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Xie Zhi Hong
Cardiology
About me
The Secretary-General and Standing Committee Member of the Cardiovascular Disease Professional Committee of the Rehabilitation Medical Association in Ganzhou City, and a member of the Ganzhou City Working Committee of the Heart Emergency Branch of the China Medical Health International Exchange Promotion Association. He has chaired 4 provincial and municipal-level research projects, participated in more than 20 research projects, and published over 20 papers.
Proficient in diseases
Specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of coronary heart disease, hypertension, and structural heart disease. Research interests include hypertension, coronary heart disease, arrhythmia, and cardiac rehabilitation.
Voices
How to prevent coronary heart disease in its early stages
Coronary heart disease is caused by a variety of reasons leading to arteriosclerosis of cardiac vessels or narrowing, resulting in insufficient cardiac blood supply. Common risk factors for coronary heart disease include older age, smoking, high blood lipid levels, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, among others. Generally, aging is unavoidable, but we can prevent the progression of coronary heart disease by quitting smoking, controlling blood sugar, blood pressure, and blood lipid levels. It is also important to control weight, reduce the intake of fatty foods, improve lifestyle, exercise regularly, keep a regular schedule, and avoid excessive fatigue. These are the methods for the early prevention of coronary heart disease, and medication may be necessary when needed.
Is hyperthyroid heart disease difficult to treat?
Hyperthyroidism occurs when an excessive amount of T3 and T4 is released by the thyroid gland, leading to hyperactive metabolism throughout the body. This can cause disturbances in autonomic nervous function or receptor hyperactivity, resulting in a series of conditions related to excessive cardiac load and insufficient blood supply. Therefore, the majority of hyperthyroidism-related heart diseases improve after controlling the hyperthyroidism and are relatively easy to treat. However, if the thyroid function is not controlled repeatedly, or if the treatment is not effective, it may lead to severe enlargement of the heart and recurrent arrhythmias, making hyperthyroid heart disease difficult to cure. Nonetheless, such cases are relatively rare, with an incidence of less than 10%.
Can cardiogenic sudden death cause vomiting?
Sudden cardiac death is commonly seen in three scenarios. The first scenario involves severe arrhythmias, such as ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, or cardiac arrest, which do not cause vomiting. The second scenario is due to severe valvular dysfunction caused by acute myocardial infarction or valvular disease, which also generally does not cause vomiting. The third scenario concerns patients with severe cardiac diseases who have mural thrombi in their hearts. If a thrombus detaches, it can lead to fatal systemic embolism. For instance, if the thrombus travels to the cerebral arteries, it can cause cerebellar or cerebral artery occlusion, leading to brain herniation. This may result in symptoms such as headache, nausea, vomiting, and limb dysfunction. If it travels to the mesenteric artery, it can cause gastrointestinal pain and result in vomiting. Therefore, some cases of sudden cardiac death may cause vomiting.
Can a normal heart rate have atrial fibrillation?
Atrial fibrillation includes paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and persistent atrial fibrillation. Patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation may have a normal heart rate during non-attack periods. In contrast, those with persistent atrial fibrillation continuously experience atrial fibrillation rates, presenting with irregular heart sounds of varying intensity. A normal electrocardiogram displays P waves, QRS complexes, and T waves. However, patients with atrial fibrillation either do not exhibit P waves or show irregularly sized, serrated P waves resembling dog teeth, suggesting atrial fibrillation. Therefore, although atrial fibrillation is associated with arrhythmias, individuals with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation may have a normal heart rate but experience repeated palpitations, chest tightness, discomfort in the precordial region, and fatigue. Therefore, patients who frequently experience palpitations should undergo a 24-hour Holter monitor test or consider esophageal electrophysiological examinations to rule out arrhythmic disorders, such as atrial fibrillation and supraventricular tachycardia. Hence, a normal heart rate does not exclude the presence of atrial fibrillation in individuals with corresponding symptoms.
What will happen if patent ductus arteriosus is not treated with surgery?
