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Heart disease
How to relieve vomiting caused by heart disease?
Treatment for vomiting caused by heart disease must depend on its cause. First, if caused by heart failure, as the symptoms of heart failure worsen, including right-sided heart failure, patients may experience nausea, vomiting, and bloating after eating. The key in these cases is to correct heart failure, perhaps with intravenous diuretic medications or the newer diuretic drug tolvaptan, which can alleviate symptoms of vomiting caused by heart failure. Secondly, digoxin toxicity can cause vomiting if patients with heart failure are taking too much or have been on digoxin for a prolonged period. The primary action in these instances is to discontinue the digoxin medication promptly. Thirdly, if associated with gastritis, treatment would involve medications to stop vomiting and oral omeprazole to protect the stomach lining. (Medications should be taken under medical supervision.)
How do you get heart disease?
There are many causes of heart disease, the most common being coronary atherosclerotic heart disease, which is due to long-term hyperlipidemia leading to arteriosclerosis. After the coronary arteries harden, the lumen narrows, resulting in insufficient myocardial blood supply and the onset of coronary heart disease. Rheumatic heart disease occurs when the body is infected with streptococcus and does not receive adequate treatment, leading to an abnormal immune response that attacks the heart valves, causing valve damage. Pulmonary heart disease is caused by long-term insufficient ventilation leading to emphysema, and pulmonary hypertension increases the resistance on the heart, causing right ventricular hypertrophy.
Is hyperthyroid heart disease dangerous?
Hyperthyroidism can repeatedly cause an increase in heart rate and metabolism, which is quite active, causing a long-term overload of heart function, leading to the formation of hyperthyroid heart disease, a chronic pathological change process. In the middle and early stages, it generally does not pose a life-threatening risk, only manifesting symptoms such as palpitations, tightness after activity, breathlessness, or chest tightness, which can improve with rest. However, if hyperthyroidism is not cured for a long time, or if hyperthyroid heart disease is not treated in time, it can lead to severe heart failure. If there is a severe decline in heart pump function, causing the ejection fraction to be below 30%, it can easily cause sudden pump failure or severe arrhythmias, such as ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation, posing a life-threatening risk to the patient.
Can a cardiac ultrasound detect thyrotoxic heart disease?
Cardiac ultrasound examinations cannot directly diagnose hyperthyroid heart disease, which often leads to an enlargement of the heart and a reduction in cardiac pumping function. Cardiac ultrasound can detect these structural changes in the heart caused by hyperthyroidism and can assess heart function, but it cannot determine if these are caused by an overactive thyroid. A combination of blood tests for thyroid function or a thyroid ultrasound is needed for a comprehensive diagnosis. If the thyroid ultrasound shows a rich blood flow in the thyroid region, appearing flame-like, or if the blood tests show a significant decrease in thyroid-stimulating hormone, in conjunction with cardiac ultrasound, it can confirm the presence of hyperthyroid heart disease.
Can people with heart disease drink alcohol?
Patients with heart disease should avoid drinking alcohol, especially those with severe conditions such as heart failure and arrhythmias. Drinking can excite the sympathetic nervous system, increasing heart rate and triggering episodes of arrhythmia, and exacerbating heart failure. Heart disease patients typically require medication, and consuming alcohol during treatment can cause chemical changes in some medications, affecting their effectiveness. Both alcohol and medications need to be detoxified in the liver, so drinking while on medication can increase the liver's burden, potentially leading to long-term liver damage.
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 heart disease cause numbness in the hands?
Heart disease, such as coronary atherosclerotic heart disease, can potentially cause numbness in the hands. When angina or myocardial infarction of coronary heart disease occurs, there is often severe chest pain. This chest pain may be accompanied by pain and numbness in the left shoulder or left hand. During episodes of pain, an electrocardiogram often shows significant ST depression or ST elevation. This condition is commonly seen in middle-aged and elderly patients. In addition, cervical spondylosis can also cause numbness in the hands, often seen in young people who spend long periods looking down at their mobile phones or using computers, usually showing symptoms of neck pain. A cervical spine MRI can often determine whether cervical spondylosis is causing these symptoms.
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.
How long does heart disease generally hurt?
1. Chest pain caused by angina due to coronary heart disease is located in the middle to lower third of the sternum, with unclear boundaries. It is often triggered by physical activities or emotional excitement and may radiate to the throat, lower jaw, left shoulder, and inner side of the left arm. The pain lasts for a few minutes to more than ten minutes, typically between three to five minutes, and rarely exceeds half an hour. It can be relieved by rest or by taking nitroglycerin under the tongue. The nature of the pain is feelings of stuffiness, pressure, or constriction, and may also feel like a burning sensation, but is not sharp like needle pricks or cuts. 2. The location and nature of the chest pain in acute myocardial infarction are the same as with angina, but it lasts longer, is more severe, and its triggers are less evident. It can occur even while at rest, accompanied by symptoms such as sweating, nausea, vomiting, heart palpitations, and difficulty breathing. Unlike with angina, regular rest or taking nitroglycerin under the tongue does not completely alleviate the pain.
How to prevent heart disease
In clinical settings, heart diseases include congenital heart disease, coronary heart disease, rheumatic heart disease, pneumonic heart disease, cardiomyopathy, etc. Some diseases are preventable, such as the most common coronary heart disease. The occurrence of coronary heart disease is due to long-term lipid metabolism disorders and increased blood lipids, which cause arteriosclerosis and subsequent coronary atherosclerosis, leading to insufficient myocardial blood supply and myocardial damage. Preventing and treating hyperlipidemia and reducing arteriosclerosis can decrease the incidence of coronary heart disease.