Symptoms of heart problems. The first symptoms of heart problems that should not be ignored. — What about rabbit meat?

Unfortunately, heart problems can appear not only in adults - every year, cases of cardiac abnormalities are increasingly found in infancy and childhood. Even careful and scrupulous observation during pregnancy and compliance with all recommendations of the obstetrician-gynecologist does not guarantee a favorable cardiac anamnesis for the unborn baby - ultrasound diagnostics cannot always reveal minor abnormalities that will indicate the presence of problems, therefore 100% exclude cases of congenital anomalies in the heart area impossible. And acquired problems with the cardiovascular system are not at all uncommon in modern pediatrics: frequent colds, sore throats, flu and other seemingly completely unrelated diseases can put a serious strain on the heart muscle, causing all sorts of abnormalities in children.

Therefore, it is extremely important to determine in time how well the baby’s heart is working and, at the slightest suspicion of a violation, seek help from an experienced cardiologist in order to eliminate the possibility of serious anomalies. What to look for when assessing the functioning of a child’s cardiovascular system? What symptoms are considered “alarm bells” indicating a heart problem? The basics of self-diagnosis of children's cardiac disorders will help you understand these exciting questions.

Risk factors that contribute to the development of cardiac problems in infants

Heart diseases can occur on their own - it is not at all necessary that they be preceded by any disorders. However, you should be especially wary if the following situations were observed in the anamnesis during the mother’s pregnancy and in infancy:

• The presence of chronic diseases in the mother. Pregnancy is a huge stress for a woman’s body, so it is not surprising that during these 9 months everything, even hidden problems, worsen. Such pathologies affect not only the well-being of the expectant mother, but also the developmental characteristics of the child, and one of the first to suffer is the cardiovascular system.

• Infectious processes during pregnancy. A heavy viral load directly affects the fetal heart, so expectant mothers should be careful during seasonal illness and when in contact with sick people, especially in the first trimester, when the baby’s organs are being formed and formed.
• Mother's bad habits. Drinking alcohol, drugs, smoking while carrying a baby can be a “trigger” for the development of heart problems, so everything negative impact should be excluded - this is the only way to increase the likelihood of having a healthy baby.
• Difficult birth. Heart problems in newborns associated with complications during childbirth reach 40% of the total number of cases. Moreover, it is quite difficult to insure against such a turn of events: the only thing that can be done is to regularly visit a gynecologist, undergo all routine examinations and properly prepare for the process of childbirth.
• Poor environmental situation. Statistics show that children living in polluted industrial areas are much more likely to develop heart disease than their peers from rural areas.
• Social environment. Babies from intrauterine life begin to feel the stress and nervous shocks happening around them. If an unfavorable psychological situation reigns in the family, the mother experiences stress during pregnancy, and then the newborn, it is not surprising that the baby will subsequently face heart ailments.

Any negative emotion, tension and negativity affect the baby’s sensitive vessels, so the primary task of parents is to eliminate all irritating factors that can provoke cardiac disorders.

Signs indicating congenital heart disease

Babies who have just been born cannot yet complain of characteristic pain in the chest, attacks of arrhythmia and other symptoms accompanying childhood heart pathologies. However, attentive parents and experienced pediatricians can recognize the presence of problems by the characteristic signs that will be observed in the baby:

• Low weight gain. Many congenital anomalies of the cardiac system manifest themselves primarily as a delay physical development, the most obvious factor of which is adequate weight gain. If a child, with adequate nutrition in the first months of life, gains less than 400 grams, looks lethargic, weakened and emaciated, you should urgently visit a cardiologist - in this case, only a thorough examination will help confirm or refute the worrying diagnosis.

• Blueness of the skin. Poor blood supply to peripheral vessels and various vascular anomalies lead to low oxygen supply to the skin, which is why it acquires a pronounced violet-bluish tint. Cyanosis can cover the entire body, or it can manifest itself only in the most sensitive areas (nasolabial triangle, on the lips, under the nails, etc.), but in any case, if you notice such a symptom, it is worth checking the condition of the child’s heart.
• Dyspnea. The frequency and depth of breathing will also help to recognize cardiac problems. If the baby breathes superficially, shallowly and frequently, but does not have respiratory or cold diseases, it is worth paying attention to the cardiovascular system - in some cases this is how cardiac disorders manifest themselves.

• Tachycardia. The most obvious sign that helps to understand whether a baby has abnormalities in the functioning of the heart is heart rate (heart rate). Normally, the pulse of a newborn up to 3 months varies between 100-150, decreasing to 90-120 beats per minute by six months. By measuring this indicator over time, you can evaluate how well the heart copes with the function assigned to it.
• Fast fatiguability. If the baby sucks sluggishly, shows no interest in food, looks tired and does not want to move actively (naturally, in accordance with age standards), you should think about an upcoming visit to the pediatrician. This behavior may be characteristic feature the child’s psychotype, and may indicate the presence of heart problems.
• Heart murmur. During the examination, each pediatrician must listen to the work of the heart and blood vessels to exclude the presence of murmurs and other pathological sounds. At the slightest suspicion of pathology, echocardiography is prescribed, which can more thoroughly determine the nature of the noise that has arisen. Organic sounds help recognize serious developmental defects, while functional sounds indicate rapid growth body, so they should not frighten parents.

