home Consultations What our heart loves. Heart diseases Deterioration of the heart at a young age

What our heart loves. Heart diseases Deterioration of the heart at a young age

Heart disease is one of the main causes of early mortality, accounting for more than 55% of all deaths. Every year, almost 1.5 billion people die from cardiovascular pathologies in the Russian Federation, many of them are under 55 years of age. Competent prevention and timely treatment will help reduce the risk of developing dangerous diseases and avoid disability.

Heart disease is the main cause of early mortality in the population

Heart diseases

The list of pathologies of the heart and blood vessels is quite extensive, the sooner it is diagnosed dangerous problem, the easier it is to eliminate it or achieve stable remission, since many diseases are considered incurable. Without timely treatment, complications develop, the disease progresses, and everything can end in death.

The most common cardiac pathologies are rhythm disturbances and heart rate deviations from the norm. Develop when available excess weight, cervical osteochondrosis, severe intoxication with alcohol and drugs. Other cardiovascular diseases can provoke tachycardia, ventricular or atrial fibrillation, and extrasystole.

Blood pressure is closely related to the normal functioning of the heart; with chronic hypertension, hypertensive heart disease develops.

Cardiac ischemia

IHD – organic lesions in adults develop in the presence of deterioration in the blood supply to the myocardium due to poor condition vessels. The main cause of the disease is atherosclerotic plaques, thrombosis, which develops when junk food. The disease can be a consequence of smoking, obesity, physical inactivity, and hypertension. ICD-10 code – I 20–25.

Types and symptoms of IHD

Form of pathology	Name of the disease	Signs
Acute	Unstable angina	Burning, pressing pain V chest area, can radiate to various parts of the body on the left side. Sometimes there is a pressing sensation in the epigastric region. Prolonged attacks occur frequently, even with light exertion or at rest
	Myocardial infarction	Symptoms vary depending on the form: · anginal – pressing, burning pain, radiating to the left limb and part of the face, shortness of breath, arrhythmia, the attack can last a day, Nitroglycerin does not improve the condition; · asthmatic – an asthma attack occurs, a person lacks air, the skin and mucous membranes acquire a bluish tint; · arrhythmic – pressure decreases, heart rate increases, loss of consciousness; · abdominal – symptoms are similar to problems of the digestive system, pain is localized in the upper abdomen, accompanied by vomiting and nausea; Cerebrovascular – numbness of limbs, fainting, vomiting
	Acute coronary syndrome	The attack can last more than a quarter of an hour, the symptoms are similar to a heart attack
Chronic	Stable angina	The symptoms are similar to the unstable form, but the attacks are short-lived and occur after physical exertion
	Asymptomatic myocardial ischemia	There is no pain or other signs of heart problems, sometimes weakness and chronic fatigue occur after physical activity
	Cardiosclerosis	Swelling, shortness of breath, pain in the chest area, heart rhythm disturbances

In diabetes mellitus, the risk of ischemia increases by 2.5–3.5 times.

CHF develops when a worn-out heart does not pump blood well, the reasons for the development of this condition are hypertonic disease, inflammatory processes, deterioration of blood vessels. You can see what the organ looks like with this disease in the photo. ICD-10 code – I 50.

Healthy heart and heart with chronic failure

Stages and symptoms of the disease:

On initial stage mild left ventricular failure occurs, blood circulation is not impaired, there are no signs of pathology.
Stage 2A – blood circulation in the pulmonary circle is impaired, the left ventricle increases in size. Shortness of breath, an unproductive cough, severe swelling of the legs appear, even with minimal exertion, and the mucous membranes acquire a bluish tint.
Stage 2B – pathological changes are observed in both circles of the affected organ. Shortness of breath and arrhythmia bother a person even at rest, aching heart pain occurs, the mucous membranes turn blue, cardiac asthma develops, the limbs and abdomen swell, the liver increases in size.
At the third stage, irreversible pathological changes develop in the heart, lungs, kidneys and blood vessels, and symptoms of concomitant diseases join the main signs of the disease. Drug therapy is ineffective and requires surgical intervention.

In men, cardiovascular diseases are diagnosed more often than in women, especially in young and middle age - before menopause. female hormones protect the heart and blood vessels from pathological damage.

Acquired defects of the heart clans

The disease can be congenital; an acquired heart defect develops against the background of chronic heart diseases, inflammatory processes, and poor lifestyle. ICD-10 code – congenital defects – Q20–26, acquired – I34–37.

Types and signs of acquired valve pathologies:

Artery stenosis. On initial stage The disease is asymptomatic and can only be detected during examination. As the pathology develops, fainting appears, signs of a decrease in systolic arterial parameters, and the skin becomes pale.
Aortic valve insufficiency. The disease is accompanied by frequent attacks of suffocation, rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, and decreased diastolic pressure.
Mitral stenosis. Pain in the heart rarely appears, the liver and the size of the abdomen increase, the limbs swell, shortness of breath, the voice becomes hoarse.
Mitral valve insufficiency. Pain in the sternum is aching character, nonproductive cough, asthma, shortness of breath.

Heart diseases are inherited - if relatives in the ascending line have similar problems, the risk of developing pathology in a child increases by 25%.

On early stages development of arterial stenosis, the disease occurs without symptoms

Congenital heart defects

Reasons for appearance birth defects hearts - influenza and rubella in a woman during pregnancy, diabetes, rheumatism, thyroid pathologies, taking potent medications, poor environment.

What are the names and manifestations of pathologies:

– a congenital pathology, in some people it occurs without special features, deviations from the norm can only be noticed during the examination. Other patients experience nausea, frequent increases in temperature to subfebrile levels, a feeling of a lump in the throat, pain in the sternum, and increased fatigue.
Ebstein's anomaly - rare congenital disease, accompanied by tachycardia, fainting, and enlarged veins in the neck. Surgical correction is required.
Defects in the interatrial septum are the first signs in the form of weakness, shortness of breath may appear after 40 years, and CHF gradually develops.
Defects interventricular septum– with a small size of the defect, only shortness of breath appears during physical exertion. If the defect is large, then breathing problems occur even at rest, pain in the sternum, and an unproductive cough appear.
Eisenmenger complex. The main sign of pathology is the presence of blood clots in the sputum, blue discoloration skin, additional symptoms of CHF appear.
Tetralogy of Fallot is a serious fatal disease, accompanied by blue discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes; children are retarded in growth, physical and mental development, they often have convulsions, arterial hypotension, CHF develops. Every second child with a similar pathology does not live to be three years old, in rare cases - until 13–15 years old.
Open ductus arteriosus– the pathology can occur without any special symptoms; with age, symptoms of heart failure appear, and diastolic pressure indicators decrease.

For most congenital pathologies, the only effective method therapy - surgery.

Prolapse mitral valve- congenital disease

Inflammatory pathologies

They occur when bacteria, viruses, or fungi enter the body; they can be caused by rheumatism or poisoning by toxic substances; depending on the type of pathogen, antibacterial drugs are selected. Most often develop as a complication of tuberculosis, syphilis, long-term colds. ICD-10 code – I 30–52.

