What is supraventricular tachycardia. How does SVT affect heart rhythm. What are the main types of SVT. What causes SVT to occur. How is SVT diagnosed and treated. Who is at risk for developing SVT. Can SVT be prevented or managed long-term.

Understanding Supraventricular Tachycardia: An Overview

Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is a group of heart conditions characterized by an abnormally fast heartbeat originating above the ventricles. The term “supraventricular” refers to the upper chambers of the heart, while “tachycardia” means a rapid heart rate. In SVT, the heart beats more than 100 times per minute at rest, disrupting its normal rhythm and potentially affecting blood flow to the body.

Although SVT can be alarming, it’s usually not life-threatening. However, it’s essential to seek medical attention to properly diagnose and manage the condition. Let’s delve deeper into the intricacies of SVT, its causes, symptoms, and available treatments.

The Anatomy of a Heartbeat: How SVT Disrupts Normal Cardiac Function

To comprehend SVT, it’s crucial to understand how the heart normally functions. The heart is a muscular organ with four chambers: two upper atria and two lower ventricles. Its natural pacemaker, the sinoatrial (SA) node, generates electrical signals that coordinate the heart’s contractions.

In a healthy heart, these signals cause the atria to contract first, followed by the ventricles, creating the familiar “lub-dub” pattern. This process typically occurs 50 to 99 times per minute at rest. However, in SVT, abnormal electrical pathways or signals disrupt this orderly process, causing the heart to beat much faster.

The Electrical Misfires of SVT

During an SVT episode, faulty electrical signals in the atria fire prematurely, interrupting the normal signal from the SA node. This results in the heart beating rapidly through an abnormal pathway, often exceeding 100 beats per minute. These episodes can last anywhere from a few seconds to several hours, potentially causing discomfort and affecting the heart’s ability to pump blood efficiently.

Types of Supraventricular Tachycardia: Unraveling the Complexities

SVT is not a single condition but rather a group of related disorders. Understanding the different types of SVT is crucial for accurate diagnosis and treatment. Here are the three main types:

1. Atrioventricular Nodal Reentrant Tachycardia (AVNRT): This is the most common form of SVT. In AVNRT, an extra electrical pathway in the heart causes signals to circulate repeatedly instead of moving downward to the ventricles.
2. Atrioventricular Reciprocating Tachycardia (AVRT): AVRT occurs when an abnormal pathway connects the atria and ventricles, creating a large loop for electrical signals to travel. This type is often associated with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, an inherited condition that can be serious and requires medical attention.
3. Atrial Tachycardia: In this type, a short circuit in either the right or left atrium triggers a faulty electrical signal, causing rapid heartbeats.

When SVT occurs intermittently, it’s referred to as paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia. This pattern of occasional rapid heartbeats can be particularly challenging for patients and healthcare providers alike.

Unmasking the Causes and Risk Factors of SVT

The exact cause of SVT often remains elusive, with many cases occurring without an apparent reason. However, certain factors can increase the likelihood of developing or triggering SVT episodes:

• Congenital abnormalities: Some individuals are born with extra electrical pathways or circuits in their hearts.
• Scar tissue: Previous heart surgeries can leave behind scar tissue that forms faulty electrical circuits.
• Lifestyle factors: Excessive consumption of caffeine or alcohol, smoking, and high stress levels can contribute to SVT.
• Medications: Certain drugs, including asthma medications and decongestants, may trigger SVT in some people.
• Illicit substances: The use of drugs such as cocaine or methamphetamine can increase the risk of SVT.

It’s worth noting that SVT often first appears in the teens or early twenties, suggesting a potential developmental component to the condition.

Are certain individuals more prone to SVT?

While SVT can affect anyone, some people may be more susceptible. Those with a family history of heart rhythm disorders, individuals who have undergone heart surgery, and people with certain underlying health conditions may have a higher risk of developing SVT. Additionally, hormonal changes, such as those occurring during pregnancy, can sometimes trigger SVT episodes in susceptible individuals.