Symptoms of diseases of the cardiovascular system in children of preschool and school age

Older children can already tell their parents what unpleasant sensations bother them, so it becomes easier to understand whether the cardiovascular system is working normally. In this case, cause for concern may be:

• Discomfort, pain in the chest area. If a child complains that he has pain behind the sternum, feels heaviness and pressure, you should definitely contact a cardiologist. Do not forget that the child cannot yet clearly formulate his sensations: some say that there is aching in the chest, others describe the pain as a burning sensation, others complain of heaviness and discomfort, and it can manifest itself both under load and in a state of absolute rest. Therefore, in case of any possible problem, you need to be vigilant.

• Stomach problems. Children often confuse heart pain with stomach upsets. If the baby complains of heartburn, bloating, nausea, and attacks occur quite often and are not associated with a change in diet, this can serve as an indicator of cardiac pathology.
• Frequent attacks of dizziness. In principle, weakness and dizziness are absolutely not associated with vascular abnormalities - perhaps the child simply ate poorly or reacted too violently to a change in weather. However, frequently recurring cases, especially those that last for a long time or are accompanied by fainting, should alert attentive parents - this may indicate that the heart cannot cope with the blood supply to the body.

• Pain radiating to the left arm. This symptom indicates serious and protracted heart problems, which, however, occur not only in adults, but also in children. If discomfort affects the sternum, left shoulder and arm, you should urgently sound the alarm.
• Cold sweat. Severe sweating is most often associated with decreased immunity, but if cold, sticky sweat appears for no apparent reason, you can suspect a child with heart problems.
• Snore. Normally, a child should not make loud noises while sleeping. If he snores, snores or whistles, but nasal breathing is not difficult, perhaps you should pay attention to the state of his cardiovascular system, undergo additional examination and tests.

• Coughing. Most often, cough syndrome accompanies colds, but if the virus is defeated, and the cough does not want to go away, it is worth considering whether the lungs receive enough oxygen - such a condition may be directly related to cardiac or vascular abnormalities.
• Swelling. The appearance of edema is more typical for adults who are accustomed to eating poorly, but in children this symptom is a clear sign of ill health. If the heart does not pump blood as intensively as the growing body requires, fluid begins to stagnate in the limbs, which leads to swelling.
• Fatigue. Usually one can only envy the amount of children’s energy - little “energizers” are ready to jump, run and gallop around the clock. If the baby refuses outdoor games, suffers from shortness of breath or weakness even with little physical activity and tries in every possible way to avoid activities that require a certain activity, it’s worth thinking about - is this a feature of his character or an alarming symptom?

Diseases associated with cardiac activity occupy one of the leading positions among childhood pathologies. Therefore, it is necessary to take care of the heart from infancy, carefully monitor its health and, at the slightest suspicion, visit the attending physician - such prudence can save you from more serious cardiac disorders!

does it work somehow “wrong”? Perhaps you are mistaken, or maybe it is really heart problems that are making themselves felt.

Why can't heart problems be ignored?

We can say that the most important of our organs is heart. This is the “engine” that keeps us alive.

When symptoms of heart problems appear, you should immediately consult a doctor.

1. Chest pain

Chest pain occurs due to various health problems. May indicate a heart attack severe chest pain combined with a feeling of heaviness and compression.

During a heart attack, or coronary artery spasm, the heart receives too little oxygen.

2. Arrhythmia

Heartbeats have a fairly stable rhythm. When the heart works normally, we usually don't even notice them.

If you notice that your pulse has increased greatly or, conversely, has become too slow, or changes in the heart rate occur, consult a doctor, because such arrhythmia may indicate problems with the heart.

3. Apnea

Sometimes this symptom goes unnoticed for a long time, but may indicate that there are heart problems.

Stopping breathing (this is how “apnea” is translated) during sleep for some time can cause a heart attack because it prevents the brain and heart from receiving enough oxygen.

You definitely need to pay attention to this symptom, even if it appeared relatively recently.

4. Swelling of the legs and feet

Do you consume a lot of salt? went to a lot last days? In both cases, the legs and feet may swell slightly. However, within a few days (if these factors are eliminated) they return to normal.

But if your legs and feet swell constantly, it could be a symptom of fluid retention caused by heart failure or deterioration of the arteries.

5. Shortness of breath

If we constantly feel like we are short of breath, we experience shortness of breath and feel that this is not normal.

In such a situation, you need to analyze your habits and your activity. If you've changed your habits and become more physically active, it may be natural to feel short of breath.

6. Problems with sex life

One of the first signs of heart disease may be problems with sexual life, especially if the person is between 40 and 50 years old.

If you have any other medical conditions or are over 50 years of age, please consult a trusted physician.

It will help you figure out whether problems with sex life are related to heart disease or something else.

7. Broken Heart Syndrome

This syndrome (also called Takotsubo cardiomyopathy) is so named because it can be caused by emotional stress, such as the death of a loved one.

With it, a person experiences the same pain as with a heart attack, but this a temporary symptom that often occurs in healthy people.

This syndrome does not have such “precursors” as high cholesterol, high pressure, unhealthy diet or sedentary lifestyle.

The cause of broken heart syndrome is considered to be an increase in the level of catecholamines (mainly adrenaline) in the blood.

Such an increase leads to high anxiety and stress. At the same time, the body begins to produce substances, contributing to its return to normal state.

Certain treatment is also necessary. Fortunately, in 90% of cases of this syndrome, heart function is completely restored.

• Try to lead healthy image life: eat right, maintain normal level physical activity and control your emotions.
• If you notice any strange symptoms, do not hesitate to consult a specialist. Our heart usually “signals” to us that it has problems. Under no circumstances should these signals be ignored.
• Write down symptoms that you notice regularly. This will help doctors quickly make a diagnosis.