Types and signs of cardiac inflammatory processes:

Endocarditis – in the background high temperature And heavy sweating The condition of the valves quickly deteriorates, throbbing pain appears in the heart, noises are heard, and an enlargement of some internal organs is observed. A characteristic symptom is hemorrhages in the eyes and under the nails due to increased fragility of blood vessels; the first phalanges of the fingers become thicker.
Myocarditis - the disease can manifest itself in the form of heart failure or tachycardia; the doctor will make an accurate diagnosis after receiving the results of a blood test for specific cardiac enzymes.
Pericarditis - unproductive cough, pain in the sternum and right hypochondrium, rapid heartbeat, weakness.
Rheumatic heart disease occurs if, against the background of pharyngitis or tonsillitis, inflammatory processes begin in the connective tissues. Pathology leads to the development of heart disease.

If you suffer from the flu or a sore throat and do not treat these diseases in a timely manner, the risk of heart complications increases 3 times.

Myocarditis - inflammation of the heart muscle

Which doctor should I contact?

If you experience chest pain, shortness of breath, numbness in the extremities, changes in skin color, or frequent attacks of dizziness, you should visit this specialist who diagnoses and treats cardiovascular pathologies.

If necessary, a consultation with a cardiac surgeon will help, in case of emergency timely assistance an emergency physician can provide.

If you have heart problems, you should consult a cardiologist

Diagnosis of heart disease

Modern medicine makes it possible to identify any pathologies of the heart and blood vessels. The doctor can make the initial diagnosis after interviewing and examining the patient, listening carefully and measuring blood pressure. But in order to accurately understand the cause of the disease, make a detailed clinical picture, you will need to undergo a comprehensive examination.

Methods for diagnosing CVD:

- one of the simplest and fastest examination methods, allows you to identify most heart diseases, determines. If prescribed by a doctor, an ECG can be done with drug tests, hyperventilation or orthostatic load.
Holter monitoring uses a special device to record the work of the heart throughout the day.
Stress testing - an ECG is done while the patient is working on a cardio machine, it allows you to determine your tolerance to physical activity and compliance with endurance indicators healthy heart.
EPI (electrophysiological study) - small electrodes are inserted into the veins, arteries or directly into the heart chambers, which makes it possible to determine the nature of heart rhythm disturbances.
Ultrasound or three-dimensional image allows you to see the degree of deterioration of the heart, functional and morphological changes in the organ.
X-ray – the images show the size and condition of the heart tissue.
CT scan allows one to recognize anatomical abnormalities in the structure of the heart and coronary vessels; a contrast agent is first administered intravenously.
MRI – allows you to get high-quality images of organs of cardio-vascular system, but the procedure is complex and expensive, and has many absolute contraindications.
Radionuclide research - radioactive tracers are injected into the patient through a vein, their radiation is recorded by a special device, and the picture is displayed on the screen. The procedure is performed in the presence of heart pain of unknown pathogenesis.

MRI is one of the types of heart diagnostics

To accurately assess the condition of the heart muscle and blood vessels, the doctor can insert catheters into a vein or artery, and their progress is recorded using continuous X-ray imaging. One of the new diagnostic methods is positron emission tomography, which allows you to see areas with poor blood supply, traces of heart attacks, and ischemia. But due to the high cost, this diagnostic method is used only in extreme cases.

In addition to instrumental types of diagnostics, they carry out clinical analysis blood - indicates the presence of cardiac pathologies increased ESR, leukocytosis, decrease in hemoglobin level and red blood cell count, platelet level is important.

Methods for treating heart disease

Therapy of cardiovascular diseases is a long process, often medicines you have to accept it for the rest of your life. In advanced forms of pathology and their rapid progression, surgical intervention will be required.

Medicines

To improve the condition of the heart and blood vessels, various groups of drugs are used; their choice depends on the diagnosis, age of the patient, and severity of the disease.

List of effective heart medications:

Warfarin normalizes blood clotting

Aspirin and Nitroglycerin are the most effective drugs, if a person suddenly becomes ill with his heart, there are signs of a heart attack, they should always be on hand for heart patients. You need to take 2 tablets and call an ambulance.

Surgical methods

In the absence of positive dynamics during drug therapy, sharp deterioration states, worn out heart, ischemia, heart attack, acute heart failure, a person will require surgical intervention to eliminate pathologies.

Types of cardiac surgical interventions:

, pacemakers - carried out in case of myocardial valve insufficiency.
The operation according to the Glenn and Ross method is used to eliminate congenital defects in children, which allows the child to lead a full life in the future.
– during the operation, an additional vessel is sewn in, which allows you to restore normal blood circulation in the clogged arteries.
Arterial stenting - a stent is placed into the lumen of the heart vessels, which looks like a spring. The operation is indicated for infarction, ischemia, accumulation cholesterol plaques in vessels.
– least traumatic surgery, allows you to eliminate heart failure and arrhythmia.

Coronary artery bypass grafting allows normalization of blood flow in the heart

Surgical interventions are mandatory for congenital and acquired heart defects; modern technologies make it possible to use this method of treatment even for small children.

Validol is not a cardiac drug; the medicine has mild sedative effect, therefore, it will help eliminate pain only if it arose from nerves.

Possible complications

Any heart problems even with timely treatment may cause serious complications, which cause complete or partial loss of ability to work and death.

Consequences of heart disease:

If left untreated, heart disease can cause a stroke

Diseases of the heart and blood vessels are most often diagnosed in men aged 40–55 years, in women – 50–65 years. After 70 years, both sexes suffer equally from such pathologies.

Prevention of heart disease

In the prevention of cardiovascular pathologies great importance It has proper nutrition, it is necessary to include wholemeal bread and other high-fiber foods in your diet every day - this will help cleanse blood vessels of cholesterol and reduce the risk of developing atherosclerosis.

How to prevent heart disease:

minimize the consumption of foods high in fat, sugar, and salt;
replace animal fats with vegetable oils;
eat more fruits and vegetables - they contain everything essential vitamins and microelements that support the normal functioning of the heart muscle, the most useful are pumpkin, pomegranate, broccoli, dried apricots, viburnum;
sea fish and seafood contain fatty acids that have a beneficial effect on the condition of blood vessels and the heart;
give up bad habits, even passive smoking negatively affects the state of the cardiovascular system;
avoid stress - the ability to relax and meditate will help you maintain calm and make it easier to endure difficulties;
monitor blood counts, undergo preventive examinations in a timely manner;
drink unboiled purified water - when boiled, the calcium content decreases, which provokes the development of cardiovascular pathologies;
get rid of excess weight.

An active lifestyle will help maintain a healthy heart for a long time. Cardio training with the right load perfectly strengthens the cardiovascular and respiratory system. Daily walking, good sleep, favorite hobby - all these factors have a beneficial effect on health.

To prevent cardiovascular diseases, every woman over 40 years of age needs to take a course of calcium and magnesium supplements twice a year.

