At the initiative of Action Health Armenia-France and with the support of the Ministries of Diaspora and Healthcare of the Republic of Armenia, Yerevan hosted the 6^th Euro-Caucasian Congress of Cardiology. During the congress, Armenian and foreign cardiologist gave speeches, exchanged opinions and made proposals for the implementation of joint programs. This was the topic of my interview with cardiologist George Barseghian (Armenia) for Hayern Aysor.

Karine Avagyan: Mr. Barseghian, every congress, forum or conference serves as a platform for new programs and new ideas. Do you agree?

George Barseghian: Indeed! Such congresses are not an end in itself. They are serious and scientific events during which many remarkable cardiologists speak about major topics and make statements and recommendations that are summed up in order to take future actions in the field of cardiology. I must say that the Internet plays a major role in medicine today. Information resources are more accessible today, and there is no problem with getting acquainted with the news about the field. However, such congresses are good in the sense that cardiologists of the world meet and interact with each other, lay the foundations for cooperation and introduce each other to new information resources. This congress gives a broad view.

Karine Avagyan: Mr. Barseghian, do Armenian cardiologists have a lot to learn from foreign cardiologists?

George Barseghian: Frankly, I must say that Armenian cardiologists are good cardiologists. They have quite a high reputation in the region, but they have to use the technological innovations and the statistics of Russian, European and other cardiologists, not learn from them. Today, all sciences are based on statistics. Take the statistics of a population of roughly 2.5-3 million. Based on data, today, there are 240,000 people with cardiovascular diseases in Armenia. Obviously, it is not that hard for Armenia to have the data of so many patients and the necessary information as in any country across Europe.

Karine Avagyan: Who goes to see a cardiologist more often? Is it those suffering from related diseases like diabetes, people with innate defects or those with some kind of a heart problem?

George Barseghian: People with related diseases, as well as patients with innate and acquired defects and patients with problems with valves see a cardiologist. There are also people who see a cardiologist to know why their heart functions poorly. The cardiologist very often discovers the main disease, and this becomes the cause of the particular person’s concern. There are also many patients diagnosed with endocrinal diseases who also see a cardiologist.

Karine Avagyan: Which age groups visit cardiologists more often? Are there more men or women patients?

George Barseghian: There are people of all ages. Most of the patients are men over 50, but the patients are mainly women since they are more careful and consistent. Due to the changes that come with age, elder people have more problems, say, the shifts in pulse pressure in the climacteric period.

Karine Avagyan: Mr. Barseghian, in our days, there are many children who are born with various heart diseases. Is there any treatment that can ensure a full and normal life for them?

George Barseghian: There are various defects, including grave, medium and light. There are treatments for all of them. If necessary, there is always surgical intervention. There are defects that become safer with age. If necessary, a newborn child with a certain kind of defect can also undergo surgery and can live a normal life. Cardiology has advanced a lot, and cardiologists are making unprecedented progress in the field. Innovative technologies highly contribute to improvement of the field.

Karine Avagyan: Dr. Barseghian, what does the heart need to feel good?

George Barseghian: Love, kindness, as little stress as possible, clean air and a healthy lifestyle.

How does the heart of a cardiologist beat?

George Barseghian: I have no complaints. I am ��?thankful’ to my  heart, but I must admit that sometimes I am careless.

Karine Avagyan: Thank you, doctor! Let’s hope cardiologists present positive indicators and more reassuring statistics about the reduction of cardiovascular diseases in the whole world during the next Euro-Caucasian Congress of Cardiology.

Karine Avagyan