Recognizing the Symptoms: When Your Heart Races Out of Control

The symptoms of SVT can be alarming and often prompt individuals to seek medical attention. The primary symptom is a rapid heartbeat, which can cause a range of secondary effects. Common symptoms include:

• Palpitations or a pounding sensation in the chest
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain or discomfort
• Fatigue
• Anxiety or panic

In some cases, SVT can cause a drop in blood pressure, leading to fainting or near-fainting episodes. It’s important to note that the severity and combination of symptoms can vary from person to person and even between episodes in the same individual.

Can SVT symptoms be mistaken for other conditions?

Indeed, the symptoms of SVT can sometimes be confused with other heart conditions or even anxiety attacks. This similarity in symptoms underscores the importance of proper medical evaluation. A healthcare provider can help differentiate SVT from other conditions through a combination of patient history, physical examination, and diagnostic tests.

Diagnosing SVT: Unraveling the Mystery of Your Racing Heart

Accurately diagnosing SVT requires a comprehensive approach. When a patient presents with symptoms suggestive of SVT, healthcare providers typically follow these steps:

1. Medical History: The doctor will ask detailed questions about the frequency, duration, and circumstances of the symptoms. They’ll also inquire about any family history of heart problems and lifestyle factors that might contribute to SVT.
2. Physical Examination: A thorough physical exam, including listening to the heart and checking blood pressure, can provide valuable information.
3. Electrocardiogram (ECG): This test records the heart’s electrical activity and is crucial for diagnosing SVT. However, since SVT episodes can be intermittent, a standard ECG might not capture the abnormal rhythm.
4. Holter Monitor: For patients with intermittent symptoms, a portable ECG device worn for 24 to 48 hours can help capture episodes that occur outside the doctor’s office.
5. Event Recorder: Similar to a Holter monitor but worn for a longer period, this device allows patients to activate the recording when they experience symptoms.
6. Electrophysiology Study: In some cases, a more invasive test that involves threading catheters into the heart to study its electrical activity may be necessary.

How accurate are these diagnostic methods for SVT?

The accuracy of SVT diagnosis depends on capturing an episode during testing. While ECGs are highly accurate when they record an SVT event, the intermittent nature of the condition can sometimes make diagnosis challenging. This is why longer-term monitoring devices like Holter monitors and event recorders are often employed. The combination of patient history, physical examination, and these diagnostic tools generally provides a high level of accuracy in diagnosing SVT.

Treatment Options for SVT: Restoring Your Heart’s Rhythm

Once SVT is diagnosed, several treatment options are available. The choice of treatment depends on the frequency and severity of episodes, as well as the patient’s overall health. Here are the main approaches to managing SVT:

1. Vagal Maneuvers: Simple techniques like holding your breath and bearing down, or immersing your face in cold water, can sometimes stop an SVT episode by affecting the vagus nerve.
2. Medications: Various drugs can be used to control heart rate or prevent SVT episodes. These may include beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, or antiarrhythmic drugs.
3. Cardioversion: In some cases, a controlled electric shock to the heart may be used to reset its rhythm.
4. Catheter Ablation: This minimally invasive procedure involves threading catheters into the heart to destroy the abnormal tissue causing the irregular rhythm. It’s often highly effective for long-term SVT management.
5. Surgery: In rare cases where other treatments are ineffective, surgical intervention may be necessary to correct the heart’s electrical pathways.

What is the success rate of SVT treatments?

The success rates of SVT treatments vary depending on the specific type of SVT and the chosen treatment method. Vagal maneuvers and medications can be effective for managing symptoms in many patients. Catheter ablation, in particular, has shown high success rates, with many studies reporting over 90% effectiveness in eliminating SVT. However, as with any medical treatment, there are potential risks and benefits that should be discussed with a healthcare provider.

Living with SVT: Long-Term Management and Lifestyle Considerations

While SVT can be effectively treated, many patients need to adopt long-term strategies to manage their condition and prevent recurrences. Here are some key considerations for living with SVT:

• Lifestyle Modifications: Reducing caffeine and alcohol intake, quitting smoking, and managing stress can help minimize SVT episodes.
• Regular Check-ups: Ongoing monitoring with a cardiologist is important to assess the effectiveness of treatment and make adjustments as needed.
• Medication Adherence: If prescribed medications, it’s crucial to take them as directed and report any side effects to your healthcare provider.
• Trigger Awareness: Keeping a diary of SVT episodes can help identify potential triggers, allowing for better self-management.
• Emergency Plan: Having a clear plan of action for severe SVT episodes, including when to seek immediate medical attention, is essential.