It is useful for a person at any age to know the signs of a healthy heart - endurance, good work capacity, absence of shortness of breath after moderate physical exertion, blood pressure, weight and chest pain does not occur. If such symptoms are not all present, it is necessary to visit a cardiologist, undergo examination every 2 years, and after 60 years - annually.

Every person has experienced the feeling that their heart is about to jump out of their chest. This may be due to extreme anxiety, physical activity, or elevated temperature(for example, for a cold), taking certain medications. However, sometimes a rapid pulse can be pathological, that is, caused by diseases.

What are the causes of heart palpitations

If we do not consider the normal reasons for increased heart rate described above, then we can identify only a few diseases that provoke tachycardia. However, these diseases are very dangerous. Let's list them.

Diseases associated with the cardiovascular system. Tachycardia can accompany diseases such as atrial fibrillation heart disease, cardiosclerosis, myocarditis, etc.
Problems in the field of endocrinology. Diabetes mellitus and dysfunction of the thyroid gland very often cause tachycardia. Also, a chronically increased heart rate is often observed during menopause.
Anemia.
Vegetovascular dystonia.

In addition to chronic tachycardia, you can also observe attacks of rapid pulse during severe poisoning or dehydration.

How to recognize a rapid heart rate

Of course, the surest way to find out if your heart rate is high is to measure it. However, people don't measure their pulse 24 hours a day, so it's important to know how to recognize a rapid heartbeat - the symptoms are usually quite obvious.

Darkening in the eyes. When the heart rate is too high, the picture before the eyes may darken. Some compare this to the way old TVs turn off: the screen does not turn black all at once, but seems to burn out gradually from the edge to the center.
Dizziness.
Headache, usually throbbing in nature. Tremors are felt in the temple area, sometimes painful sensations also noted in the back of the head.

What are the risks of chronic tachycardia?

Sometimes people tend to delay treatment, so it’s a good idea to find out why is it dangerous cardiopalmus. In addition to the fact that pathological tachycardia often indicates serious disorders in the body, it is dangerous in itself. With an increased heart rate, the heart works with increased stress, and, as a result, wears out much faster. As a result, you can develop ailments such as heart failure, the risk of heart attack also increases, and pulmonary edema may occur.

How to treat pathological tachycardia.

The first thing to do if there is a suspicion of tachycardia is to conduct a diagnosis in order to confirm this diagnosis. The most effective in this regard is daily mounting of an ECG. The method consists of continuously taking electrocardiogram readings and further analyzing them. Such a study makes it possible to track the heart rhythm, possible jumps in this rhythm, etc. with great accuracy. Also done to confirm tachycardia general analysis blood and a blood test for hormones produced by the thyroid gland (in case the cause of the rapid pulse lies precisely in a disorder of the thyroid gland).

When the causes of tachycardia are identified, therapy can begin. First of all, for a disease such as increased heart rate, treatment involves eliminating all factors that can lead to an increase in heart rate. A ban is introduced on caffeine, alcoholic beverages, eating spicy foods and excessive physical activity. Sometimes this becomes enough, but often tachycardia is treated with medication.

Drugs that help with heart palpitations can be divided into the following groups:

Sedatives, that is, drugs that have a calming effect. They are able to reduce an “unhinged” pulse, but do not affect the cause of the disease. Of the herbal preparations, valerian, desert and hawthorn are especially popular. Artificially synthesized drugs include Relanium and Phenobarbital.
Antiarrhythmic. The mechanism of these drugs varies depending on what caused the rapid pulse, so before taking such drugs you should consult a specialist. So, with ventricular and atrial tachycardia, Ritmilen will help. Adenosine is most effective for the supraventricular form of the disease, etc.

How to avoid tachycardia

Cardiovascular diseases sometimes result in very serious complications, which is why it is much easier to prevent them than to treat them. Some rules (which, by the way, are very simple to follow) will help keep your heart healthy.

Less worries. Severe stress brings harm not only to the psyche, so it is worth protecting yourself from situations that bring negative emotions.
Sports, sports and more sports. Although excessive loads can only cause harm, systematic, properly selected training will strengthen the body.
Caffeine in moderation. Although coffee is sometimes a great way to invigorate, drinking it too often is not very good for the heart.
Rejection of bad habits. Alcohol and tobacco have an extremely negative effect on the heart and blood vessels, so it is advisable to stop using them.

Cardiac arrest is the complete cessation of ventricular contractions or severe loss of pumping function. At the same time, electrical potentials disappear in myocardial cells, impulse pathways are blocked, and all types of metabolism are quickly disrupted. The affected heart is unable to push blood into the vessels. Stopping blood circulation poses a threat to human life.

According to WHO statistical studies, 200 thousand people in the world have cardiac arrest in a week. Of these, about 90% die at home or at work before treatment medical care. This indicates a lack of awareness among the population about the importance of training in measures emergency care.

Total number There are more deaths from sudden cardiac arrest than from cancer, fires, road accidents, and AIDS. The problem concerns not only older people, but also people of working age and children. Some of these cases are preventable. Sudden stop heart disease does not necessarily arise as a consequence serious illness. Such a defeat is possible against the background of complete health, in a dream.

Main types of cessation of cardiac activity and mechanisms of their development

The causes of cardiac arrest according to the developmental mechanism are hidden in a sharp violation of its functional abilities, especially excitability, automaticity and conductivity. The types of cardiac arrest depend on them. Cardiac activity can stop in two ways:

asystole (in 5% of patients);
fibrillation (in 90% of cases).

Asystole is a complete cessation of ventricular contraction in the diastole phase (during relaxation), rarely in systole. An “order” to stop can come to the heart from other organs reflexively, for example, during operations on gallbladder, stomach, intestines.

With reflex asystole, the myocardium is not damaged and has fairly good tone.

In this case, the role of the wandering and trigeminal nerves.

Another option is asystole in the background:

general oxygen deficiency (hypoxia);
increased carbon dioxide content in the blood;
shift of acid-base balance towards acidosis;
altered electrolyte balance (increase in extracellular potassium, decrease in calcium).

These processes taken together negatively affect the properties of the myocardium. The process of depolarization, which is the basis of myocardial contractility, becomes impossible, even if conduction is not impaired. Myocardial cells lose active myosin, which is necessary to obtain energy in the form of ATP.

With asystole, hypercalcemia is observed in the systole phase.

Heart fibrillation- is a disrupted connection between cardiomyocytes in coordinated actions to ensure overall myocardial contraction. Instead of synchronous work causing systolic contraction and diastole, many separate areas appear that contract on their own.

The contraction frequency reaches 600 per minute and above

In this case, the ejection of blood from the ventricles is affected.

Energy expenditure is significantly higher than normal, and effective reduction does not occur.

If fibrillation affects only the atria, then individual impulses reach the ventricles and blood circulation is maintained at a sufficient level. Attacks of short-term fibrillation can end on their own. But such ventricular tension cannot provide hemodynamics for a long time, energy reserves are depleted and cardiac arrest occurs.

Other mechanisms of cardiac arrest

Some scientists insist on identifying electromechanical dissociation as a separate form of cessation of cardiac contractions. In other words, myocardial contractility is preserved, but is not sufficient to ensure the pushing of blood into the vessels.