Sometimes, one blood test is enough to identify heart pathology.

Symptoms of a heart attack are quite common, and many people initially do not even realize that they are having an attack.

Most cardiovascular diseases are preventable

A heart attack can happen suddenly. Its symptoms are quite common, and many people initially do not even realize that they are having an attack. Sometimes there can only be ONE symptom and this makes a heart attack even more difficult to diagnose.

What is a heart attack?

The heart is an amazing organ that functions even when separated from the body as long as it has an adequate supply of oxygen. It works tirelessly to pump blood throughout the body.

It is very important that the heart receives enough oxygenated blood - the heart muscle dies if it does not receive enough such blood. Loss of blood supply can occur due to the formation of plaque in the coronary arteries, which obstructs blood flow to the heart. Plaques are made up of cholesterol, fatty substances, cellular waste, calcium and fibrin.

The buildup of plaque in the coronary arteries can lead to coronary artery spasm, or atherosclerosis, which is a narrowing or hardening of the heart muscle, and when such plaque breaks down, a blood clot can form. Atherosclerosis can lead to coronary disease heart, which can cause a heart attack.

According to the American Heart Association, a heart attack also occurs when when the blood supply does not reach the heart due to narrowing of the heart arteries, a phenomenon more commonly known as coronary artery disease.

Difference between heart attack and cardiac arrest

It is important to understand the difference between a heart attack and cardiac arrest as people often mistakenly believe they are the same thing. Cardiac arrest occurs as a result of a disturbance in the electrical conductivity of the heart - and, as a rule, without warning, a rhythm disturbance occurs.

Cardiac arrest is caused by various medical reasons: cardiomyopathy or thickening of the heart muscle, heart failure, arrhythmia, long Q-T wave syndrome, and ventricular fibrillation.

A heart attack can increase the risk of cardiac arrest and is a common cause of cardiac arrest.

What happens during a heart attack?

Have you ever wondered what happens during a heart attack? Let's look at what really happens inside the body during a heart attack, and what role plaques play in this.

If plaque builds up in the heart over the years, it can become so dense that it impedes blood flow. Decreased blood flow is not easy to notice, because when a coronary artery cannot deliver blood to the heart, another coronary artery takes over its function.

The outside of the plaque is covered with hard fiber, but the inside is soft due to the fatty contents.

When a plaque ruptures in a coronary artery, fatty substances come out.

Platelets rush to the plaque, forming a blood clot (the same thing that happens in the case of a cut or any wound).

The formed blood clot becomes the main obstacle to blood flow. The heart, lacking oxygen-rich blood, begins to starve, and the nervous system immediately signals the brain about what is happening. You begin to sweat and your heart rate increases. You feel nauseous and weak.

When the nervous system sends a signal to the spinal cord, other parts of the body begin to hurt. You feel severe pain in your chest, which slowly creeps to the neck, jaw, ears, arms, wrists, shoulder blades, back and even to the stomach.

Patients who have had a heart attack say that it feels like something is squeezing the chest, and this can last from a few minutes to many hours.

Heart tissue will die if proper treatment is not provided immediately. If the heart stops beating completely, brain cells die in just three to seven minutes. If treated immediately, the heart will begin the healing process, but the damaged tissue will never recover, resulting in permanently slow blood flow.

Risk factors for heart attack

• Age. At risk are men over 45 years of age and women over 55 years of age.
• Tobacco. Passive smoking over a long period - the cause of a high risk of cardiovascular diseases.
• High cholesterol levels. If you have high level triglycerides and low-high-density lipoprotein (HDL), it is likely that you are at increased risk of a heart attack.
• Diabetes, especially if left untreated.
• Heart attacks in other family members. If your relatives have had a heart attack, then you may have one too.
• Passive lifestyle. As a result of an inactive lifestyle, the level of bad cholesterol increases, which can cause the formation of plaques.
• Obesity. By losing 10 percent of your body weight, you reduce your risk of heart attack.
• Stress. German researchers have found that when you experience stress, your white blood cell levels increase. This, in turn, increases the risk of developing atherosclerosis and plaque rupture.
• Use of illegal drugs. Use of cocaine or amphetamines can cause spasm of the coronary arteries.
• History of preeclampsia. If you had high blood pressure during pregnancy, you are at very high risk of having a heart attack.
• Cases of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus.

If you have any of these risk factors, I highly recommend seeing your doctor to prevent a heart attack or any cardiovascular disease.

Signs and symptoms of a heart attack

Some people may experience few or no symptoms of a heart attack - this is called a silent heart attack. This is typical mainly for diabetics.

To avoid premature death related to heart disease, learn about the common symptoms of this dangerous condition:

• Chest pain or discomfort. This is the most common symptom of a heart attack. Some people may feel a sudden sharp pain, and others have moderate pain symptoms. This can last from a few minutes to several hours.
• Discomfort in the upper body. You may feel tension or discomfort in your arms, back, shoulders, neck, jaw, or upper abdomen.
• Dyspnea. Some people may have only this symptom, while for others shortness of breath may accompany chest pain.
• Cold sweat, nausea, vomiting and sudden dizziness. These symptoms are more common among women.
• Unusual fatigue. For unknown reasons, you may feel tired, which sometimes does not go away for several days.

Older people who may experience one or more of these symptoms usually simply ignore them, thinking that they are just signs of aging. But if you experience one or more of these symptoms, have someone call an ambulance immediately.