Can SVT be completely cured?

While SVT can often be effectively managed or even eliminated through treatments like catheter ablation, it’s important to note that some patients may experience recurrences. The likelihood of a complete “cure” depends on the specific type of SVT, the chosen treatment method, and individual factors. Many patients achieve long-term remission or significant reduction in symptoms with appropriate treatment and lifestyle management.

Supraventricular tachycardia is a complex but manageable heart condition. With proper diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing care, most individuals with SVT can lead normal, active lives. As research in cardiology continues to advance, new treatments and management strategies may emerge, offering even better outcomes for those affected by this condition. If you suspect you may have SVT or are experiencing concerning heart rhythm symptoms, don’t hesitate to consult with a healthcare professional for proper evaluation and care.

Types, Causes, & Risk Factors

Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors

• How Your Heart Beats
• What Is Supraventricular Tachycardia?
• Causes
• Symptoms
• Diagnosis
• Treatments
• More

Sometimes, a problem with your heart’s electrical signals can make it speed up, even when you’re not anxious or exercising. One type of faster-than-normal heartbeat is called supraventricular tachycardia (SVT).

SVT is a group of heart conditions that all have a few things in common.

The term has Latin roots. Supraventricular means “above the ventricles,” which are the lower two sections of your heart. Tachycardia means “fast heart rate.”

Other conditions can cause your heart to beat too fast. Your doctor will need all the details of your symptoms. They’ll also do a physical exam and record your heartbeats to be sure of the diagnosis.

Most of the time, it doesn’t cause any serious health problems even though a racing heartbeat can be a scary feeling. Still, you should see your doctor about it. When your heart beats too quickly, it can’t pump out enough blood to meet your body’s needs.

Sometimes you might have a drop in blood pressure and feel dizzy or lightheaded. Other times, the only feeling is the rapid heartbeat.

Your doctor can try to bring your heart back into a regular rhythm with medicines and other treatments.

Your heart is a muscular organ that pumps about 100,000 times a day to send oxygen-rich blood out to your body. It has four pumping chambers to do the job. The left and right atria are at the top, and the left and right ventricles are on the bottom.

Your heart also has something of a natural pacemaker. It’s called the sinoatrial node, or SA node, for short. It’s at the top of the heart and sends out electrical signals that keep it beating the right way.

The electrical signal from the SA node makes the muscles of the atria contract to pull blood into the ventricles. Then the signal moves down and causes the muscles of the ventricles to squeeze. That causes blood to go out to the body.

The heart beats like this in a familiar lub-dub pattern some 50 to 99 times a minute if you’re at rest.

The heart normally increases and decreases in speed based on signals that get sent to the SA node. During a bout of SVT, these signals do not occur normally.

Tachycardia is a faster-than-normal heart rate at rest. If you have this condition, your heart beats too quickly — more than 100 times a minute. The “supra” in supraventricular means above the ventricles.

With this condition, the fast heartbeat starts in the top chambers of the heart, the atria. When electrical signals in the atria fire off early, the atria contract too soon. That interrupts the main electrical signal coming from the SA node. This results in the heart beating very quickly through an abnormal and separate pathway.

This condition is divided into three types:

Atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia is the most common form. If you have it, there’s an extra pathway in your heart that causes an electrical signal to circle around and around instead of moving down to the ventricles. This can trigger the rapid heartbeat.

Atrioventricular reciprocating tachycardia happens when an abnormal pathway links the atria and ventricles, causing the signal to move around and around in a big loop.

If you have the inherited condition called Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, you have this extra pathway. This condition can be serious. If it is part of your family history, have it checked.

Atrial tachycardia happens when a short circuit in the right or left atrium triggers a faulty electrical signal.

Bouts of any of these can last from a few seconds to a few hours. When SVT only happens from time to time, it’s called paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia.

Most of the time, SVT happens without any obvious reason. It often starts when you are in your teens or early 20s.

Sometimes you are born with abnormal pathways or electrical circuits in your heart. Faulty circuits can also form out of scar tissue left behind after surgery.