At the same time, pulse and arterial pressure are absent, but the following are recorded on the ECG:

correct contractions with low voltage;
idioventricular rhythm (from the ventricles);
loss of activity of the sinus and atrioventricular nodes.

The condition is caused by ineffective electrical activity of the heart.

In addition to hypoxia, disturbed electrolyte composition and acidosis in the pathogenesis important has hypovolemia (decreased total blood volume). Therefore, such signs are more often observed with massive blood loss.

Since the 70s of the last century, the term “Obstructive obstructive syndrome” has appeared in medicine. sleep apnea" Clinically, it was manifested by short-term cessation of breathing and cardiac activity at night. To date, extensive experience has been accumulated in diagnosing this disease. According to the Research Institute of Cardiology, nocturnal bradycardia was found in 68% of patients with respiratory arrest. At the same time, a pronounced oxygen starvation.

The device allows you to record respiratory rate and heart rhythm

The picture of heart damage was expressed:

in 49% - sinoatrial block and pacemaker arrest;
27% - ;
in 19% - blockades with atrial fibrillation;
in 5% - a combination different forms bradyarrhythmias.

The duration of cardiac arrest was recorded as more than 3 seconds (other authors indicate 13 seconds).

During the waking period, no patient experienced fainting or any other symptoms.

Researchers believe that the main mechanism of asystole in these cases is a pronounced reflex effect from the respiratory organs, arriving through vagus nerve.

Causes of cardiac arrest

Among the causes, one can distinguish directly cardiac (cardiac) and external (extracardiac).

The main cardiac factors are:

myocardial ischemia and inflammation;
acute obstruction pulmonary vessels due to thrombosis or embolism;
cardiomyopathy;
high blood pressure;
atherosclerotic cardiosclerosis;
rhythm and conduction disturbances due to defects;
development with hydropericardium.

Extracardiac factors include:

oxygen deficiency (hypoxia) caused by anemia, asphyxia (suffocation, drowning);
pneumothorax (the appearance of air between the layers of the pleura, unilateral compression of the lung);
loss of a significant volume of fluid (hypovolemia) due to injury, shock, persistent vomiting and diarrhea;
metabolic changes with a deviation towards acidosis;
hypothermia (hypothermia) below 28 degrees;
acute hypercalcemia;
severe allergic reactions.

Pneumothorax of the right lung sharply shifts the heart to the left, with a high risk of asystole

Indirect factors that influence the stability of the body’s defenses are important:

excessive physical stress on the heart;
elderly age;
smoking and alcoholism;
genetic predisposition to rhythm disturbances, changes in electrolyte composition;
suffered electrical trauma.

A combination of factors significantly increases the risk of cardiac arrest. For example, drinking alcohol in patients with myocardial infarction causes asystole in almost 1/3 of patients.

Negative effects of drugs

Medicines that cause cardiac arrest are used for treatment. In rare cases, deliberate overdose causes death. This must be proven to the judicial and investigative authorities. When prescribing medications, the doctor takes into account the patient’s age, weight, diagnosis, and warns about a possible reaction and the need to see a doctor again or call an ambulance.

Overdose occurs when:

non-compliance with the regime (taking pills and alcohol);
deliberately increasing the dose (“I forgot to drink this morning, so I’ll take two at once”);
combined with folk ways treatments (St. John's wort, shepherd's ear, self-prepared tinctures of lily of the valley, foxglove, adonis);
carrying out general anesthesia against the background of continuous medication use.

The use of St. John's wort herb should be very limited; its potency is comparable to antitumor cytostatics

Most common reasons cardiac arrest is performed by:

sleeping pills from the group of barbiturates;
narcotic drugs for pain relief;
groups of β-blockers for hypertension;
medicines from the group of phenothiazines prescribed by a psychiatrist as a sedative;
tablets or drops of cardiac glycosides, which are used to treat arrhythmias and decompensated heart failure.

It is estimated that 2% of asystole cases are drug related.

Only a specialist can determine which medications have the most optimal indications and have the least accumulation and addiction properties. You should not do this on the advice of friends or on your own.

Diagnostic signs of cardiac arrest

Cardiac arrest syndrome includes early signs state clinical death. Because the this phase is considered reversible when effective resuscitation measures are carried out, every adult should know the symptoms, since a few seconds are allotted for reflection:

Total loss consciousness - the victim does not respond to shouting or braking. It is believed that the brain dies 7 minutes after cardiac arrest. This is an average figure, but the time can vary from two to eleven minutes. The brain is the first to suffer from oxygen deficiency; the cessation of metabolism causes cell death. Therefore, there is no time to speculate on how long the victim’s brain will live. The earlier resuscitation is started, the greater the chance of survival.
Inability to detect pulsation in the carotid artery - this diagnostic sign depends on the practical experience of others. If it is absent, you can try to listen to heartbeats by putting your ear to a naked chest.
Impaired breathing - accompanied by rare noisy breaths and intervals of up to two minutes.
“Before our eyes” there is an increase in changes in skin color from pallor to blueness.
The pupils dilate after 2 minutes of cessation of blood flow, there is no reaction to light (constriction from a bright beam).
Manifestation of cramps in individual muscle groups.

If a " Ambulance", then asystole can be confirmed by an electrocardiogram.

What are the consequences of cardiac arrest?

The consequences of circulatory arrest depend on the speed and correctness of emergency care. Long-term oxygen deficiency of organs causes:

irreversible foci of ischemia in the brain;
affects the kidneys and liver;
With vigorous massage in elderly people and children, fractures of the ribs, sternum, and the development of pneumothorax are possible.

Weight of the head and spinal cord together they make up only about 3% of the total body weight. And for their full functioning, up to 15% of the total is needed cardiac output. Good compensatory capabilities make it possible to preserve the functions of nerve centers when the level of blood circulation decreases to 25% of normal. However, even indirect massage allows you to maintain only 5% of normal blood flow levels.

Consequences from the brain can be:

memory impairment, partial or full character(the patient forgets about the injury itself, but remembers what happened before it);
blindness is accompanied by irreversible changes in the visual nuclei, vision is rarely restored;
paroxysmal spasms in the arms and legs, chewing movements;
different types of hallucinations (auditory, visual).

Statistics show actual revival in 1/3 of cases, but complete restoration of brain and other organ functions occurs only in 3.5% of cases of successful resuscitation

This is due to the delay in assistance in cases of clinical death.

Prevention

Cardiac arrest can be prevented by following the principles healthy image life, avoiding factors affecting blood circulation.

Balanced diet, quitting smoking, alcohol, and daily walks for people with heart disease are no less important than taking pills.

Control for drug therapy requires remembering a possible overdose and a decrease in heart rate. It is necessary to learn how to determine and count the pulse, depending on this, coordinate the dosage of medications with your doctor.

Unfortunately, the time to provide medical care in case of cardiac arrest is so limited that it is not yet possible to achieve full resuscitation measures in out-of-hospital conditions.

Cardiovascular diseases are one of the leading causes of death. Russian statistics show that about 55% of all deceased citizens suffered from diseases of this group.