How to prevent a heart attack

Most cardiovascular diseases are preventable. To avoid a heart attack or any heart disease, I recommend that you follow this lifestyle:

1.Healthy diet.

A heart-healthy diet doesn't mean cutting out fat and cholesterol entirely. Contrary to popular belief, saturated fats and "big, fluffy" low-density lipoproteins (LDL) are actually good for the body because they are - natural spring energy.

You should also avoid eating processed foods, refined carbohydrates, sugar (especially fructose), and trans fats, as these help increase “small” LDL, promoting plaque buildup.

• Focus on fresh and organic, whole foods
• Limit your fructose intake to 25 grams per day. If you have diabetes, hypertension or insulin resistance, fructose intake should not exceed 15 grams per day
• Avoid artificial sweeteners
• Include naturally fermented foods such as dairy products and cultured vegetables in your diet
• Balance your ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fats by eating sea-caught Alaskan salmon or taking a krill oil supplement
• Always drink clean water
• Consume high-quality saturated and monounsaturated fats from grass-fed foods and krill oil
• Eat high-quality protein from organic livestock products

Only proper nutrition may not be enough to protect you from a heart attack - remember it's also important to watch how often you eat. That being said, I recommend intermittent fasting, which limits daily food intake to 8 hours. This will help your body reprogram and remind you how to burn fat for energy.

2. Exercise regularly.

It is very important that proper nutrition is accompanied by physical activity of at least 2.5 hours per week.

I recommend high-intensity interval exercise because it has numerous benefits not only for the heart, but for overall body health and overall wellness.

Just be sure to rest after each session for best results.

3. Stop smoking.

Smoking cessation is included by the US Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) in the list of measures to prevent cardiovascular diseases, which can lead to a heart attack.

Smoking causes blood vessels to narrow and thicken. It also leads to the formation of blood clots, which can obstruct blood flow to the heart.

4.Avoid drinking alcohol.

Alcohol has a lot of empty calories - in fact, it makes you fat. When you drink alcohol, your body stops burning fat and calories.

As a result, the food you just ate becomes fat.

Alcohol also harms the prefrontal cortex, promoting spontaneous eating. To maintain optimal health, I suggest eliminating alcohol of all types from your life.

5.Sit as little as possible.

Long hours of sitting have a detrimental effect on health - for example, the risk of lung cancer increases by 50 percent and the risk of type 2 diabetes increases by 90 percent.

To maintain an active lifestyle at home or even at work, I recommend taking 7,000 to 10,000 steps every day.

A fitness tracker, such as Jawbone's Up3, will help you track all your activities throughout the day.

5.Optimizing vitamin D levels.

It's important to have your vitamin D levels checked annually, as a vitamin D deficiency increases your risk of heart attack by 50 percent.

To reap its health benefits, you need to maintain a level of 40 ng/ml or 5000-6000 IU per day.

7. Try earthing/walking on the earth barefoot.

When you walk barefoot, free electrons, which are powerful antioxidants, are transferred from the earth to the body.

Grounding, in addition, reduces inflammation throughout the body, thins the blood and fills you with negative ions.

8.Free yourself from stress.

A study published in mBio found that when you are under stress, the body produces norepinephrine. This hormone causes bacterial biofilms to disperse, leading to plaque rupture.

To get rid of stress, I highly recommend trying Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT).

EFT is an energy psychology tool that helps reset the body's response during times of stress. This will help reduce the risk of developing chronic diseases. published

As you know, cardiovascular diseases occupy first place among the most common and dangerous diseases of our time. There are many reasons for this, but the main ones are genetic predisposition and poor lifestyle.

Cardiovascular diseases are numerous, occur in different ways and have different origins. They may arise as a result inflammatory processes, congenital developmental defects, injuries, intoxication, pathological changes metabolic processes, as well as as a result of reasons that are poorly understood at present.

However, with such a variety of causes of diseases associated with disruption of the cardiovascular system, these diseases are united general symptoms that manifest themselves in these pathologies. Consequently, there are general rules for recognizing the first signs of the disease. They need to be known in order to be able to avoid complications, and sometimes the disease of the cardiovascular system itself.

The main ones that allow us to talk about pathology associated with the work of the cardiovascular system:

Pain and discomfort in the chest

Pain is one of the most common symptoms of diseases associated with disruption of the cardiovascular system. If the pain is burning, acute, then most often a spasm of the coronary vessels occurs, which leads to insufficient nutrition of the heart itself. Such pain is called angina pectoris. They can occur during physical activity, low temperature, and stress. Angina occurs when the blood flow cannot meet the oxygen needs of the heart muscle. A doctor can recognize angina pectoris, or angina pectoris, already at the patient’s first visit. The situation is worse with the diagnosis of deviations. For a correct diagnosis, observation of the course of angina pectoris, analysis of questions and examinations of the patient are necessary. Additional research is required - daily ECG monitoring (ECG recording during the day).

There are angina pectoris at rest and angina pectoris. Angina at rest is not associated with physical effort, often occurs at night, has common features with a severe attack of angina, often accompanied by a feeling of lack of air. Angina can be stable, when attacks occur with a more or less certain frequency and are provoked by a load of approximately the same degree, as well as unstable, in which an attack occurs for the first time or the nature of the attacks changes: they occur unexpectedly and last longer, signs appear that are atypical for previous attacks ( progressive angina). Unstable angina is dangerous because it can lead to the development of myocardial infarction (MI). Patients with this type of angina must be hospitalized.