Your heart is more likely to race if you:

• Drink a lot of caffeine and/or alcohol
• Smoke
• Are under a lot of stress or are very tired
• Take certain medicines, such as asthma drugs, decongestants, and some herbal diet remedies
• Take drugs such as cocaine or methamphetamine, also called crystal meth

When your heart beats too quickly, it doesn’t have time to fully refill with blood in between beats. That means it can’t send enough blood out to your body. That can cause:

• Chest pain
• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Shortness of breath

If you have symptoms, your doctor will ask you detailed questions.

They’ll want to know how old you were when you first noticed a problem. They’ll also ask when and how your symptoms began. That includes whether you were exercising when you noticed things such as a rapid pulse, dizziness or a hard time breathing.

Other things they’ll ask you about:

• Whether the symptoms came on suddenly or slowly
• What they feel like to you and how long they tend to last
• Whether you’ve noticed that you’ve had a fast heartbeat after caffeine or stress
• Whether you or anyone in your family has had heart problems or procedures

During your exam, your doctor will listen to your heart and lungs with a stethoscope. They might also:

• Feel your thyroid gland on your neck
• Get your temperature and measure your blood pressure
• Take a small blood sample with a thin needle

EKG test

If your doctor suspects supraventricular tachycardia after hearing about your symptoms, examining you and running some basic tests, they might ask you to get an EKG. You may hear them call it an “electrocardiogram” or an ECG.

This test records your heart’s rhythm over time, so if it’s not beating as it should, it can reveal what the problem is. If you’re getting one, there’s nothing special you need to do ahead of time to get ready.

To set up the test, a nurse or technician will attach six sticky patches called electrodes on your chest and others on your arms and legs. If you have a hairy chest, an aide may need to shave small areas so they stay put.

Each one will go with a wire that leads to a machine. During the test, which takes just a few minutes, you’ll be asked to lie still and breathe normally.

Home monitoring

You might have symptoms just once in a while, so a single EKG in the doctor’s office may not reveal an abnormal heart rate.

In these cases, you might need to wear a device for longer so doctors can record your heart while you’re having symptoms. You may be sent home with one of the following:

A Holter monitor is a small, battery-powered EKG that records your heart’s activity for 24 to 48 hours. The device is about the size of a small camera and has little electrodes placed on your chest while you wear it. You can do most of your daily activities, but you shouldn’t bathe or shower.

An event monitor is also a portable EKG but might be more practical if you have symptoms less than once a day. You can wear it for longer than a Holter and press a button on it when you’re having symptoms. The monitor will record details only for the few minutes you’re feeling the fast heartbeat.

Your doctor may ask you to wear it for days or weeks.

Further tests

If you’re diagnosed based on the results of an EKG, you may need more tests to figure out what type of SVT you have and what’s causing it.

Often, this can include what’s called an “electrophysiology study” so that doctors can learn in more detail how the different sections of your heart are sending electrical signals to each other.

For this test, you are sedated at a hospital or clinic and soft, flexible wires are passed through your veins into your heart. You will need someone to drive you to and from your appointment. Talk to your doctor about how to prepare because this test is more involved.

One treatment for SVT uses medicine to slow the heartbeat.

If that doesn’t fix the problem for you, another option is called ablation. In this procedure, a surgeon burns the pathway that causes the abnormal electrical signals.

If you feel like your heart is fluttering and you have any of the symptoms listed above, make an appointment with your doctor to be tested.

Top Picks

Types, Causes, & Risk Factors

Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors

• How Your Heart Beats
• What Is Supraventricular Tachycardia?
• Causes
• Symptoms
• Diagnosis
• Treatments
• More

Sometimes, a problem with your heart’s electrical signals can make it speed up, even when you’re not anxious or exercising. One type of faster-than-normal heartbeat is called supraventricular tachycardia (SVT).

SVT is a group of heart conditions that all have a few things in common.

The term has Latin roots. Supraventricular means “above the ventricles,” which are the lower two sections of your heart. Tachycardia means “fast heart rate.”

Other conditions can cause your heart to beat too fast. Your doctor will need all the details of your symptoms. They’ll also do a physical exam and record your heartbeats to be sure of the diagnosis.

