A person may not have any complaints even though he has heart disease. The person may not even know he has heart disease. Silence due to a mild heart disorder may not be important. However, if there is a serious disease and it is silent, that is, it does not cause any complaints in the patient, it is life-threatening. Diseases of the heart are very diverse. Heart valve diseases may be due to a congenital disorder, or heart valves may deteriorate over time as a result of throat infections in childhood. A defect in the lid causes the lid not to close completely when it should be closed, or not to open sufficiently when it should be opened. If the defect in the valves is mild, it may not cause any symptoms for years.
There may be a congenital hole between the heart cavities. If this hole is small and does not interfere with the function of the heart, it may remain silent for years. It may occur accidentally or during a diagnostic procedure in later ages. The most effective and risk-free method for the diagnosis of this group of mild heart diseases is echocardiographic examination, that is, examination of the heart with ultrasound. In this way, the heart problem is detected, but since it is mild, no treatment is required. With echocardiographic examinations performed every few years, it is understood whether the heart defect is progressing or remaining at the same degree. If it progresses, the necessary treatment is applied.
Silent "ischemia" is a serious condition.
"Ischemia" is a medical word that describes lack of blood supply or insufficiency in a tissue. For example, when you see the diagnosis of “ischemic area of the heart” in medical reports, it is stated that an area of the heart is not receiving enough blood. Ischemia of the heart muscle occurs in coronary heart disease. Coronary heart disease is a type of heart disease that occurs as a result of narrowing and/or occlusion of the coronary arteries, which are the vessels that feed the heart, due to a disease called atherosclerosis. It is a serious disease that causes heart attacks, heart failure and sudden deaths, and is one of the leading causes of death in our country and in the world.
In coronary heart disease, stenosis in the heart vessels disrupts the blood supply of the heart muscle, causing some areas to lose sufficient blood flow. causes you not to receive it. Efforts that require the heart to work hard, especially fast walking, climbing stairs
and carrying weight During these periods, there is a lack of blood flow to the heart. This condition manifests itself with pain in the chest area. Pain that comes to the chest during
effort, is in the nature of pressure and squeezing, usually spreads to the left shoulder and arm, sometimes to the back, and is relieved by stopping the effort. It is the most important
sign of lack of blood flow to the heart and coronary heart disease. And, it is a warning to the person with pain: "Your heart is having a hard time, go to the doctor immediately." But not everyone may be lucky enough to receive such warnings. Sometimes, even though there is a serious lack of blood flow to the heart, that is, ischemia, the person may not have any pain or complaints even during heavy exertion. Thus, one cannot be aware of coronary heart disease. But ischemia in the heart is a condition that paves the way for serious and fatal rhythm disturbances, that is, sudden death. Especially in those with diabetes, coronary heart disease progresses silently and may one day occur with a heart attack and sudden death.
How can we protect ourselves from the danger of silent ischemia?
Arteriosclerosis and sudden death. People who are at risk of coronary heart disease should take precautions first.
Who are the people who are at risk?
- Those who have a genetic predisposition, that is, in their family, first degree
relatives such as mother, father, sibling, at an early age, Those with a history of coronary heart disease, stent, bypass surgery, heart attack,
heart failure and sudden death,
- Those with diabetes, high blood pressure, high blood lipids,
- Those who have smoking and similar harmful habits Those who are at risk and cannot quit,
- Those who cannot exercise regularly and have a stressful life.
People with these risks must undergo cardiological examinations and examinations, starting from the age of 30.
The simplest test is the stress test to be performed under the supervision of a doctor. During the effort test performed by increasing walking speed
, the patient does not feel any chest pain, but the diagnosis of "silent ischemia" is made when signs of ischemia are seen on the continuously monitored ECG
. Afterwards, the necessary further
tests and appropriate treatment are determined.
Even if ischemia is not detected in the stress test, it would be appropriate for people with the above risks to have these checks at intervals determined by their
doctor.
/> Of course, the most effective protection is the person's healthy lifestyle. It is to correct the risks that can be changed
by following its rules. In other words, regular exercise, a healthy diet that will not cause weight gain, quitting smoking and other
harmful habits, learning ways to cope with stress, if there is high blood sugar, cholesterol and blood pressure, keeping them under control with regular medications is the most effective method. and is the cheapest
way of prevention.
How is silent ischemia diagnosed?
Although the patient has no complaints, the appearance of changes suggestive of ischemia in the ECG in the stress test
suggests the presence of silent ischemia. Detection of areas with low blood supply in the heart by myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (medicated exercise test) proves the presence of silent ischemia. With coronary angiography, the diameter of the vessels and the degree of stenosis in which vessels are determined.
How is silent ischemia treated? If the patient is suitable for expansion or bypass surgery, these treatments are applied. If the veins are very thin (narrower than 2
mm) and vascular stenosis is very common, these treatments cannot be applied. Then
Natural Bypass treatment with EECP is the only treatment that can be applied.
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