We must not forget that an attack of angina can be a harbinger of coronary heart disease (CHD) and myocardial infarction. In this regard, when the first symptoms of angina pectoris appear, the patient must undergo an electrocardiographic examination in the near future, and then carry out medical supervision for the further development of angina pectoris. It is believed that such patients require hospitalization to make an accurate diagnosis, as well as to monitor the course of the disease. To detect abnormalities in the functioning of the heart, the use of a cardiovisor gives a good result. The services provided by the site project help people independently monitor the dynamics of changes in the functioning of the heart and consult a doctor in a timely manner, even in cases where there are no visible manifestations of the disease.

Severe, prolonged pain in the chest, radiating to the left arm, neck and back, is characteristic of a developing myocardial infarction. One of the most common causes of myocardial infarction is atherosclerosis of the coronary vessels. Pain during MI is often intense and can be so strong that a person may lose consciousness and go into shock: blood pressure drops sharply, pallor appears, and cold sweat appears.

Severe pain in the chest, radiating to the back of the head, back, sometimes groin area, speaks of an aneurysm, or aortic dissection.

Dull pain in the heart area, sometimes intensifying and then weakening without spreading to other areas of the body, against a background of rising temperature, indicates the development of pericarditis (inflammation of the heart sac - pericardium).

Sometimes pain can occur in the abdominal area, which indicates vascular diseases of the abdominal organs.

For thromboembolism pulmonary artery(PE) Symptoms will depend on the location and size of the clot. The person will feel pain in the chest, radiating to the shoulder, arm, neck and jaw. A common accompaniment of thromboembolism is shortness of breath. Coughing and even hemoptysis may occur. The patient feels weakness and rapid heartbeat.

A dull and short stabbing pain in the region of the heart, which occurs regardless of movements and physical effort, without disturbances in breathing or heartbeat, is characteristic of patients with cardiac neurosis (neurocirculatory dystopia of the cardiac type).

Heart neurosis is a fairly common disease of the cardiovascular system. This is due to the busy rhythm of our lives and frequent stressful situations. As a rule, this disease occurs after nervous overload. Heart pain can last for quite a long time - from several hours to several days. With this pathology, pain is not associated with physical overload, which distinguishes it from pain with angina pectoris. The pain disappears after the person calms down and forgets about the anxiety he suffered. Advanced cases of neurasthenia can lead to angina pectoris.

With cardiac neurosis, in addition to cardiovascular disorders, patients also have functional disorders of the nervous system - absent-mindedness, increased fatigue, poor sleep, anxiety, tremors of the extremities.

Acute chest pain may indicate not only diseases associated with disruption of the cardiovascular system, but also be a consequence of other diseases. These include:

Intercostal neuralgia, which is characterized by acute, paroxysmal, shooting pain along the intercostal spaces (where the nerve passes). Pain points are located at the exit of the nerves (to the right and left of the spine). With intercostal neuralgia, skin sensitivity in the intercostal area may be impaired.

Herpes zoster, the appearance of which (the onset of the disease) is accompanied by pain similar to intercostal neuralgia, but often more intense. In the area of ​​pain (in the intercostal space), so-called herpetic blisters appear. The disease is accompanied by an increase in temperature.

Spontaneous pneumothorax, which is characterized by the sudden onset of chest pain, pain accompanied by severe shortness of breath. This disease is typical for people suffering from chronic respiratory diseases ( chronic bronchitis, emphysema, etc.). Sometimes it can occur in people who do not suffer from the listed diseases, during heavy physical exertion, or during strong, sharp exhalation.

Cardiospasm (spasm of the esophagus), for which, in addition to pain behind the sternum, characterized by impaired swallowing and belching.

Cervical and thoracic radiculitis, accompanied by severe pain associated with movement (turns, bends of the torso, neck).

Very often, based on a person’s description of pain, a doctor can draw a conclusion about the origin of the disease. A cardiovisor can be an indispensable assistant in this case, which allows you to determine whether the pathology is related to the functioning of the cardiovascular system or not.

Palpitations and a feeling of irregular heartbeat

Strong heartbeat does not always mean the development of some pathology, since it can occur during intense physical activity or as a result of a person’s emotional arousal, and even after eating a large amount of food.

In diseases of the cardiovascular system, strong heartbeat often manifests itself in early stages diseases. The feeling of a malfunction of the heart occurs when the heart rhythm is disturbed. At the same time, it seems to a person that the heart either almost “jumps out” of the chest, or freezes for a certain period of time.

Such symptoms of cardiovascular disease are characteristic of tachycardia, which is accompanied by a palpitation with a distinct beginning and end, the duration of which can be from a few seconds to several days. Supraventricular tachycardia is accompanied by sweating, increased intestinal motility, copious urination at the end of the attack, and a slight increase in body temperature. Prolonged attacks may be accompanied by weakness, discomfort in the heart, and fainting. If there are heart diseases, then angina pectoris, heart failure. Ventricular tachycardia is less common and is most often associated with heart disease. It leads to impaired blood supply to organs, as well as heart failure. Ventricular tachycardia may be a precursor to ventricular fibrillation.

With heart block, irregular contractions may occur, in particular, “dropout” of individual impulses or a significant slowdown in heart rate. These symptoms may be accompanied by dizziness or fainting due to decreased cardiac output.