Patients with patent ductus arteriosus are characterized by a congenital connection between the pulmonary artery and the aortic arch. This is a remnant passageway that was used during embryonic development to supply blood within the umbilical vessels, ensuring the development of the infant. Normally, this ductus arteriosus may close on its own within a few months. If it does not close after one year from birth, it is considered a patent ductus arteriosus. This condition can lead to increased workload on the heart. Because it allows blood pumped into the aorta to return to the right ventricle, over time, this can increase the burden on the left ventricle as well as the right ventricle. This may lead to heart failure and, in severe cases, trigger Eisenmenger's syndrome. If this condition reaches such a state, the patient loses the opportunity for surgery, resulting in a shortened lifespan.
Is there a difference between sudden cardiac death and myocardial infarction?
Sudden cardiac death refers to the death of patients caused by various reasons such as cardiac enlargement, ventricular aneurysm, cardiac valve dysfunction, arrhythmias, and cardiac infections. Myocardial infarction leading to myocardial death is just one type of sudden cardiac death, mainly due to insufficient cardiac blood supply, leading to arrhythmias, heart failure, shock, acute death caused by the formation of intracardiac thrombosis, or death caused by complications after a heart attack. Therefore, the range of sudden cardiac death is quite broad, including myocardial infarction.
Which place is the best for a heart disease massage?
Premature cardiac contractions can occur in normal individuals. For younger people, fewer than 3 contractions per minute generally poses no issue, whereas for older individuals, fewer than 5 per minute is considered normal. However, it is recommended to conduct a 24-hour Holter monitor test. If this test shows more than 10,000 occurrences in 24 hours, it is advisable to consult a specialist to determine if medication or hospital treatment, such as radiofrequency ablation, is needed. Additionally, it is crucial to investigate the causes of premature cardiac contractions. If serious diseases are ruled out, it may be helpful to massage corresponding acupoints. Generally, massaging acupoints like the Neiguan and Hegu, which are associated with the kidney and heart meridians, is suggested. Massage of the Fuxi acupoint is also recommended; located at the front of the thigh, it is easier to massage when seated with the knee bent at a 90-degree angle.
Can mitral valve insufficiency be detected on a chest radiograph?
Mitral valve insufficiency is characterized by an enlarged heart, and a blowing murmur can be heard during mitral valve systole through auscultation. Therefore, in chest X-ray examinations, an enlargement of the left lower cardiac border can be observed. Some severe cases may exhibit pulmonary artery hypertension, indicated by a prominent pulmonary artery segment; additionally, patients with heart failure may show increased pulmonary blood flow, all of which aid in the diagnosis of mitral valve insufficiency. However, this is not the definitive diagnosis, which should be determined through echocardiography. Especially through Doppler imaging, the enlargement of heart structures, the mosaic blood flow caused by mitral valve insufficiency, and changes in blood flow speed and direction can be clearly diagnosed. Therefore, the primary diagnostic tool for mitral valve insufficiency is not the chest X-ray, which only shows indirect signs, but echocardiography.
Why does patent ductus arteriosus cause differential cyanosis?
The arterial duct refers to a blood vessel connecting the main pulmonary artery and the aorta, which is normally present during fetal development. It allows blood from the mother's placenta to seep into the pulmonary artery and then enter the aorta to supply the entire body's vasculature. After the birth of an infant, this blood vessel naturally closes, typically within 3 months, and most people will have it closed by 1 year. If it has not closed after 1 year, it is referred to as patent ductus arteriosus. Because the arterial duct can connect the aorta and the main pulmonary artery, blood from the systemic circulation in the aorta may directly return to the pulmonary artery at this time. If the pulmonary artery blood flow significantly increases, it can lead to pulmonary arterial hypertension and might also cause right ventricular hypertrophy. Increased cardiac workload can lead to right-sided heart failure and may also cause left-sided heart failure. When severe left-sided heart failure occurs, a right-to-left shunt can develop, which allows pulmonary artery blood to directly enter the aorta, causing venous blood to be delivered directly into the systemic circulation. At this point, differential cyanosis occurs, characterized by bluish discoloration of the upper limbs and mild blueness in the lower limbs.
Is ventricular septal defect related to premature birth?
Generally, premature birth is not related to ventricular septal defect. Although a premature infant is born early, their heart structure, lungs, and other body structures are normal. Ventricular septal defect is often caused by a developmental disorder of the septum during the fetal period, manifesting as left-to-right or right-to-left shunting. Generally, patients with a simple ventricular septal defect can survive normally. They can be completely cured through interventional treatment or surgical surgery, so there is no need to worry excessively. There is no direct connection between ventricular septal defect and premature birth.