As I stated in our article “Overview of Cardiovascular Diseases”, cardiovascular diseases are the number one cause of all deaths in the world. It is one of the leading causes not only of deaths but also of limiting the quality of life. Unfortunately, heart diseases are chronic progressive diseases and once they occur, there is often no reversal.
Therefore, knowing the risk factors that may lead to the disease, eliminating or controlling these factors, and at the next stage, being aware of the symptoms of the disease and ensuring its early diagnosis are the first two most critical steps in the individual fight against heart diseases.
Before moving on to what the complaints might be, there are two very important points I need to point out.
1.) The presence of the following complaints does not always indicate a heart disease.
2.) The severity of the complaints does not always indicate the severity of the disease.
3.) The severity of the complaint does not always indicate the severity of the disease. The absence does not mean that the disease does not exist.
So; While someone with very disturbing complaints may not have any disease, someone with no complaints or very mild complaints may have a disease severe enough to be life-threatening. The incidence of painless heart diseases is quite high, especially in those who smoke or drink alcohol excessively and in those who have diseases such as diabetes that damage the nerves that transmit the perception of pain to the brain (neuropathy).
The most common complaints in Heart Diseases:
The most common complaints in Heart Diseases: p>
1.) Chest pain
2.) Shortness of breath
3.) Palpitations
4.) Weakness, Fatigue
5.) Fainting (Syncope)
6.) Edema
7.) Cyanosis (Cyanosis)
8.) Cough
CHEST PAIN
The most common and important symptom of heart diseases is chest pain. Many reasons can cause chest pain. Chest pain caused by the heart has some distinctive features that we will talk about in a moment, and this type of chest pain is called "Angina Pectoris".
Latin “angina (=throat infection)”, Greek “ankhone ( =suffocation) and Latin words pectus (=chest), meaning "feeling of suffocation, squeezing in the chest" The concept of Angina Pectoris, which we can translate into Turkish as �, is used in medical terminology to mean heart pain. Just like in Nazım Hikmet's poem Angina Pectoris on the side.
Angina Pectoris may occur in the following situations.
1. Narrowing of the heart vessels (coronary vessels):In situations where the heart accelerates, contracts more strongly, and therefore needs more energy, such as exercise or stress, the blood that can pass through the narrowed vessel cannot meet the needs of the heart muscle
2. Complete occlusion in the heart vessels: Failure to provide any nourishment to the heart muscle causes angina pectoris. If this malnutrition continues long enough, it results in a heart attack (infarction).
3. Spasm in the heart vessels: There are involuntary muscles called smooth muscles in the walls of the coronary vessels. Sudden contraction of these muscles in the presence of triggering factors such as stress, cold and some medications will reduce the amount of blood flowing to the heart muscles, which may cause angina pectoris or even a heart attack if it lasts for a long time.
4. Endothelial dysfunction:There is a very thin layer called endothelium that lines the inner surface of the coronary vessels. This layer, so to speak, allows the traffic on it to flow quickly, like a quality asphalt. At the same time, it dilates the vessels and increases blood fluidity with the substances it secretes. Impairment of the functions of this layer for various reasons will slow down the blood flow and reduce blood fluidity, thus the nutrition of the heart muscle may be impaired and angina pectoris may occur.
5. Other causes: Even if the vessels feeding the heart are normal, conditions that cause a disruption in the systems that carry oxygen to the heart (especially respiratory system diseases, causing hypoxia and blood deficiency-anemia), valve diseases such as aortic stenosis, aortic insufficiency, and blood flow from the heart Excessive muscle thickening (hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy) and severe hypertension can ultimately impair the nutrition of the heart muscle and lead to angina pectoris.
One or more of the reasons we have mentioned may occur together and cause angina pectoris.
To summarize; heart muscle Any situation that disrupts the oxygen supply-demand balance in the heart can cause angina pectoris.
As I mentioned at the beginning, not every chest pain originates from the heart. Many different reasons can cause chest pain. If we know the characteristics of heart-related pain, that is, angina pectoris, it becomes easier to distinguish it from others.
Features of Angina Pectoris:
1.) Initiating Causes: Angina pectoris is usually caused by exertion. It is triggered by a heavy meal, walking against the cold, and sudden stress (sadness, excitement, anger). Angina pectoris at rest is often a more serious heart problem; It may indicate a heart attack or the threat of a heart attack.
2.) Location and Spread: Usually in the middle of the chest, behind or slightly to the left of the breastbone (sternum, board of faith), sometimes just above the stomach (epigastrium). It begins in the left chest area and spreads to the entire chest, lower jaw, back, stomach, and more often to the left, shoulders and arms.
3.) Character: Patients describe it as It is a pain usually expressed as a feeling of pressure, heaviness, suffocation, constriction, squeezing, crushing, burning, distress in the chest. Sometimes it may also be felt as shortness of breath.
4.) Duration: Angina pectoris, which begins with triggering factors, disappears in a period of minutes when these triggers are eliminated. Typical angina pectoris, which most often occurs during exertion, especially when walking uphill, is relieved within 3-5 minutes with rest. More rarely, the pain that occurs in the first minutes of walking may be relieved as the body warms up (adapts to exercise) as you continue walking, without needing to rest. Chest pain that has started recently, lasts longer than 10 minutes, is not relieved by rest, or begins at rest without a triggering factor may indicate a serious heart problem.
In summary, it changes its character in terms of intensity, duration and spread, although it was not there before, is newly noticed, or was previously known, If you experience pain in any area between the navel and the lower jaw, which is not a point but concerns a wide area, or even radiates, you need to see a cardiologist URGENTLY.
Angi. Other Causes of Chest Pain That May Be Confused with Pectoris:
Aortic Rupture (Dissection): It is one of the most urgent medical situations. It causes a sudden onset of “tearing” pain felt in the middle of the chest but mostly in the back. It may start at rest or with exertion and is long lasting. Along with the pain, the patient may experience sweating, bruising, low blood pressure, a feeling of faintness, and fainting.
Inflammation of the Cardiac Lining (Pericarditis):It increases with breathing and chest movements. Its typical feature is that it increases when you lie on your back and eases when you lean forward. It is usually accompanied by fever, shortness of breath, and palpitations.
Pains Originating from the Lung: It is a condition in which the main pulmonary vein and its branches are blocked by a clot. Pulmonary Embolism causes severe pain in the middle of the chest. The condition may be accompanied by cough, bloody sputum, palpitations and cyanosis. Inflammations of the lung membrane (Pleuritis), ruptures of the lung membrane (pneumothorax) and lung infections (pneumonia) can also cause chest pain.
Stomach and Esophagus (esophagus) Diseases: Most common Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, which we can define as stomach acid leaking into the esophagus, causes a burning sensation behind the breastbone and is confused with angina pectoris. In addition, esophageal spasm or rupture, gastritis and stomach ulcers can also cause chest pain.
Musculoskeletal System and Related Diseases: Muscle spasms, nerve compression, neck hernias, shoulder. Conditions such as diseases involving the joints, degenerative-inflammatory diseases affecting the neck and thoracic vertebrae, and Herpes-Zoster infection can often be confused with angina pectoris by causing pain in the chest and arms.
Psychogenic Pains: They are perhaps the most common cause of chest pain in the young age group. Conditions such as chronic anxiety, stress disorders, panic disorder may cause the perception of chest pain.
A VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: It is your doctor's duty, not yours, to find the cause of your chest pain. The information here is not for you to diagnose, it is for you to BE INFORMED, BE AWARE and D It is for you to APPLY TO THE OCTTOR
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