Dyspnea

With heart disease, shortness of breath can manifest itself in the early stages. This symptom occurs with heart failure: the heart does not work at full capacity and does not pump the required amount of blood through the blood vessels. Most often, heart failure develops as a result of atherosclerosis (deposits of atherosclerotic plaques in blood vessels). In the case of a mild form of the disease, shortness of breath is disturbing during intense physical activity. In severe cases, shortness of breath also occurs at rest.

The appearance of shortness of breath may be associated with stagnation of blood in the pulmonary circulation or cerebrovascular accident.

Sometimes cardiac dyspnea is difficult to distinguish from shortness of breath accompanying lung diseases. Both cardiac and pulmonary shortness of breath may worsen at night when a person goes to bed.

In case of heart failure, fluid retention in the body tissues is possible as a result of slowing blood flow, which can cause pulmonary edema and threaten the patient’s life.

Severe obesity, which increases the weight of the chest wall, significantly increases the load on the muscles involved in the breathing process. This pathology leads to shortness of breath, which correlates with physical activity. Since obesity is a risk factor for the development of coronary artery disease and contributes to the formation of blood clots in the veins of the legs with subsequent pulmonary embolism, it is possible to associate shortness of breath only with obesity only if these diseases are excluded.

An important role in finding the causes of shortness of breath is played by modern world detraining. Shortness of breath is experienced not only by sick people, but also by healthy people who lead an inactive lifestyle. During heavy physical activity, even a normally functioning left ventricle in such people cannot manage to pump all the blood entering it into the aorta, which ultimately leads to stagnation in the pulmonary circulation and shortness of breath.

One of the symptoms of neurotic conditions is psychogenic shortness of breath, which is easy to distinguish from cardiac shortness of breath. People suffering from cardiac neurosis experience difficulty breathing: they constantly lack air, and therefore they are forced to periodically take deep breaths. Such patients are characterized by shallow breathing, dizziness and general weakness. Such breathing disorders are purely neurogenic in nature and are in no way associated with shortness of breath, characteristic of cardiac or pulmonary diseases.

When making a diagnosis, the doctor can easily distinguish psychogenic shortness of breath from cardiac shortness of breath. However, difficulties often arise in the differential diagnosis of psychogenic dyspnea, which differs from the dyspnea characteristic of pulmonary embolism. It is important not to miss mediastinal tumor and primary pulmonary hypertension. In this case, the diagnosis is made by exclusion after a thorough examination of the patient.

To accurately determine the nature of discomfort in the chest, as well as shortness of breath, they resort to bicycle ergometry or Holter ECG monitoring. A high degree of efficiency in identifying pathologies in the work of the heart can be achieved using a computer system for screening analysis of dispersion changes in the ECG signal, which is offered by the project site.

Edema

The main reason for the appearance of edema is an increase in pressure in the venous capillaries. This is facilitated by reasons such as impaired renal function and increased permeability of vascular walls. If the swelling is mainly in the ankles, this may indicate heart failure.

Cardiac edema will differ between ambulatory and recumbent patients, as it is associated with the movement of interstitial fluid under the influence of gravity. Walking patients are characterized by swelling of the lower leg, which increases in the evening and subsides in the morning, after sleep. With further accumulation of fluid, it spreads upward, and patients experience swelling in the hips, then the lower back and abdominal wall. In severe cases, swelling spreads to the subcutaneous tissue of the chest wall, arms and face.

In bedridden patients, excess fluid usually first accumulates in the lower back and sacral area. Therefore, patients with suspected heart failure must be turned onto their stomach.

Bilateral symmetrical swelling of the legs, usually appearing after a long stay on one's feet, accompanied by shortness of breath, rapid pulse and wheezing in the lungs, may be a consequence of acute or chronic heart failure. Such swelling, as a rule, spreads from bottom to top and intensifies towards the end of the day. Asymmetrical swelling of the legs occurs with phlebothrombosis - the most common cause pulmonary embolism, which can lead to overload of the right ventricle.

There are several ways to determine whether your legs are swollen. Firstly, after removing clothes, in places where they are pinched, for example, by the elastic bands of socks, there are pits that do not go away immediately. Secondly, within 30 seconds after pressing with a finger on the front surface of the leg, at the place where the bone is closest to the surface of the skin, even with slight swelling, a “pit” remains, which does not go away for a very long time. To accurately determine the cause of swelling, you need to visit a therapist. He will be able to determine which specialist should be contacted first.

Discoloration of the skin (pallor, cyanosis)

Pallor is most often observed with anemia, vasospasm, severe rheumatic carditis (inflammatory damage to the heart due to rheumatism), and aortic valve insufficiency.

Blueness (cyanosis) of the lips, cheeks, nose, earlobes and limbs is observed in severe degrees of pulmonary heart failure.

Headaches and dizziness

These symptoms very often accompany diseases associated with disorders of the heart and blood vessels. The main reason for this response from the body is that the brain does not receive the required amount of blood, and therefore there is not sufficient oxygen supply to the brain. In addition, cells are poisoned by decay products that are not taken from the brain by blood in a timely manner.

A headache, especially a throbbing one, may indicate increased blood pressure. However, in other cases it can be asymptomatic. Increased pressure must be treated, as it can lead to myocardial infarction and sometimes stroke.

Inflammatory processes (myocarditis, pericarditis, endocarditis) and myocardial infarction are accompanied by an increase in temperature, sometimes fever.

Problems with the heart may also be indicated by poor sleep, clammy sweat, anxiety, nausea and discomfort in the chest when lying on the left side, as well as a feeling of weakness and increased fatigue of the body.

