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Chen Ya
Geriatrics
About me
Hunan University of Chinese Medicine Hospital, Department of Geriatrics, attending physician.
Proficient in diseases
Specializes in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.
Voices
What to do when coronary heart disease occurs suddenly?
Coronary heart disease is the abbreviation for coronary atherosclerotic heart disease. It refers to the narrowing or blockage of the coronary artery vessels due to arteriosclerotic lesions, causing myocardial ischemia, hypoxia, or necrosis, leading to heart disease. Its attacks are often related to seasonal changes, emotional excitement, increased physical activity, overeating, heavy smoking, and drinking. When sudden coronary heart disease occurs, the first step is to eliminate these triggering factors, such as immediately calming down when emotionally agitated, or immediately resting in bed if active. Rest should be the priority. If resting and removing triggers do not relieve symptoms, sublingual administration of nitrate and rapid-action heart-saving pills can be used; generally, these medications can relieve symptoms. If relief is still not obtained, it is advised to seek medical attention promptly nearby. In cases of sudden unbearable pain, a sense of impending death, and intense pain despite taking rapid-action heart-saving pills, it is advised to call emergency services (dial 120) immediately to compete for time to prevent acute myocardial infarction, where emergency surgery might be available.
Can coronary heart disease patients soak their feet?
People with coronary heart disease can soak their feet, but it is recommended not to do so during an angina attack. When soaking feet, the high water temperature causes the capillaries in the lower limbs to dilate, increasing blood supply to the lower limbs, which can correspondingly reduce the blood supply to the heart, easily leading to myocardial ischemia and angina attacks. Additionally, the soaking should not be too long, and the water temperature should not be too high. It is suggested that a 10-minute soak is appropriate, and a water temperature of around 37 to 38 degrees Celsius is advisable. Too high a temperature is not beneficial for patients with coronary heart disease.
Sequelae of cerebral hemorrhage
The most common sequelae of cerebral hemorrhage is hemiplegia, which is specifically characterized by reduced muscle strength in the limbs on one side, difficulty in movement or complete immobility, often accompanied by sensory impairments on the same side, such as reduced sensation to cold, heat, pain, etc., or complete numbness. Sometimes there may also be vision loss on the affected side, as well as aphasia, headache, vertigo, and nausea.
How long can coronary heart disease last?
Coronary heart disease, although having an annual sudden death rate of about 1%-5%, can significantly reduce the mortality rate with standardized treatment. There is currently no medical prediction on how long someone with coronary heart disease can live, as advances in medicine mean that as long as one undergoes standardized treatment using the most scientific, advanced, and regulated methods, and also pays attention to their lifestyle and conditioning, their lifespan should not be affected.
What should be paid attention to in daily life with arrhythmia?
For managing arrhythmias, it's important to pay attention to several aspects. First, maintain a regular lifestyle and ensure adequate sleep. Second, the living environment should be quiet and serene to avoid noise, and it’s beneficial to grow various plants for a better temperament. Third, balance work and rest according to personal capacities and engage in appropriate physical activities such as walking, Tai Chi, and Qigong; moderate sexual activities and avoid colds. Fourth, strive to maintain a standard weight and not indulge in overeating, as obesity can increase cardiac load. Fifth, be mindful of changes in seasons, weather, and climate, as extreme cold or hot conditions can significantly impact the disease, potentially aggravating or triggering arrhythmias. Sixth, diet should be light with frequent, small meals, and avoid coffee, strong alcohol, fried foods, and minimise strong tea. Seventh, keep a stable emotional state and try to eliminate stress, fear, anxiety, irritation, and anger which are stimulants that could negatively affect your emotions. Eighth, in addition to daily medications, have emergency medications prescribed by a doctor on hand, such as Xintiandan, Shexiang Baoxin Pill, Xintongding, Atropine, etc. Ninth, if there are sudden exacerbations of arrhythmia accompanied by palpitations, chest tightness, dizziness, low blood pressure, and sweating, and in severe cases fainting, seek medical attention promptly.
How to treat arrhythmia?
The treatment of arrhythmias should be based on the symptoms of the patients with arrhythmias, the type of arrhythmias, and their impact on hemodynamics. Control of arrhythmias during episodes involves removing the cause and focus of the disease and preventing recurrence, which can be divided into non-pharmacological and pharmacological treatments. Non-pharmacological treatments include methods such as eyeball compression, carotid sinus massage, pinching the nose to exhale forcefully and hold breath to reflexively excite the vagus nerve, along with electrical treatments like electrical cardioversion, defibrillation, pacemaker implantation, and ablation surgery. There are mainly four types of drugs used: sodium channel blockers; beta-adrenergic blockers; drugs selectively prolonging the repolarization process, such as amiodarone; and calcium channel blockers. However, long-term use of these antiarrhythmic drugs can have varying degrees of side effects, and severe cases can cause ventricular arrhythmias or cardiac conduction block which can be fatal. Therefore, in clinical application, it is essential to strictly control the indications, monitor for adverse reactions, and rigorously follow the doctor's orders.
Can people with coronary heart disease eat beef?
Patients with coronary heart disease can appropriately eat some beef in their daily life, as beef is rich in protein content and contains a variety of amino acids, which can provide sufficient nutrients to the human body. Also, its fat and cholesterol content are relatively low, so generally, it would not exacerbate the condition too much. However, the diet for coronary heart disease should generally be light, and it is recommended to balance meat with vegetables, focusing more on vegetables. Additionally, eating beef in the cold winter also has a stomach-warming effect, making it more suitable during that time. In contrast, it might not be suitable in the summer, especially for those with internal heat. Beef is more appropriate for individuals with qi deficiency, shortness of breath, weak body, aching muscles and bones, and those suffering from chronic anemia and dizziness. However, excessive consumption can still increase the burden on patients with coronary heart disease, so it is advised to consume in small amounts and not excessively.
Can people who have had a cerebral infarction eat mutton?
Patients with cerebral infarction can appropriately consume mutton, but it depends on the specific condition of each individual. It is advised that those in the acute phase with internal phlegm-heat refrain from eating mutton. However, during the recovery or post-stroke phase, if the patient is weak, malnourished, and shows symptoms of yang deficiency, consuming mutton is appropriate as it is warm in nature and can nourish the kidney and yang, and warm and strengthen the body. Nevertheless, it is important to consume it in moderation to avoid excessive internal heat.
Arrhythmia refers to what?
Arrhythmia refers to the abnormal origination or conduction of impulses in the heart due to abnormal activation of the sinoatrial node, slow conduction, blockages, or passage through abnormal pathways, leading to abnormalities in the frequency and/or rhythm of the heartbeat. Arrhythmias are a significant group of cardiovascular diseases. They can occur alone or in conjunction with other cardiovascular diseases. The prognosis of arrhythmias depends on their causes, triggers, trends in progression, and whether they lead to severe hemodynamic disturbances, potentially causing sudden death or continuous impairment of heart function leading to heart failure.
Does arrhythmia cause nausea?
Mild arrhythmias, such as sinus bradycardia, sinus arrhythmia, occasional atrial premature contractions, and first-degree atrioventricular block, have minimal impact on hemodynamics, so they generally do not show obvious clinical symptoms. In cases of severe arrhythmias, such as sick sinus syndrome, rapid atrial fibrillation, paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia, and sustained ventricular tachycardia, significant arrhythmias affect hemodynamics, reduce blood flow, and cause mesenteric artery spasm, which can lead to clinical manifestations of gastrointestinal ischemia, such as nausea, and even bleeding, ulcers, or paralysis.