Most of the time, it doesn’t cause any serious health problems even though a racing heartbeat can be a scary feeling. Still, you should see your doctor about it. When your heart beats too quickly, it can’t pump out enough blood to meet your body’s needs.

Sometimes you might have a drop in blood pressure and feel dizzy or lightheaded. Other times, the only feeling is the rapid heartbeat.

Your doctor can try to bring your heart back into a regular rhythm with medicines and other treatments.

Your heart is a muscular organ that pumps about 100,000 times a day to send oxygen-rich blood out to your body. It has four pumping chambers to do the job. The left and right atria are at the top, and the left and right ventricles are on the bottom.

Your heart also has something of a natural pacemaker. It’s called the sinoatrial node, or SA node, for short. It’s at the top of the heart and sends out electrical signals that keep it beating the right way.

The electrical signal from the SA node makes the muscles of the atria contract to pull blood into the ventricles. Then the signal moves down and causes the muscles of the ventricles to squeeze. That causes blood to go out to the body.

The heart beats like this in a familiar lub-dub pattern some 50 to 99 times a minute if you’re at rest.

The heart normally increases and decreases in speed based on signals that get sent to the SA node. During a bout of SVT, these signals do not occur normally.

Tachycardia is a faster-than-normal heart rate at rest. If you have this condition, your heart beats too quickly — more than 100 times a minute. The “supra” in supraventricular means above the ventricles.

With this condition, the fast heartbeat starts in the top chambers of the heart, the atria. When electrical signals in the atria fire off early, the atria contract too soon. That interrupts the main electrical signal coming from the SA node. This results in the heart beating very quickly through an abnormal and separate pathway.

This condition is divided into three types:

Atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia is the most common form. If you have it, there’s an extra pathway in your heart that causes an electrical signal to circle around and around instead of moving down to the ventricles. This can trigger the rapid heartbeat.

Atrioventricular reciprocating tachycardia happens when an abnormal pathway links the atria and ventricles, causing the signal to move around and around in a big loop.

If you have the inherited condition called Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, you have this extra pathway. This condition can be serious. If it is part of your family history, have it checked.

Atrial tachycardia happens when a short circuit in the right or left atrium triggers a faulty electrical signal.

Bouts of any of these can last from a few seconds to a few hours. When SVT only happens from time to time, it’s called paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia.

Most of the time, SVT happens without any obvious reason. It often starts when you are in your teens or early 20s.

Sometimes you are born with abnormal pathways or electrical circuits in your heart. Faulty circuits can also form out of scar tissue left behind after surgery.

Your heart is more likely to race if you:

• Drink a lot of caffeine and/or alcohol
• Smoke
• Are under a lot of stress or are very tired
• Take certain medicines, such as asthma drugs, decongestants, and some herbal diet remedies
• Take drugs such as cocaine or methamphetamine, also called crystal meth

When your heart beats too quickly, it doesn’t have time to fully refill with blood in between beats. That means it can’t send enough blood out to your body. That can cause:

• Chest pain
• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Shortness of breath

If you have symptoms, your doctor will ask you detailed questions.

They’ll want to know how old you were when you first noticed a problem. They’ll also ask when and how your symptoms began. That includes whether you were exercising when you noticed things such as a rapid pulse, dizziness or a hard time breathing.

Other things they’ll ask you about:

• Whether the symptoms came on suddenly or slowly
• What they feel like to you and how long they tend to last
• Whether you’ve noticed that you’ve had a fast heartbeat after caffeine or stress
• Whether you or anyone in your family has had heart problems or procedures

During your exam, your doctor will listen to your heart and lungs with a stethoscope. They might also:

• Feel your thyroid gland on your neck
• Get your temperature and measure your blood pressure
• Take a small blood sample with a thin needle

EKG test

If your doctor suspects supraventricular tachycardia after hearing about your symptoms, examining you and running some basic tests, they might ask you to get an EKG. You may hear them call it an “electrocardiogram” or an ECG.

This test records your heart’s rhythm over time, so if it’s not beating as it should, it can reveal what the problem is. If you’re getting one, there’s nothing special you need to do ahead of time to get ready.

To set up the test, a nurse or technician will attach six sticky patches called electrodes on your chest and others on your arms and legs. If you have a hairy chest, an aide may need to shave small areas so they stay put.

