Metabolic changes in the myocardium: features, symptoms, causes and treatment

Every person is recommended to undergo a full medical examination at least once a year. As you know, the heart is the most important organ, and its verification is mandatory. Modern equipment allows you to diagnose most of the heart diseases. For example, metabolic changes in the myocardium are deviations from isoline segments when conducting an electrocardiogram. And usually this is a sign of a disease. Such changes can lead to a violation of the contractility of the heart. However, even a healthy person sometimes exhibits such deviations.

How to identify abnormalities on the ECG

Any patient who complains of heart problems should undergo an electrocardiogram. It allows doctors to learn the complete and, most importantly, accurate information about the status of this body. The essence of this procedure is to analyze the indicators of electric charge, which provokes the reduction of the heart muscle.

This is as follows: electrodes are attached to the patient's body, the effect of which is presented in the form of a graph on paper. After deciphering this scheme, the doctor understands how the heart works in a particular patient, and whether there are any violations.

If there are no deviations, then the electrical activity will be uniform. Metabolic changes in the myocardium will be reflected by corresponding deviations. The reasons for such violations can be very different, and some of them require prompt treatment, while others do not pose a danger. But in most cases, metabolic changes in the myocardium on the ECG are an additional symptom to a more serious disease.

Classification of pathologies

The cardiac muscle is prone to abnormalities, and they can develop in two types: focal and metabolic. The first arise, as a rule, as a result of a heart attack. As for the latter, they are divided into diffuse and dismetabolic.

The first say that the heart is inflammatory, or there are metabolic disorders. Such deviations can lead not only to problems with heart failure, but also to a malfunction of water balance in the body.

Quite common are dismetabolic changes in the myocardium, which indicate damage to the heart muscle. These disorders are clearly visible on cardiograms of patients suffering from ischemia or angina.

A change in myocardium of a metabolic character occurs as a result of a lack of oxygen in the heart. And also it can be a consequence of avitaminosis or poisoning.

Causes of ailment

It is important to understand that this pathology is not an independent disease - it acts as a symptom for more serious ailments. Metabolic changes in the myocardium are characteristic for violations of the cardiovascular system.

And the most common cause of the deviation is angina pectoris, which is a discrepancy between the actual flow of blood and the need for it. This disease develops as a result of formations that subsequently block the flow of blood flow, leading to myocardial infarction.

Also, metabolic changes are a sign of hypertension, arrhythmia, heart disease and other diseases related to this group. In addition, such deviations may result from other problems:

• Incorrect metabolism;
• Excess weight;
• Bad habits;
• Poisoning by chemicals;
• Infections and allergies.

Metabolic changes in the myocardium in a child most often occur as a result of getting into the body of viral infections or in the presence of malformations of the heart muscle. In most cases, these deviations in childhood are not dangerous.

Main features

Symptoms of the described pathology vary depending on which disease became the cause of the changes. But doctors still distinguish four common features, which are worth paying attention to. These symptoms are common to all patients in the presence of this deviation:

• Unpleasant pain in the chest;
• Problems with the heart rhythm;
• After physical exertion, dyspnea appears;
• fast fatiguability.

Such unpleasant moments in most cases act as a warning and a more serious illness. Determine the reliability of information can be during the passage of an electrocardiogram. As we have already said, metabolic changes in the ventricular myocardium are allocated by the corresponding lines on the graph.

Diagnostics

But sometimes abnormalities found during the procedure are not accompanied by painful sensations. This may mean that there is nothing terrible, and there is no danger to health. However, doctors to make a diagnosis pay attention to the following symptoms:

• weakness;
• Severe dizziness;
• Abrupt weight loss or weight gain;
• Trembling hands.

If such symptoms are found together with moderate metabolic changes in the myocardium, then a complete examination including the ECG is prescribed. For patients, a general blood test is mandatory, where the level of hemoglobin and leukocytes is examined. In addition, it is recommended to perform ultrasound of internal organs.

Methods of treatment

As already noted, metabolic changes in the myocardium can be caused by a large number of causes, and doctors are repelled by this when prescribing therapy. In other words, in each specific case the method of treatment will be different.

General therapy is aimed at normalizing the heart, eliminating insufficiency and relieving spasms. Effective for this are considered drugs containing potassium salts. Doctors often recommend taking energy supplies that help improve oxygen intake. In addition, the course of treatment should definitely add a vitamin complex and physiotherapy procedures.

The most common deviation of the cardiac muscle is a metabolic change in the left ventricular myocardium. This is due to the structure of the organ. To combat deviations, it will be necessary to change the habitual way of life:

• Get rid of bad habits;
• To address to the psychologist for normalization of an emotional condition;
• Make a balanced diet;
• Do not overload yourself with physical exertion;
• Take regular walks;
• Provide yourself a full rest.

Nonspecific lesions

In rare cases, when performing an electrocardiogram, doctors detect nonspecific lesions. Most often, they are out of the heart, and therefore do not attract special attention. Usually the lesions are located on the ventricles of the myocardium. They appear as a result of malnutrition, metabolic disorders in the body, and so on.

Metabolic changes in the myocardium of this nature in most cases are not dangerous, but this does not mean that they do not need to be paid attention. Sometimes they are able to develop into serious heart pathologies, provoking such diseases as heart failure, angina pectoris, etc. In order to reduce the risk of diseases, two times a year it is examined by a cardiologist.

Conclusion

The described deviations are quite common. Most often, they are caused by the wrong way of life, and if it is corrected, the work of the heart muscle will also be restored. Here the main role is played by the diet. To normalize the reduction of the heart muscle, it is recommended to consume fish, low-fat meat and poultry, dairy products, cereals, prunes. Daily it is necessary to add fresh vegetables and fruits to your diet. In addition, try not to consume alcohol, chocolate, sodas and fatty foods.

Many people suffer from pain in the heart area, and not all of them turn to a specialist for help. In this regard, a large number of unpleasant situations arise. Therefore, when the first symptoms appear, you should immediately register for an appointment with a doctor and find out the cause of the pain.