Therefore, knowing the signs of cardiac pathologies is important for everyone in order to identify the disease in time and begin treatment immediately.

It is equally important to undergo a preventive examination by a cardiologist at least once every 2 years, and from the age of 60 - every year.

The list of heart diseases is extensive, it is presented in the content. They are much easier to treat if diagnosed at an early stage. Some of them are completely curable, others are not, but in any case, if you start therapy at an early stage, you can avoid further development of pathology, complications and reduce the risk of death.

Coronary heart disease (CHD)

This is a pathology in which there is insufficient blood supply to the myocardium. The cause is atherosclerosis or thrombosis of the coronary arteries.

Classification of IHD

Acute coronary syndrome is worth talking about separately. Its symptom is a prolonged (more than 15 minutes) attack of chest pain. This term does not mean separate disease, and is used when it is impossible to distinguish myocardial infarction from symptoms and ECG unstable angina. The patient is given a preliminary diagnosis of “acute coronary syndrome” and immediately begins thrombolytic therapy, which is needed for any acute form of coronary artery disease. The final diagnosis is made after blood tests for markers of infarction: cardiac troponin T and cardiac troponin 1. If their levels are elevated, the patient has had myocardial necrosis.

Symptoms of IHD

A sign of angina pectoris is attacks of burning, squeezing pain behind the sternum. Sometimes the pain radiates to left side, in various parts of the body: shoulder blade, shoulder, arm, neck, jaw. Less often, pain is localized in the epigastrium, so patients may think that they have problems with the stomach and not with the heart.

With stable angina, attacks are provoked physical activity. Depending on the functional class of angina (hereinafter referred to as FC), pain can be caused by stress of varying intensity.

Unstable angina differs from stable angina in that attacks become more frequent, begin to appear at rest, and can last longer - 10-30 minutes.

Cardiosclerosis is manifested by chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, swelling, and rhythm disturbances.

According to statistics, about 30% of patients die from this heart disease within 24 hours without seeing a doctor. Therefore, carefully study all the signs of MI in order to call an ambulance in time.

Symptoms of MI

The pain lasts from 15 minutes (sometimes even a day). Not removable by Nitroglycerin. Analgesics only weaken it temporarily.

Other symptoms: shortness of breath, arrhythmias.

Main signs: feeling of suffocation, lack of air, panic.

Additional: cyanosis of the mucous membranes and skin, accelerated heartbeat.

Treatment of coronary artery disease

Long-term therapy: Aspirin, beta-blockers, statins, ACE inhibitors.

In the hospital, the patient will be given calcium antagonists (Verapamil, Diltiazem) and Aspirin. The latter will need to be taken on an ongoing basis.

Upon arrival, doctors will immediately begin this treatment: they will inhale oxygen, administer a morphine solution, if Nitroglycerin does not relieve the pain, and administer Heparin to thin the blood.

Further treatment: pain relief with intravenous administration Nitroglycerin or narcotic analgesics; preventing further necrosis of myocardial tissue with the help of thrombolytics, nitrates and beta-blockers; constant use of Aspirin.

Restore blood circulation in the heart with the help of such surgical operations: coronary angioplasty, stenting, coronary artery bypass grafting.

This is a condition of the heart in which it is unable to fully pump blood throughout the body. The reason is heart and vascular diseases (congenital or acquired defects, ischemic heart disease, inflammation, atherosclerosis, hypertension, etc.).

In Russia, more than 5 million people suffer from CHF.

Stages of CHF and their symptoms:

1 – initial. This is mild left ventricular failure that does not lead to hemodynamic (circulatory) disturbances. There are no symptoms.
Stage 2A. Poor circulation in one of the circles (usually the small circle), enlargement of the left ventricle. Signs: shortness of breath and palpitations with little physical exertion, cyanosis of the mucous membranes, dry cough, swelling of the legs.
Stage 2B. Hemodynamics are impaired in both circles. The chambers of the heart undergo hypertrophy or dilatation. Signs: shortness of breath at rest, aching pain in the chest, blue tint of mucous membranes and skin, arrhythmias, cough, cardiac asthma, swelling of the limbs, abdomen, enlarged liver.
Stage 3. Severe circulatory disorders. Irreversible changes in the heart, lungs, blood vessels, kidneys. All the signs characteristic of stage 2B intensify, and symptoms of damage to internal organs appear. Treatment is no longer effective.

Treatment

First of all, treatment of the underlying disease is necessary.

Symptomatic drug treatment. The patient is prescribed:

ACE inhibitors, beta blockers or aldosterone antagonists - to lower blood pressure and prevent further progression heart diseases.
Diuretics - to eliminate edema.
Cardiac glycosides - for the treatment of arrhythmias and improvement of myocardial performance.

Valve defects

There are two typical types of valve pathologies: stenosis and insufficiency. With stenosis, the valve lumen is narrowed, making it difficult to pump blood. In case of insufficiency, the valve, on the contrary, does not close completely, which leads to the outflow of blood in the opposite direction.

More often, such heart valve defects are acquired. They appear against the background of chronic diseases (for example, ischemic heart disease), previous inflammation or poor lifestyle.

The aortic and mitral valves are most susceptible to disease.

Symptoms and treatment of the most common valve diseases:

At a severe stage, attacks of angina pectoris, fainting during physical exertion, pale skin, and low systolic blood pressure appear.

Mitral valve prolapse

Another common pathology is mitral valve prolapse. Occurs in 2.4% of the population. This is a congenital defect in which the valve leaflets “sink” into the left atrium. In 30% of cases it is asymptomatic. In the remaining 70% of patients, doctors note shortness of breath, pain in the heart area, accompanied by nausea and a feeling of a “lump” in the throat, arrhythmias, fatigue, dizziness, and frequent increases in temperature to 37.2–37.4.

Treatment may not be required if the disease is asymptomatic. If the defect is accompanied by arrhythmias or pain in the heart, prescribe symptomatic therapy. If the valve changes significantly, surgical correction is possible. Since the disease progresses with age, patients need to be examined by a cardiologist 1-2 times a year.

Ebstein's anomaly

Ebstein's anomaly is a displacement of the tricuspid valve leaflets into the right ventricle. Symptoms: shortness of breath, paroxysmal tachycardia, fainting, swelling of the veins in the neck, enlargement of the right atrium and the upper part of the right ventricle.

Treatment for asymptomatic are not carried out. If the symptoms are severe, surgical correction or valve transplantation is performed.

Congenital heart defects

Congenital anomalies of the heart structure include:

Atrial septal defect is the presence of communication between the right and left atria.
A ventricular septal defect is an abnormal communication between the right and left ventricles.
The Eisenmenger complex is a high-lying ventricular septal defect, the aorta is displaced to the right and connects simultaneously with both ventricles (aortic dextroposition).
Patent ductus arteriosus - the communication between the aorta and the pulmonary artery, which is normally present at the embryonic stage of development, is not closed.
Tetralogy of Fallot is a combination of four defects: ventricular septal defect, aortic dextroposition, pulmonary stenosis and right ventricular hypertrophy.