Each one will go with a wire that leads to a machine. During the test, which takes just a few minutes, you’ll be asked to lie still and breathe normally.

Home monitoring

You might have symptoms just once in a while, so a single EKG in the doctor’s office may not reveal an abnormal heart rate.

In these cases, you might need to wear a device for longer so doctors can record your heart while you’re having symptoms. You may be sent home with one of the following:

A Holter monitor is a small, battery-powered EKG that records your heart’s activity for 24 to 48 hours. The device is about the size of a small camera and has little electrodes placed on your chest while you wear it. You can do most of your daily activities, but you shouldn’t bathe or shower.

An event monitor is also a portable EKG but might be more practical if you have symptoms less than once a day. You can wear it for longer than a Holter and press a button on it when you’re having symptoms. The monitor will record details only for the few minutes you’re feeling the fast heartbeat.

Your doctor may ask you to wear it for days or weeks.

Further tests

If you’re diagnosed based on the results of an EKG, you may need more tests to figure out what type of SVT you have and what’s causing it.

Often, this can include what’s called an “electrophysiology study” so that doctors can learn in more detail how the different sections of your heart are sending electrical signals to each other.

For this test, you are sedated at a hospital or clinic and soft, flexible wires are passed through your veins into your heart. You will need someone to drive you to and from your appointment. Talk to your doctor about how to prepare because this test is more involved.

One treatment for SVT uses medicine to slow the heartbeat.

If that doesn’t fix the problem for you, another option is called ablation. In this procedure, a surgeon burns the pathway that causes the abnormal electrical signals.

If you feel like your heart is fluttering and you have any of the symptoms listed above, make an appointment with your doctor to be tested.

Top Picks

A well-known cardiologist named non-obvious signs of serious problems with the heart and blood vessels

Our expert – Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor, President of the National Society of Preventive Cardiology, Deputy Director General of the National Medical Research Center for Cardiology of the Ministry of Health of Russia Nana Pogosova .

– The most common cardiovascular disease is arterial hypertension, says Nana Vachikovna. Almost every second adult Russian suffers from hypertension. In second place is coronary heart disease, which is manifested by heart attacks – angina pectoris. The most well-known complication of this disease is myocardial infarction. A large number of Russians suffer from cerebrovascular diseases, a formidable complication of which is cerebral strokes. They are followed by heart failure, which develops as a result of some cardiovascular and a number of other diseases. Some patients develop damage to the peripheral arteries – doctors call this disease peripheral atherosclerosis. As the population ages, the number of patients with arrhythmias, in particular, with atrial fibrillation, is growing. There are, of course, other cardiological diseases, for example, heart defects, inflammatory diseases of the myocardium, cardiomyopathies, and others.

Today we will discuss the important signs of “soft” diseases – hypertension, atherosclerosis, angina pectoris.

10 possible signs of high blood pressure

An increase in blood pressure can be accompanied by quite a variety of symptoms:

* headaches or a feeling of heaviness in the head, often in the occipital region, environment,

* tinnitus,

* blurred vision, flickering flies or glare before the eyes,

* palpitations, cardiac discomfort,

* shortness of breath on exertion,

* mood variability, feeling of internal tension, excitement,

* sweating, increased fatigue,

* weakness, restless sleep.

However, in a significant proportion of people, an increase in blood pressure is not accompanied by any subjective manifestations, and even very high pressure values ​​\u200b\u200bare detected quite by accident. The risk of cardiovascular complications does not depend on whether a person feels an increase in blood pressure or not, so everyone needs to measure pressure at regular intervals so as not to miss the onset of arterial hypertension.

External signs of atherosclerosis

* Skin formations – xanthomas – speak of lipid metabolism disorders. These are local deposits of cholesterol and triglycerides. They have a yellowish-brown color and are painless, can be flat or in the form of nodules, usually localized on the skin of the eyelids, neck, extensor surface of the hands. Flat xanthomas on the eyelids are called xanthelasmas. These are small yellowish plaques that protrude above the surface of the skin. If you find such formations in yourself, be sure to go to the doctor: you need to do a blood test for cholesterol and triglycerides. And if it’s xanthomas, you need to make lifestyle changes: increase your intake of vegetables and fruits, limit trans fats, saturated fats and sweets, increase exercise, reduce body weight (if it’s overweight). Your doctor may prescribe a statin drug for you.

