Cardiovascular system by providing a constant blood flow every second provides oxygen and nutrients to all the internal organs of a person, and therefore its importance is undeniably high. And this is why when cracks occur in it, even in the smallest violations, cascade failures are caused in all other systems, and therefore symptoms always appear. But how is the examination of the heart and blood vessels done? There are many methods for this.
Inspection
When the patient first addresses the therapist, either for preventive purposes (medical examination) or with specific complaints, the specialist must necessarily examine the heart area and conduct the simplest studies of this organ and its branches. So, first of all, the doctor conducts a general examination of the patient, paying attention to his skin (with the diseases of this system, pallor and even cyanosis, dense cold edema, small hemorrhages), the condition of visible mucous membranes (injected sclera, white coating at the root of the tongue) , The development of the musculoskeletal system (hypotension, weakness, dystrophy or, on the contrary, obesity), the nature of the pulse (its presence and synchronism on both hands, pulse in the cervical veins). Further the doctor necessarily carries out such inspection of heart, as percussion of its borders which can reveal a hypertrophy of separate chambers. Be sure to conduct its auscultation with counting the number of heartbeats, detailing its tones, rhythm, possible pathological noise.
Anamnesis
Finally, blood pressure is measured, since it is an important indicator of the state of the cardiovascular system. Further the doctor necessarily details complaints, because the full examination of the heart includes a detailed anamnesis. So, for diseases of the cardiovascular system, pain in the chest (often pressing, compressive nature) or, more precisely, behind the breastbone, dyspnea (appears with increased physical activity in norm, and with pathology - with insignificant exercise or even rest) is characteristic , heart palpitations and Sensation of any "interruptions" in the work of the heart, manifestations of high blood pressure (headaches, dizziness, heaviness in the body). It is necessary to find out the time of their appearance, the factors provoking and liquidating them, the intensity.
Other Important Aspects
Also in the examination of the heart is that the patient is asked what he connects the development of his disease, thereby revealing the risk factors. So, it can be a strong emotional shock the day before (death of a loved one, stress at work), lifting weights or doing hard-to-handle physical work. Symptoms also appear with changes in weather conditions. Another important criterion is heredity, because most diseases (diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension, ischemic heart disease) are prone to transmission to the next generation. As a rule, correctly collected anamnesis gives 50% of the clinical diagnosis of the patient. After talking with the patient and conducting his examination the doctor must send his ward to the examination of the heart. We should remember the anatomy and physiology of this organ.
A little bit about a normal heart
So, it is, roughly speaking, a pump consisting mainly of muscles and a complex system of blood vessels. Inside it there are four chambers, communicating with each other in a strictly defined manner and ensuring a constant movement of blood. And that the heart itself is continuously contracted and relaxed, there are conductive structures in its tissues through which a nervous impulse passes, thereby causing alternating muscle tension in each chamber and opening and closing valves between them. Therefore, all methods of examining the heart can be directed either at visualization of the anatomy of this organ (ultrasound, Doppler mapping, computed tomography, chest X-ray, radioisotope techniques) and directly arteries and veins (probing of the main vessels, angiography, coronary angiography) Its conductive system (electrocardiography, bicycle ergometry), or to the audiology of its tones and noise (phonocardiography).
Echocardiography
As you can see, the examination of the heart must necessarily be detailed, detailed, not missing anything. Because the defeat of the cardiovascular system can be both a manifestation of an independent disease, and a consequence of the pathology of another system. If we talk about visual methods of diagnosis, then first comes to mind Echo-CG or, as it is also called, ultrasound of the heart. What the device shows during this important study, you can guess and logically. By penetrating the ultrasound deep into the tissues and returning them back to the screen, an image appears that allows you to evaluate the structure of the heart, the dimensions of its cavities, the state of the valves and the main vessels. Plus, this method is non-invasive and goes without radiation, and therefore it can be used even by pregnant, nursing and children. Although a more effective computed tomography still can not displace ultrasound from the diagnosis.
Advantages of ultrasound
At different gestation periods, the woman periodically passes for the fetal ultrasound of the heart, which shows the uninflated arterial duct, stenosis of the vasculature, prolapse or failure of the valves, the condition of the interventricular and atrial septum and other congenital malformations. Another important advantage of this method for the patient and medical institution is its relative cheapness, the possibility of its outpatient holding, the short duration of the study, as well as the instantaneous acquisition of a snapshot and the interpretation of all data. And because it is so popular in the use for diagnosis of ultrasound of the heart.
What does the study of blood vessels show?
In obese people, as well as patients with diabetes mellitus, the most frequent lesions of the cardiovascular system are atherosclerotic lesions of blood vessels, as well as hyalinosis of their walls. Therefore, it is necessary to check the blood vessels of the heart, because only they feed this important organ, and for its work requires a huge amount of energy and nutrient substrates. So, first , a catheter is inserted into the femoral or subclavian artery , through which the vessels fill the contrast substance, clearly visible on the X-ray screen. The most important method for atherosclerosis, ischemic heart disease, myocardial infarction is a coronary examination of the heart vessels. It reveals their patency, the correctness of their progress. Also, under his control, many operations are carried out on this important organ.
Results
Thus, there are a lot of methods for studying cardiac and vascular pathology, but each of them has strict indications and contraindications, and therefore it is pointless to make them economically unreal and diagnostic. That is why the key link is precisely the competent doctor who carefully prosecutor the patient and will give him the necessary treatment or send him to a more competent institution.