Congenital heart defects - signs and treatment:

If the defect is larger than the specified size: shortness of breath with light exertion or at rest, heart pain, cough.

Average life expectancy is 12–15 years. 50% of patients die before the age of 3 years.

In early childhood, an operation is performed to create an anastomosis between the subclavian and pulmonary arteries to improve blood circulation in the lungs.

At 3–7 years of age, radical surgery can be performed: simultaneous correction of all 4 anomalies.

Inflammatory diseases

Endocarditis – affects inner shell hearts, valves.
Myocarditis – muscle membrane.
Pericarditis - the pericardial sac.

They can be caused by microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, fungi), autoimmune processes (for example, rheumatism) or toxic substances.

Heart inflammation can also be complications of other diseases:

tuberculosis (endocarditis, pericarditis);
syphilis (endocarditis);
flu, sore throat (myocarditis).

Pay attention to this and consult a doctor promptly if you suspect flu or sore throat.

Symptoms and treatment of inflammation

Rhythm disorders

Causes: neuroses, obesity, poor nutrition, cervical osteochondrosis, bad habits, intoxication with drugs, alcohol or drugs, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathy, heart failure, premature ventricular excitation syndromes. The latter are heart diseases in which there are additional impulse pathways between the atria and ventricles. You will read about these anomalies in a separate table.

Characteristics of rhythm disturbances:

The absence of a complete reduction provokes acute failure blood circulation and fainting.

Syndromes of premature excitation of the ventricles:

Treatment of rhythm disturbances

It consists of treating the underlying disease, adjusting diet and lifestyle. Antiarrhythmic drugs are also prescribed. Radical treatment for severe arrhythmias is the installation of a defibrillator-cardioverter, which will “set” the rhythm of the heart and prevent ventricular or atrial fibrillation. In case of conduction disturbances, electrical cardiac stimulation is possible.

Treatment of premature ventricular excitation syndromes can be symptomatic (elimination of attacks with medications) or radical (radiofrequency ablation of the abnormal conduction pathway).

Cardiomyopathies

These are myocardial diseases that cause heart failure, not associated with inflammatory processes or pathologies of the coronary arteries.

The most common are hypertrophic and dilated cardiomyopathies. Hypertrophic is characterized by the growth of the walls of the left ventricle and the interventricular septum, dilated - by an increase in the cavity of the left and sometimes right ventricles. The first is diagnosed in 0.2% of the population. Occurs in athletes and can cause sudden cardiac death. But in this case, it is necessary to carry out a careful differential diagnosis between hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and non-pathological enlargement of the heart in athletes.

Then shortness of breath, fainting, arrhythmias, and heart pain appear.

The first signs of heart disease

What are the first symptoms of heart problems?

The very first sign of incipient heart problems. Shortness of breath occurs when the heart is still slightly affected, but can no longer pump enough blood.

These are signs of vascular disorders. Edema due to heart disease begins to appear in cases where the heart can no longer cope with the increased load and decompensation occurs.

If there is circulatory failure of the heart, a pale or bluish color of the lips is noted. If the lips are completely pale, anemia (anemia) should be excluded.

If you see an obese person in front of you, you are almost guaranteed to suspect cardiovascular disease. Extra pounds are a serious additional burden on the heart.

Bluish-red cheek color may be an indicator of mitral valve dysfunction.

Red, tuberous nose with veins blood vessels allows one to suspect hypertension.

Signs of conditions requiring emergency medical attention:

superficial shortness of breath, in which the patient cannot take a full breath;
extreme pallor or abnormally red complexion;
weakly palpable but frequent pulse;
suddenly clouded vision;
the appearance of slurred speech;
the patient’s inability to respond to speech addressed to him;
loss of consciousness.

You should not ignore the feeling of discomfort in the chest, heaviness or pain behind the sternum, pain radiating to the arm, back, under the shoulder blade, throat, jaw, lack of air - these are symptoms heart attack.

Sick heart: hidden signs

The signs of a heart attack are well known to us: pain or pressure behind the sternum, shortness of breath, irregular heart rhythm, a feeling of fear, sweating, dizziness, and sometimes loss of consciousness. However, there are a number of signs by which you can suspect and prevent an attack long before an attack.

The first signs of cardiac dysfunction begin to appear several months, or even years before a heart attack. These may be the following signs.

What can pain from angina be confused with? with heartburn, with toothache, with intercostal neuralgia, with muscle pain, with pinched nerve. The test is simple: take nitroglycerin. Angina pain will significantly decrease or stop.

Periodically occurring “pains” in men over 40 years of age and in women over 45 years of age should be a reason to contact a physician for a heart check.

Feeling short of air

Shortness of breath is rapid breathing and a feeling of lack of air that occurs during physical or emotional stress, and then during everyday activities. This is a symptom of problems with either the lungs or the heart.

“Cardiac” shortness of breath most often occurs in a lying position. It happens that heart patients even sleep sitting or suffer from insomnia a few days before an attack.

Increased fatigue, tiredness

This symptom is noted by most women who have had a heart attack. Uncharacteristic fatigue from daily work may have been haunting them for several months before the attack, but they paid no attention to it.

65% of men diagnosed with coronary heart disease may have suffered from erectile dysfunction for several years prior. In women, this manifests itself as decreased libido and difficulty achieving orgasm.

If the problem with erection persists for a long time and does not depend on stress at work or physical fatigue, this is a reason to consult a therapist or cardiologist and have your heart checked.

Snoring and sleep apnea

Statistically, sleep apnea triples your risk of having a heart attack over the next 5 years. That is why difficulty breathing during sleep and snoring should not go unnoticed - these are problems that require immediate correction by a therapist. Perhaps together with a cardiologist.

Gingivitis and periodontitis

Oddly enough, gum inflammation and bleeding can also be associated with heart disease.

There are two theories to explain this fact. Firstly, with cardiovascular diseases, the blood supply to the body deteriorates, small arteries suffer, and the tissues around the tooth are very sensitive to the amount of incoming oxygen. Secondly, it is known that diseases of the oral cavity can be complicated by heart diseases (for example, myocarditis after a sore throat). This means bacteria causing inflammation gums, can be involved in damage to the arteries that supply the heart and in the development of inflammation in them.

When the heart stops working at full strength, the blood cannot remove waste products and fluid from the tissues. As a result, edema forms - this is a sign of heart failure. At first unnoticeable, they grow over time. Swelling can be suspected by shoes and rings. This symptom requires a mandatory examination of the heart.

Heart rhythm disturbances can appear long before an attack. Sometimes it only appears under load. A preventive ECG helps to identify it, which should be performed once a year for men after 40 years and women after 45.

People with risk factors for myocardial infarction should be especially attentive to the presence of these symptoms. These include: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, previous heart attacks in the patient himself or in relatives, smoking, diabetes. physical inactivity. obesity.

The first signs of coronary heart disease

Coronary artery disease consists of several diseases, the root cause of which is a lack of oxygen. This factor has a significant impact on the functioning of the heart muscle, as a result of which the organ loses its previous performance.