* If you are worried about pain in the muscles of the legs, hair loss on the legs – this may be a sign of a violation of the peripheral circulation. In this case, you should also consult a doctor.

* The condition of the oral cavity is also associated with the development of cardiovascular diseases. With periodontal disease and caries, pathogenic bacteria enter the bloodstream, which significantly increases the risk of developing an inflammatory process in the vessels, and hence the risk of atherosclerosis.

When the pain hits the jaw: signs of angina pectoris

An attack of angina causes pain in the chest, most often behind the sternum. Pain can be given to the left half of the chest, to the neck, jaw, to the left shoulder, arm and under the left shoulder blade. Sometimes there is no pain as such, but there is a feeling of discomfort in the chest or sudden shortness of breath and weakness (as an attack is more common in women).

As a rule, angina attacks occur during physical exertion – climbing stairs, walking fast, gardening. Doctors call these attacks angina pectoris. In addition, they can also occur during emotional arousal, stress. An attack usually lasts 2 to 5 minutes.

BTW

Why is cardiovascular disease more common in women?

First, there are women-specific risk factors for cardiovascular disease that are understandably absent in men. These include too early or too late periods, certain problems during pregnancy such as high blood pressure or gestational diabetes, early menopause, certain gynecological conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome and endometriosis. If a woman has had these conditions, she is at increased risk and should regularly monitor her blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood glucose.

Secondly, women have a certain specificity in the clinical picture of cardiovascular diseases. For example, the symptoms of angina pectoris. The main manifestation of an angina attack in men is pressing retrosternal pain with a typical return to the left shoulder and arm. Women complain of typical retrosternal pains much less often, but they have sudden discomfort in the sternum and left half of the chest, severe “deadly” fatigue, shortness of breath, and sweating. Women often overlook these symptoms because they are unaware that they are having a heart attack.

Thirdly, according to statistics, women put off calling an ambulance much longer than men. And this is one of the reasons that their mortality from myocardial infarction is much higher.

Fourthly, there are specific difficulties for women with the diagnosis of coronary heart disease: they have a somewhat different response to physical activity electrocardiogram, and since atherosclerosis in women often affects small coronary arteries, sometimes changes cannot be detected even with coronary angiography.

In addition, cardiovascular diseases, in particular coronary heart disease, tend to be more severe in women and develop more complications than men. Women are more difficult to endure myocardial infarction and need longer rehabilitation. They are at greater risk of thrombosis after a cardiovascular accident.

– Our studies show that women have a much lower quality of life after myocardial infarction and interventions on the vessels of the heart, – says Nana Pogosova. – In connection with all these circumstances, I urge women to be more attentive to their health, not to postpone examinations for later, and at the slightest suspicion of a heart attack, do not delay calling an ambulance.

Source: https://www.kp.ru/

How to recognize heart problems?

Contents:

• Signs of heart disease
• Common heart diseases
• Current problems with the heart and blood vessels
• What to do if there are signs of illness
• Initial examination by a cardiologist
• When do you need to call an ambulance?

Signs of heart disease

• cough that gets worse when lying down. Taking expectorants in this case does not help;
• pain in the chest or in the region of the spine;
• weakness, frequent trembling in the fingers;
• severe pallor, blue tinge of nails, earlobes, lips;
• always high, or vice versa, low blood pressure;
• subfebrile temperature;
• heart rate problems;
• swelling of the legs;
• regular headaches, dizziness, discomfort and soreness while walking;
• feeling short of breath;
• frequent syncope;
• interruptions in the rhythm, or vice versa, the feeling that the heart “wants to jump out. ”

Although the diagnosis should only be made by a doctor, a problem can be suspected even before laboratory diagnosis. The most important symptoms are well known: severe pains in the chest, concentrated in the region of the heart. They give to the shoulder, lower jaw, under the shoulder blade.

Early signs are easy to confuse with many other common pathologies, but the symptoms that appear can draw attention to a health problem, and timely examination will help avoid serious complications. If the diagnosis is carried out on time, in most cases it will be possible not to resort to drug therapy: lifestyle changes and prevention will help.

