وظائف القلب وأعراض الأمراض القلبية

Cardiac Function

• Cardiac function involves the efficient pumping of blood throughout the body.
• Cardiac function is vital for sustaining life and overall health.
• Various components of the heart and their associated functions are important, including the heart's chambers and valves.
• Heart disease is a frequent and complex medical condition.
• Accurate and timely diagnosis is crucial for effective treatment, particularly for patients presenting with chest pain.
• Early and precise diagnosis can lead to improved prognosis and quality of life, while minimizing the risk of further heart and systemic complications.
• Modern diagnostic approaches are necessary for identifying patients demanding interventional procedures (e.g., coronary angioplasty and vascular interventions).
• Such procedures distinguish patients who can be safely managed medically.

Symptoms of Heart Disease

• Common symptoms include dizziness, fainting, cyanosis, chest pain, palpitations, and fatigue.
• Less common symptoms involve abdominal pain, spitting blood, headaches, sweating, visual or speech disturbances, and weakness/loss of weight, nausea, and vomiting with fever.

Cardiac Arrhythmias

• Cardiac arrhythmias are abnormal heart rhythms.
• Fainting can be a symptom of cardiac arrhythmias.
• Arrhythmias may also be caused by other factors besides heart problems.
• Dizziness is another symptom that can be associated with a variety of non-cardiac problems.

Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)

• Congestive heart failure (CHF) occurs when the heart's ability to pump blood efficiently is impaired, leading to a build-up of fluid in various parts of the body.
• Fluid buildup typically begins around the lungs, potentially progressing to other body areas.
• A reduction in the heart's pumping capacity leads to reduced blood flow throughout the body, causing the kidneys to retain more fluids than normal.

Congenital Heart Defects

• Congenital heart defects are structural abnormalities present at birth.
• Congenital heart defects often result in bluish skin discoloration (cyanosis), and shortness of breath.
• Several factors, including maternal illness (rubella infection during pregnancy for example), alcohol consumption and certain genetic abnormalities, increase the risk of congenital heart defects.
• Various types of congenital heart defects exist, varying in their severity and complications.

Heart Attack (Myocardial Infarction)

• A heart attack occurs when blood flow to a part of the heart is blocked, leading to damage of heart muscle cells.
• A severe and consistent chest pain is a significant sign of a heart attack.
• This causes temporary or lasting damage within the heart muscle tissue, and this event compromises the body's ability of efficient blood circulation.

Cardiac Enzymes

• Measurement of cardiac enzymes can help in the diagnosis of heart attacks and other cardiac conditions.
• Cardiac enzymes, such as CK, CK-MB, and troponin, are released into the bloodstream after heart muscle damage resulting from a heart attack.
• Specific cardiac enzymes are measured along with measuring other blood markers in order to assess or trace the condition better.
• Troponin is highly sensitive and specific for myocardial injury, increasing in blood concentration within the first few hours of a heart attack and remaining elevated for several days.

Inflammatory Markers

• Inflammatory markers, like hs-CRP, can be elevated in individuals with cardiovascular diseases.
• hs-CRP is an important marker for cardiovascular risk and disease assessment.
• Hs-CRP is part of a larger class of markers that indicate potential inflammation.

Laboratory Diagnosis

• A variety of diagnostic procedures are used for detecting and monitoring heart diseases.
• Cardiac enzymes are frequently used to diagnose heart attacks and other conditions that cause cardiac issues.
• The role of the labs is instrumental in monitoring various aspects of heart health and associated parameters.

Other Tests

• Blood tests and tests on urine can be used as a supplemental approach in monitoring and addressing various heart conditions or related diseases.

Treatments

• Various types of treatments are available depending on the nature of the heart disease.
• Medications, surgical interventions, and lifestyle modifications are often implemented depending on the severity and type of heart conditions.
• Treatment options will vary on an individual basis.