When you first suspect the existence of problems associated with the functioning of the heart, you should not wait for visible symptoms to appear, since many diseases of the cardiovascular system begin with a person’s feeling that “something is wrong” in the body "

Everyone should remember the need for early diagnosis, because it is no secret that the earlier the disease is detected, the easier and with the least risk to the patient’s life the treatment will be completed.

One of the most effective means Early detection of cardiovascular diseases is the use of a cardiovisor, since when processing ECG data, a new patented method for analyzing microalterations (microscopic tremors) of the ECG signal is used, which makes it possible to identify deviations from the norm in the functioning of the heart already in the early stages of the disease.

It is well known that the disease often develops, one might say, completely unnoticed by the patient and is detected only during examination by a cardiologist. This fact indicates the need for preventive visits to a cardiologist at least once a year. In this case, it is necessary to study the ECG results. If, when examining a patient, a cardiologist will have the opportunity to analyze the results of an electrocardiogram taken immediately upon the occurrence of symptoms of cardiovascular diseases, then the likelihood of making a correct diagnosis, and therefore of carrying out the correct treatment, will increase significantly.

Rostislav Zhadeiko, especially for the project.

The heart is the motor of the entire body. The global environmental disaster, the modern pace of life, unbalanced nutrition and increased levels of daily stress lead to disruption of the functioning of this vital organ. In most cases, heart disease leads to a deterioration in the standard of living, dependence on medications or devices. And in some cases - to disability, in difficult situations - to the death of the patient. This article will talk about what heart diseases are known: list and symptoms, modern methods treatment of official and traditional medicine.

General symptoms

We will tell you what heart diseases exist: list and symptoms, treatment - nothing will be left unattended. There are many types and subtypes of heart disease. Each case has its own characteristics and specific symptoms. But for the convenience of identifying the problem, it is customary in medical circles to classify heart diseases based on general signs. Therefore, we can identify symptoms characteristic of most heart problems, in the presence of which a person should immediately contact a cardiologist for further examination:

1. Fatigue and fatigue. Unfortunately, this symptom occurs in almost every second person living in a metropolis. It is unlikely that anyone will pay attention to such a slight ailment. But if such a condition was not previously normal for you, but appeared completely unexpectedly and lasted for a long time, this is a serious reason for concern about your heart health.
2. and heartbeat. This condition is normally observed during physical activity, worries, fear or excitement. But if arrhythmia occurs daily or even several times a day without visible reasons, get examined by a specialist.
3. Dyspnea - difficulty breathing, feeling of lack of air. This symptom occurs in 90% of people suffering from one or another heart disease.
4. Dizziness, nausea, loss of consciousness, sweating, swelling. Such signs appear regularly in some patients, while in others they are completely absent.
5. Chest pain often warns of an approaching symptom has various manifestations: the pain can be sharp, short-term or long-term “squeezing”, there are feelings of heaviness and stiffness in the chest. Unpleasant sensations may spread to the shoulder girdle, left arm or leg.

It is worth noting the fact that people often do not pay attention to most of the body’s signals. In addition, there is not always a pronounced pain syndrome of a particular heart disease. The list and symptoms are individual in each case. Neglect of one's own health worsens medical statistics: about 40% of all deaths are the result of heart disease.

Causes

Why do heart diseases occur? The names and the list of such problems are getting longer every day. The causes of heart disease are varied. Primarily influenced by the hereditary factor, as well as various disorders of a woman’s pregnancy, which contribute to the formation of pathologies in the development of the fetal heart muscle.

Acquired heart problems occur due to poor nutrition. Doctors are discussing which foods lead to disturbances in the functioning of the cardiovascular system. Some believe that excessive consumption of fatty foods and simple carbohydrates adversely affects health. While other scientific luminaries claim that it is the absence of animal fats and the oversaturation of the body with polyunsaturated acids that leads to problems of the heart muscle. One way or another, we can conclude that for prevention, one should adhere to the golden mean in nutrition and saturate the body with various beneficial substances.

Lack of physical activity, alcohol and nicotine abuse have an adverse effect on the health of our internal natural motor. Nervous heart disease is common. The list of such health problems increases daily.

Concomitant illnesses can also lead to heart disease. For example, metabolic disorders, hematopoiesis and blood flow.

Heart diseases: list

Palpitation syndrome occurs in almost every third inhabitant of the planet. Jumps in pulse and heart rate without a reason are called arrhythmia or heart rate disturbance. This condition is not a disease in itself, but has unpleasant symptoms and is considered a clear sign of heart problems of various origins: from impaired blood supply to the toxic effects of drugs.

Treatment of arrhythmia

To eliminate the problem, you need to identify the root cause and fight it. There are also medications to reduce heart rate, for example, Disopyramide, Timolol, Verapamil, Magnesium Sulfate and others. They differ in their method of action and have a number of adverse reactions and contraindications. Self-prescription of drugs against arrhythmia is unsafe for health.

Decoctions and infusions of herbs are widely used to normalize the heart rate. You can learn more about them in the corresponding chapter.

Heart failure

A condition such as heart failure, like arrhythmia, is not considered a disease, but is a consequence of improper functioning of the heart. In this case, a person is worried about symptoms of heart problems, most often shortness of breath and rapid unusual fatigue. There is also a cyanosis of the nail plates and nasolabial triangle due to impaired blood supply to the tissues.