Heart diseases are pathologies that need to be diagnosed and treated in time. Without medical assistance, the situation can only worsen, which can lead to disastrous consequences. Do not put your life and health at risk – visit a cardiologist!

Diseases of the heart and blood vessels today took the first place in the statistics of pathologies, so everyone should know their symptoms and signs today. Heart disease has become much younger, which is associated with increased stress, sedentary sedentary work and low levels of physical activity, as well as environmental problems.

The particular danger of CVD is that their symptoms in the initial stages are mild, and the patients themselves do not attach serious importance to them.

Common heart diseases

• Arrhythmia. Violation of the rhythm of contraction, as a result of which the work of the whole heart is at risk.
• Heart disease (congenital and acquired). Dysfunction of the heart valves. The disease can be removed surgically.
• Ischemic heart disease. The flow of blood to the heart muscle is markedly reduced, as a result of which a person may experience seizures and shortness of breath.
• Myocardial infarction. Stopping the blood supply to a certain part of the heart. A heart attack puts a person’s life at great risk, so at the first sign of the disease, you should immediately seek medical help.

Current problems with the heart and blood vessels

The first symptoms are associated with insufficient physical activity, excessive consumption of saturated fats, sugar, salt. But, besides this, CVD diseases often occur in people who react too emotionally to everything, as well as in patients with already existing endocrine diseases.

In women, the initial symptoms of CVD often appear during the use of hormonal contraceptives, as well as during menopause. They also often develop after injuries or severe infections. The risk groups include personnel of enterprises where an increased level of industrial noise and vibration is noted. Smoking is of great importance in the occurrence of diseases.

Medical technologies are developing year by year, but atherosclerosis, ischemic diseases, strokes continue to be the first causes of high mortality. In Russia, heart disease accounts for 58% of non-communicable causes of death and 58% of non-communicable causes of death. At the same time, more than 40% of patients die at working age.

It is very important to identify the signs as early as possible in men, as the risk of death from these diseases increases with age. If at the age of 25 – 30 such a risk for men and women can be considered the same, then at the age of 65 there are already three times more dead men. Signs of diseases increase gradually and constantly, which means that an adequate choice of treatment regimen will help prolong an active life.

What to do if signs of illness are detected

To reduce the likelihood of illness, you need to stop smoking, reduce the dose and frequency of alcohol intake or eliminate it completely, increase physical activity, and ensure yourself a good rest. It is also necessary to normalize the emotional background. The diet should contain sufficient levels of potassium, calcium, magnesium. Mediterranean and DASH are considered useful. It is necessary to strictly limit the amount of table salt.

In order to detect diseases in time, you should:

• once a year, starting from the age of 20, measure blood pressure;
• do a lipidogram every four years;
• from the age of forty to regularly control the level of sugar;
• in case of disturbing sensations, immediately visit a cardiologist.

If there is a family history, the frequency of doctor visits and examinations may increase significantly. The patient will be able to help the doctor if he keeps a diary of monitoring pressure and general well-being for at least a week.

Primary examination by a cardiologist

If you are going to an appointment with a cardiologist, you need to take with you the examinations you already have, as well as your blood pressure data for the week. You should also write down in detail all the medications you take, with schedules and dosages. At the appointment, the doctor will analyze and evaluate risk factors, complaints, examine you, prescribe additional examinations. To increase the information content of visiting a doctor, it is necessary to have ECG results – preferably no more than 7 days old, as well as a previous film for comparison, blood tests – clinical, glucose, lipidogram, creatinine, urea, uric acid, AST, ALT, total protein, as well as echocardiogram.

Having the results of examinations in hand, the doctor will be able to quickly understand the problem and prescribe treatment. If these data are not available, you can undergo diagnostics and pass the necessary tests in our clinic. For diagnostics, we use modern equipment and devices. Contact our clinic, we will be happy to help you. The central clinic of the Bibirevo district will keep your heart healthy!

Remember that you should not visit a cardiologist only when necessary. Young people should be examined by a doctor at least once every couple of years, and after 40 years – once a year.

When do you need to call an ambulance?

Emergency symptoms may come on suddenly and unexpectedly.