Like any other disease, it is better to prevent or treat coronary artery disease in the early stages, rather than to neglect it. Therefore, it is very important to be able to identify the symptoms of this disease.

Depending on the form of the disease, the symptoms of coronary heart disease will vary. Many people live with the disease for several years and do not even realize that their heart muscle is experiencing an acute lack of oxygen. If you visit massage chairs several times a week. If you run in the morning, eat a hearty lunch and dinner, and do not feel discomfort in the heart area, then such coronary disease is considered asymptomatic. In most cases, a person feels some pain in the heart area, but cannot understand what is causing it.

Don't think that the pain will be constant. There are so-called peaks and troughs of coronary artery disease. This disease develops slowly, and the symptoms of the disease themselves may change over time. Sometimes it seems that the disease has receded, but in fact it has begun to develop in a different way.

The first symptoms of the disease may be pain in the back. Some people begin to feel pain in the left side of the jaw and in the left arm. If you begin to notice a rapid heartbeat and excessive sweating, you should consult a doctor. The most common symptom of the disease is pain in the left side of the chest. You may not even be able to use the massager. because you will feel his touch incredibly strongly. When overexcited or heavy loads A patient with coronary artery disease develops shortness of breath.

There is a so-called arrhythmic form of coronary artery disease, in which a person experiences a change in the frequency of contraction of the heart muscle. The most popular form of the disease is atrial fibrillation. Interruptions in the heart, at the same time, people sometimes hardly feel and do not pay attention to them for a long time. All the symptoms we cited above are characteristic of a moderately severe disease. If a person has started the disease, then oxygen starvation will cause not only severe pain in the heart area, but can also lead to myocardial infarction.

In the latter case, the scary thing is that after a heart attack, some of the heart muscle cells die and cannot be restored.

Heart diseases

Heart disease is the main cause of early mortality in the population

Heart diseases

The list of pathologies of the heart and blood vessels is quite extensive; the sooner a dangerous problem is diagnosed, the easier it is to eliminate it or achieve stable remission, since many diseases are considered incurable. Without timely treatment, complications develop, the disease progresses, and everything can end in death.

The most common cardiac pathologies are rhythm disturbances and heart rate deviations from the norm. They develop in the presence of excess weight, cervical osteochondrosis, severe intoxication with alcohol and narcotic substances. Other cardiovascular diseases can provoke tachycardia, ventricular or atrial fibrillation, and extrasystole.

Blood pressure is closely related to the normal functioning of the heart; with chronic hypertension, hypertensive heart disease develops.

Cardiac ischemia

IHD - organic lesions in adults develop when there is a deterioration in the blood supply to the myocardium due to poor vascular condition. The main cause of the disease is atherosclerotic plaques, thrombosis, which develops when addicted to junk food. The disease can be a consequence of smoking, obesity, physical inactivity, and hypertension. ICD-10 code – I 20–25.

Types and symptoms of IHD

· anginal – pressing, burning pain, radiating to the left limb and part of the face, shortness of breath, arrhythmia, the attack can last a day, Nitroglycerin does not improve the condition;

· Asthmatic – an asthma attack occurs, the person lacks air, the skin and mucous membranes become bluish, and the heartbeat increases;

· arrhythmic – pressure decreases, heart rate increases, loss of consciousness;

· abdominal – symptoms are similar to problems of the digestive system, pain is localized in the upper abdomen, accompanied by vomiting and nausea;

Cerebrovascular – numbness of limbs, fainting, vomiting

Chronic heart failure

CHF develops when a worn-out heart does not pump blood well; the reasons for the development of this condition are hypertension, inflammatory processes, and deterioration of blood vessels. You can see what the organ looks like with this disease in the photo. ICD-10 code – I 50.

Healthy heart and heart with chronic failure

Stages and symptoms of the disease:

At the initial stage, mild left ventricular failure occurs, blood circulation is not impaired, and there are no signs of pathology.
Stage 2A – blood circulation in the pulmonary circle is impaired, the left ventricle increases in size. Shortness of breath, an unproductive cough, severe swelling of the legs appear, the pulse increases even with minimal exertion, and the mucous membranes acquire a bluish tint.
Stage 2B – pathological changes are observed in both circles of the affected organ. Shortness of breath and arrhythmia bother a person even at rest, aching heart pain occurs, the mucous membranes turn blue, cardiac asthma develops, the limbs and abdomen swell, the liver increases in size.
At the third stage, irreversible pathological changes develop in the heart, lungs, kidneys and blood vessels, and symptoms of concomitant diseases join the main signs of the disease. Drug therapy is ineffective and surgery is required.

Acquired defects of the heart clans

Types and signs of acquired valve pathologies:

Artery stenosis. At the initial stage, the disease is asymptomatic and can only be detected during examination. As the pathology develops, fainting appears, signs of a decrease in systolic arterial parameters, and the skin becomes pale.
Aortic valve insufficiency. The disease is accompanied by frequent attacks of suffocation, rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, and decreased diastolic pressure.
Mitral stenosis. Pain in the heart rarely appears, the liver and the size of the abdomen increase, the limbs swell, shortness of breath, the voice becomes hoarse.
Mitral valve insufficiency. Pain in the sternum is aching in nature, non-productive cough, asthma, shortness of breath.

Heart diseases are inherited - if relatives in the ascending line have similar problems, the risk of developing pathology in a child increases by 25%.

In the early stages of arterial stenosis, the disease occurs without symptoms.

Congenital heart defects

The causes of congenital heart defects are influenza and rubella in a woman during pregnancy, diabetes mellitus, rheumatism, thyroid pathologies, taking potent medications, and poor environmental conditions.

What are the names and manifestations of pathologies:

Mitral valve prolapse is a congenital pathology; in some people it occurs without any special symptoms; deviations from the norm can only be noticed during an examination. Other patients experience nausea, frequent increases in temperature to subfebrile levels, a feeling of a lump in the throat, pain in the sternum, and increased fatigue.
Ebstein's anomaly is a rare congenital disease, accompanied by tachycardia, fainting, and enlarged veins in the neck. Surgical correction is required.
Defects in the interatrial septum are the first signs in the form of weakness, shortness of breath may appear after 40 years, and CHF gradually develops.
Ventricular septal defects – with a small defect size, only shortness of breath appears during physical exertion. If the defect is large, then breathing problems occur even at rest, pain in the sternum, and an unproductive cough appear.
Eisenmenger complex. The main sign of pathology is the presence of blood clots in the sputum, blue discoloration of the skin, and additionally symptoms of CHF appear.
Tetralogy of Fallot is a serious fatal disease, accompanied by blue discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes; children are retarded in growth, physical and mental development, they often have convulsions, arterial hypotension, and develop CHF. Every second child with a similar pathology does not live to be three years old, in rare cases - until 13–15 years old.
Patent ductus arteriosus - the pathology can occur without any special symptoms; with age, symptoms of heart failure appear, and diastolic pressure readings decrease.

For most congenital pathologies, the only effective treatment method is surgery.

