Better imaging, earlier answers
Advanced cardiac CT can now assess the coronary arteries in a single, fast, non-invasive scan, often avoiding an invasive angiogram. Cardiac MRI gives detailed pictures of the heart muscle without radiation. Together they mean many questions can be answered sooner and more accurately.
Less invasive treatment
Many procedures that once needed open surgery can now be done through small incisions or a catheter.
- Transcatheter valve procedures (such as TAVI) that replace a valve without opening the chest
- Minimally invasive and keyhole valve surgery, with smaller scars and faster recovery
- Newer stents and techniques for treating narrowed arteries
Prevention that fits the person
Risk tools now combine imaging — such as a coronary calcium score — with the traditional measures of blood pressure and cholesterol, so prevention can be tailored more closely to the individual. New medicines for cholesterol and for heart failure add to the options.
A note on claims
Not every “breakthrough” lives up to the headline. What matters is whether an advance is right for a particular person — a decision best made with a consultant, weighing the evidence together.