About-Cardio
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We provide our users the most up-to-date and accurate information on the treatment and prevention of cardio pathologies in accordance with current American and European clinical guidelines.
The information provided on this website is for educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult a licensed physician for diagnosis and treatment.
Cardiac Examination
Introduction
A cardiac examination is the process doctors use to assess the health of your heart. It includes a combination of history-taking, physical examination, and diagnostic tests to detect heart diseases such as coronary artery disease, heart failure, and valve disorders.
Step-by-Step Cardiac Examination
1. Medical History
- Symptoms: Chest pain, shortness of breath, palpitations, dizziness.
- Risk factors: High blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, family history of heart disease.
- Lifestyle: Diet, physical activity, alcohol use, stress levels.
2. Physical Examination
General Inspection
- Skin color (pale or bluish may suggest poor circulation).
- Swelling in legs (possible heart failure sign).
- Visible pulsations in neck veins (Jugular Venous Pressure - JVP assessment).
Palpation (Feeling the Heartbeat with Hands)
- Apical impulse: Felt in the chest, showing heart function and size.
- Pulses: Checking rate, rhythm, and strength of pulses in wrist, neck, and legs.
Percussion (Tapping the Chest)
- Helps estimate heart size and detect abnormalities.
Auscultation (Listening with a Stethoscope)
- Heart sounds: Normal “lub-dub” noises.
- Murmurs: Extra sounds indicating valve disease.
- Gallops or rubs: May indicate heart failure or pericarditis.
3. Diagnostic Tests
- Electrocardiogram (ECG): Records electrical activity of the heart.
- Echocardiogram: Uses ultrasound to visualize heart function.
- Chest X-ray: Checks for heart enlargement.
- Blood tests: Measure cholesterol, troponins (heart attack markers), and other important markers.
- Cardiac MRI or CT scan: Provides detailed imaging of heart structures.
Conclusion
A complete cardiac examination is essential for diagnosing and monitoring heart conditions. Regular check-ups and a healthy lifestyle help maintain heart health and prevent serious diseases.
Source recommendations
1. American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiovascular Examination
- https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/consumer-healthcare/what-is-cardiovascular-disease/heart-health-screenings
- https://professional.heart.org/en/guidelines-and-statements/prevent-calculator
- https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-failure/diagnosing-heart-failure/common-tests-for-heart-failure
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24222018/
- https://elearning.heart.org/courses
2. European Society of Cardiology Guidelines for Cardiovascular Risk Assessment
- https://www.escardio.org/Guidelines/Clinical-Practice-Guidelines/CVD-and-Diabetes-Guidelines
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34458905/
- https://www.escardio.org/Guidelines/Clinical-Practice-Guidelines/CVD-Prevention-Guidelines
- https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/article/42/34/3227/6358713
- https://www.escardio.org/Guidelines/Clinical-Practice-Guidelines/ESC-Guidelines-on-non-cardiac-surgery-cardiovascular-assessment-and-managem
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If you or your loved ones experience any of these symptoms, you should consult a doctor in time. Remember that self-medication can be dangerous, and timely diagnosis will preserve the quality and life expectancy.
The heart is an organ that does not know how to "keep silent" if something goes wrong. Chest pain, shortness of breath, swelling, dizziness, and rhythm disturbances are the symptoms that require our attention. The best prevention of heart disease is careful attention to your health, regular checkups with a doctor, and a healthy lifestyle. Take care of your heart, and it will serve you for many years!
Our advantages:
Best practices from USA, EU and Japan
Our answers to your questions are based on the clinical recommendations of countries with the most developed healthcare systems in the field of cardiology in the USA, the EU and Japan.
Always up-to-date information
On a daily basis, we monitor for you all new scientific research publications in leading scientific journals on medical issues of interest to you.
We monitor all innovations and changes in the field of cardiac disease treatment on a daily basis.
We monitor all innovations and changes in the field of cardiac disease treatment on a daily basis.
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Every 3-5 years, half of the scientific approaches to treatment in the field of cardiology are reviewed as a result of specialized scientific discoveries. With us, you don't have to wait these years to learn about the best ways to treat you and your loved ones.
Every 3-5 years, half of the scientific approaches to treatment in the field of cardiology are reviewed as a result of specialized scientific discoveries. With us, you don't have to wait these years to learn about the best ways to treat you and your loved ones.