Mitral valve prolapse is a congenital disease

Inflammatory pathologies

They occur when bacteria, viruses, or fungi enter the body; they can be caused by rheumatism or poisoning by toxic substances; depending on the type of pathogen, antibacterial drugs are selected. Most often they develop as a complication of tuberculosis, syphilis, and long-term colds. ICD-10 code – I 30–52.

Types and signs of cardiac inflammatory processes:

Endocarditis - against the background of high temperature and heavy sweating, the condition of the valves quickly deteriorates, throbbing pain in the heart appears, noises are heard, and an enlargement of some internal organs is observed. A characteristic symptom is hemorrhages in the eyes and under the nails due to increased fragility of blood vessels; the first phalanges of the fingers become thicker.
Myocarditis - the disease can manifest itself in the form of heart failure or tachycardia; the doctor will make an accurate diagnosis after receiving the results of a blood test for specific cardiac enzymes.
Pericarditis - unproductive cough, pain in the sternum and right hypochondrium, rapid heartbeat, weakness.
Rheumatic heart disease occurs if, against the background of pharyngitis or tonsillitis, inflammatory processes begin in the connective tissues. Pathology leads to the development of heart disease.

Myocarditis - inflammation of the heart muscle

Which doctor should I contact?

If you experience chest pain, shortness of breath, numbness in the limbs, changes in skin color, or frequent attacks of dizziness, you should visit a cardiologist - this specialist specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular pathologies.

If necessary, consultation with a cardiac surgeon or endocrinologist will help; in emergency cases, an emergency doctor can provide timely assistance.

If you have heart problems, you should consult a cardiologist

Diagnosis of heart disease

Modern medicine makes it possible to identify any pathologies of the heart and blood vessels. The doctor can make the initial diagnosis after interviewing and examining the patient, listening carefully to the heart and measuring blood pressure. But in order to accurately understand the cause of the disease and draw up a detailed clinical picture, you will need to undergo a comprehensive examination.

An ECG is one of the simplest and fastest examination methods that allows us to identify most heart diseases. If prescribed by a doctor, an ECG can be done with drug tests, hyperventilation or orthostatic load.
Holter monitoring uses a special device to record the work of the heart throughout the day.
Stress testing - an ECG is done while the patient is working on a cardio machine, it allows you to determine the tolerance to physical activity and the compliance of endurance with indicators of a healthy heart.
EPI (electrophysiological study) - small electrodes are inserted into the veins, arteries or directly into the heart chambers, which makes it possible to determine the nature of heart rhythm disturbances.
Ultrasound or echocardiography of the heart - a three-dimensional image allows you to see the degree of deterioration of the heart, functional and morphological changes in the organ.
X-ray – the images show the size and condition of the heart tissue.
CT scan allows one to recognize anatomical abnormalities in the structure of the heart and coronary vessels; a contrast agent is first administered intravenously.
MRI allows you to obtain a high-quality image of the organs of the cardiovascular system, but the procedure is complex and expensive, and has many absolute contraindications.
Radionuclide research - radioactive tracers are injected into the patient through a vein, their radiation is recorded by a special device, and the picture is displayed on the screen. The procedure is performed in the presence of heart pain of unknown pathogenesis.

MRI is one of the types of heart diagnostics

To accurately assess the condition of the heart muscle and blood vessels, the doctor can insert catheters into a vein or artery, and their progress is recorded using continuous X-ray imaging. One of the new diagnostic methods is positron emission tomography, which allows you to see areas with poor blood supply, traces of heart attacks, and ischemia. But due to the high cost, this diagnostic method is used only in extreme cases.

Methods for treating heart disease

Therapy for cardiovascular diseases is a long process, often requiring medications for a lifetime. In advanced forms of pathology and their rapid progression, surgical intervention will be required.

Medicines

To improve the condition of the heart and blood vessels, various groups of drugs are used; their choice depends on the diagnosis, age of the patient, and severity of the disease.

List of effective heart medications:

Warfarin normalizes blood clotting

Surgical methods

In the absence of positive dynamics during drug therapy, a sharp deterioration in condition, a worn-out heart, ischemia, heart attack, acute heart failure, the person will require surgical intervention to eliminate the pathologies.

Types of cardiac surgical interventions:

Installation of artificial valves and pacemakers is carried out in case of myocardial valve insufficiency.
The operation according to the Glenn and Ross method is used to eliminate congenital defects in children, which allows the child to lead a full life in the future.
Coronary artery bypass surgery - during the operation an additional vessel is sewn in, which allows you to restore normal blood circulation in clogged arteries.
Arterial stenting - a stent is placed into the lumen of the heart vessels, which looks like a spring. The operation is indicated for heart attack, ischemia, and accumulation of cholesterol plaques in blood vessels.
Radiofrequency ablation is the least traumatic surgical intervention and can eliminate heart failure and arrhythmia.

Coronary artery bypass grafting allows normalization of blood flow in the heart

Surgical interventions are mandatory for congenital and acquired heart defects; modern technologies make it possible to use this method of treatment even for small children.

Validol is not a cardiac drug; the medicine has a mild sedative effect, so it will help eliminate pain only if it is caused by nerves.

Possible complications

Any heart problems, even with timely treatment, can cause serious complications that cause complete or partial disability and death.

Consequences of heart disease:

heart attack;
cerebral stroke;
acute heart failure;
chronic hypertension;
embolism of large arteries.

If left untreated, heart disease can cause a stroke

Prevention of heart disease

In the prevention of cardiovascular pathologies, proper nutrition is of great importance; it is necessary to include wholemeal bread and other high-fiber foods in the diet every day - this will help cleanse the blood vessels of cholesterol and reduce the risk of developing atherosclerosis.

How to prevent heart disease:

minimize the consumption of foods high in fat, sugar, and salt;
replace animal fats with vegetable oils;
eat more fruits and vegetables - they contain all the necessary vitamins and microelements that support the normal functioning of the heart muscle; pumpkin, pomegranate, broccoli, dried apricots, and viburnum are considered the most beneficial;
sea fish and seafood contain fatty acids that have a beneficial effect on the condition of blood vessels and the heart;
give up bad habits, even passive smoking has a negative impact on the state of the cardiovascular system;
avoid stress - the ability to relax and meditate will help you maintain calm and make it easier to endure difficulties;
monitor blood counts, undergo preventive examinations in a timely manner;
drink unboiled purified water - when boiled, the calcium content decreases, which provokes the development of cardiovascular pathologies;
get rid of excess weight.

An active lifestyle will help maintain a healthy heart for a long time. Cardio training with the right load perfectly strengthens the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. Daily walks, good sleep, favorite hobbies - all these factors have a beneficial effect on your health.

To prevent cardiovascular diseases, every woman over 40 years of age needs to take a course of calcium and magnesium supplements twice a year.

It is useful for a person at any age to know the signs of a healthy heart - endurance, good work capacity, absence of shortness of breath after moderate physical exertion, pulse, blood pressure, normal weight, chest pain does not occur. If such symptoms are not all present, it is necessary to visit a cardiologist, undergo examination every 2 years, and after 60 years - annually.