Inflammatory diseases: pericarditis, myocarditis, endocarditis

There are heart diseases, the list and symptoms of which are given below, which are inflammatory in nature:

1. Pericarditis- inflammation in the pericardial cavity. The cause of this problem is other diseases of the body, in particular autoimmune and infectious ones. Pericarditis can also develop after injury. Fluid stagnation appears in this part of the heart, which leads to difficulty in contracting the muscle and disruption of its function. This complication develops within literally a few hours into a serious form - cardiac tamponade. Pressure in the pericardium, caused by increased fluid and inflammation of the walls, can limit the organ's ability to contract, even stopping it completely. Pericarditis does not immediately manifest symptoms, which also adversely affects the medical prognosis for the patient. This disease is considered fatal.
2. Myocarditis- inflammation of the myocardium. The disease develops under the influence of viruses, fungi and bacteria. It often goes away without significant symptoms. In this case, recovery occurs on its own. According to indications, antiviral, antibacterial, and immunomodulating therapy can be used. This disease is dangerous possible development cardiomyopathy (stretching of the inner region of the heart muscle).
3. Endocarditis- inflammation of the endocardium, internal disease of infectious origin. It can form even after a seemingly insignificant surgical intervention, for example, during tooth extraction. The symptoms are quite pronounced:

• fever;
• high body temperature;
• joint pain;
• grayish color of the skin;
• thickening of the phalanges of the fingers;
• enlarged liver and spleen;
• development of kidney problems;
• heart murmurs when listening with a stethoscope.

The disease is dangerous not only because it disrupts, but also because of the possibility of developing complications in other organs. Such heart diseases can be eliminated with the help of broad-spectrum antibacterial agents. Symptoms and treatment depend on the severity and general condition of the patient. The course of antibiotics is at least two weeks. If you consult a doctor in a timely manner, the prognosis for the patient is 70% favorable. But deaths from this disease are regularly recorded. Moreover, death often occurs not only due to disruption of the heart, but also from failure of the liver and kidneys.

Inflammatory problems in the tissues of the heart muscle lead to complications and heart development. The list of such pathologies is regularly updated.

Ischemic disease

Atherosclerotic heart disease is widespread. The list and methods of their treatment are determined depending on the symptoms. Thus, coronary heart disease is an extremely dangerous condition. A characteristic symptom is impaired blood flow in the large vessels of the body, including the coronary arteries that supply blood to the myocardium. Coronary disease accounts for 90% of all heart diseases. Genetic predisposition contributes to the formation of such a problem, elderly age patient, excess weight, diabetes, taking certain medications, bad habits and wrong lifestyle.

This disease is dangerous due to the development of such pathological conditions which can be fatal:

1. Heart failure.
2. Arrhythmia.
3. Angina pectoris.
4. Myocardial infarction is necrosis of a section of the inner lining of the heart muscle.
5. Heart failure.

Treatment of coronary disease

Since this disease is a common problem, let us pay special attention to modern methods of treating coronary heart disease. Depending on the symptoms, the doctor selects adequate treatment, but general recommendations are as follows:

• reduction of physical activity;
• diet (reducing the amount of water and salt consumed).

Medicines

Such heart diseases are treated with medication. The list of medications that help improve blood flow and help break down cholesterol plaques is as follows:

• antiplatelet agents “Trombopol”, “Clopidogrel”;
• adrenergic blockers “Coronal”, “Betalok”, “Dilatrend”;
• nitrates;
• anticoagulants;
• diuretics.

Surgical methods

The following surgical methods are used:

1. Coronary bypass surgery.
2. Introduction of a medical balloon.

Unfortunately, it is currently impossible to completely eliminate this disease. Treatment methods are used to prevent the development of complications, including heart attack and slow the progression of coronary artery disease.

Congenital diseases

Congenital heart diseases occur. The names, list, symptoms depend on the nature of the pathology. During the period of intrauterine development of the fetus, in the presence of unfavorable factors, the development of various disorders of the formation of the heart muscle and adjacent arteries is possible. Such birth defects are the main causes of death in newborns and children in the first year of life. Often children with congenital heart defects remain profoundly disabled.

The main risk factor is genetic. The secondary factors are the following: environmental, viral and infectious diseases suffered by a pregnant woman, poisoning chemicals, abuse of nicotine, alcohol, drug use by the expectant mother.

If pathologies in the development of the heart muscle are detected in a newborn, surgical intervention according to indications. But such a drastic method has a high level of risk. Unfortunately, the prognosis is disappointing; the likelihood of death or disability is very high when a serious pathology is diagnosed.

Folk remedies for treating heart disease

They treat and folk remedies unpleasant symptoms of heart disease. The names (list) of herbs and fruits that will help normalize the pulse, reduce pressure on the heart muscle, remove stagnant fluid, improve blood flow and metabolism, calm, improve sleep and increase immunity are as follows:

• peppermint;
• Melissa;
• hawthorn;
• rose hip;
• valerian;
• calendula.

Prevention of heart disease

Unfortunately, no one is immune from genetic and hereditary factors. Therefore, it is impossible to prevent congenital heart disease. Everyone should know the list and symptoms of such diseases, and at the first suspicion, you should contact a cardiologist for a professional examination. This significantly increases the chance of a full recovery.

In addition, a healthy lifestyle can help reduce your risk of developing heart disease. Follow a healthy diet, watch your weight, spend your leisure time actively, undergo regular medical examinations, especially pay attention to diagnosing blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels.

Follow your body's signals - timely consultation with a doctor can not only improve the quality of life, but in many cases preserve such a valuable gift.