dr. Sriram Narayanan, about everything varicose veins. We discuss why we get them, and what we can do about them. Including invasive and non-invasive techniques to deal with them.

SINGAPORE Gallstones - What are they and what can you do about them? Harley Street Health Episode 7

Gallstones are super common and lead to a lot of discomfort. They cause abdominal pain, back pain and nausea/vomiting. In this episode of Harley Street Health Dr Michael MacDonald talks to Dr Lee Ser Yee, a consultant hepatopancreatobiliary surgeon and all-round gallstone/liver expert about what causes them and what you can do about them. We take a look at the risk factors for gallstones, how they are investigated and different surgical and non-surgical treatments including the use of minimally-invasive surgery.

Dialogue with medical expert: Chronic Heart Failure

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Everything Sleep Apnea: Harley Street Health Episode 5

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Diabetes - Beginners guide: Harley Street Health Episode 4

We all have friends and family with diabetes. Diabetes is now at epidemic levels and leads to major issues like heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure and blindness. In this episode of Harley Street Health Dr Michael MacDonald has a chat with consultant endocrinologist Dr Daniel Wai about everything diabetes!

Harley Street Health Episode 3: Heart attacks and heart failure - what's the difference?

All the different terms for heart disease can be really confusing.....heart attacks, heart failure, coronary artery disease.... In this podcast episode, Cardiologist Dr Michael MacDonald discusses the differences. The primary process that leads to a lot of heart disease is called atherosclerosis. Lipid rich plaques form in the walls of the coronary arteries. When these plaques get inflamed, they can rupture, and a clot can form in the coronary artery, stopping blood flow to the heart muscle. This is called a heart attack (or myocardial infarction). This process can cause sudden death and damage to the heart muscle.

Harley Street Health Episode 2: Pelvic Congestion Syndrome - Don't Suffer In Silence

Pelvic congestion syndrome is a remarkably common cause of chronic pelvic pain in women, but it is incredibly underdiagnosed. In this video Dr Michael MacDonald interviews Dr Sriram Narayanan, a senior consultant vascular surgeon at the Harley Street Heart & Vascular Centre, Singapore. Dr Ram talks about how PCS is caused, how to investigate it, and how to manage the condition

Harley Street Health Episode 1: Palpitations. What are they and how do we treat them?

The first episode of the Harley Street Health Series. In this video Dr Reginald Liew and Dr Michael MacDonald discuss the common symptom of palpitations. What are palpitations? What are they caused by? How can you treat them? What lifestyle changes can make the difference?

How do you feel when you have high blood pressure?

In this video Dr Michael MacDonald (Singapore Cardiologist) explains how most people feel when they have high blood pressure. The simple fact of the matter is that high blood pressure is also called "The Silent Killer" for good reason. Most people have no symptoms whatsoever! High blood pressure slowly damages your blood vessels all over your body leading to heart attacks, kidney failure, strokes and death.

Top 5 ways to lower high cholesterol naturally

Your doctor's told you you have high cholesterol! You will be at a higher risk of heart attack and stroke. So what can YOU do about it?? The first thing to do is take the cholesterol-lowering medication if your doctor has recommended it. But that's not all. There are simple dietary tricks you can do to lower your cholesterol naturally. In this video I explain the 5 most effective, scientifically proven techniques to bring your cholesterol down. This includes the single most important supplement that has been proven to work.

What are the symptoms of high cholesterol?

High cholesterol leads to premature blockages in the heart arteries, heart attacks and strokes. But how do you know if you have high cholesterol? What are the symptoms? The answer is that the majority of people have no symptoms at all until they have a heart attack or a stroke! High cholesterol works in the background causing atherosclerosis, slowly furring up the arteries all over the body. The only way to know if you have it is to get a blood cholesterol check by your doctor.

What is heart failure and what can I do about it?

Swelling of the legs, breathlessness and tiredness are some of the common symptoms of a condition called heart failure. Heart failure is increasingly common, and is caused by common conditions like high blood pressure, coronary artery disease and diabetes. There are lots that can be done to treat it, but the first step is getting it diagnosed. If you have any of the above symptoms you should visit your doctor to get assessed.

Why can't I lose weight by dieting? AND how best to lose weight long term!

How many of you have tried a diet, lost some weight, then a few months later you are back to square one?! You are not alone. Studies show us that most people that try a diet have put that weight almost completely back on within 1-2 years. But why is that? Why is it so difficult to keep weight off long-term? What is the best way to lose weight and keep it off? In this educational video, I explain how your body tries to keep you at your current weight and why short terms diets don't work in the long term. I will also explain the techniques needed to sustain weight loss long-term and improve your overall wellness.

Do cardiologists perform surgery?

What is the difference between a cardiologist and a cardiac surgeon? Both specialties are involved in managing patients with heart problems, but they do very different things. A cardiologist diagnoses and treats conditions of the heart and blood vessels usually with medication and sometimes with minimally invasive techniques like angioplasty. Some conditions cannot be dealt with in this way and this is when a cardiac surgeon steps in. A cardiac surgeon often performs major surgery where the patient is given a general anesthetic and their chest is opened up to access the heart. Cardiac surgeons do operations like valve replacements and coronary artery bypass grafting.

What happens at a first visit to a cardiologist?

It can be scary when you have to visit a cardiologist for the first time. Worrying about what they will do and what they might find. Don't worry! It's really not that scary. In this video I talk you through what happens at a first visit and what tests you can expect. It will always start with a conversation about your symptoms and background history followed by an examination of the heart. After this you will most likely get an ECG and a number of other tests depending on your symptoms.

COVID 19 and the treatment of hypertension

There has been a lot published in the media about the relationship between COVID-19 and hypertension (high blood pressure). In this video Singapore cardiologist Dr Michael MacDonald goes over the available data on COVID and high blood pressure and offers practical advice on how to manage hypertension during this pandemic.

What is a heart screening?

Have you ever wondered what a heart screening is? Singapore Cardiologist Dr Michael MacDonald walks you through what commonly happens when you visit your doctor to get a heart checkup. He will tell you what tests are most important and why your doctor might order them.

DR. MICHAEL ROSS MACDONALD

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