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 Physical Exam
Introduction
The cardiac physical exam is a key component of diagnosing and assessing heart health. It provides valuable insights into heart function, potential valve disorders, heart failure, and other cardiovascular diseases without the need for advanced imaging.
Key Components of the Cardiac Exam
1. General Inspection
- Assess the patient's general appearance, breathing pattern, and skin color (pale or bluish skin may indicate poor circulation).
- Look for signs of heart disease such as jugular venous distension (JVD), which may indicate right heart failure.
2. Palpation (Touch Examination)
- Point of Maximal Impulse (PMI): The PMI is normally located at the left 5th intercostal space, mid-clavicular line. A displaced PMI may indicate an enlarged heart.
- Pulses: Assess the radial, carotid, and femoral pulses for rate, rhythm, and regularity.
- Thrills: A palpable vibration may indicate a significant heart murmur.
3. Percussion
- Percussion is less commonly used today but can help estimate heart size by detecting dullness over the heart area.
4. Auscultation (Listening with a Stethoscope)
- Heart Sounds:
- S1 (Lub): Closure of the mitral and tricuspid valves.
- S2 (Dub): Closure of the aortic and pulmonary valves.
- Additional sounds (S3 and S4) may indicate heart failure or stiff ventricles.
- Murmurs: Abnormal sounds caused by turbulent blood flow through the heart, which could indicate valve disease.
- Rub: A pericardial friction rub may suggest pericarditis.
5. Blood Pressure and Pulse Evaluation
- Blood Pressure: Both arms should be checked; a significant difference may suggest vascular disease.
- Pulse Deficit: A difference between apical and radial pulse suggests atrial fibrillation.
Conclusion
A thorough cardiac physical exam is a vital tool for detecting early signs of heart disease and guiding further diagnostic tests. If abnormalities are detected, further investigations such as ECG, echocardiography, or stress tests may be required.
Source recommendations
1. American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiovascular Examination
- https://elearning.heart.org/course/437
- https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/consumer-healthcare/what-is-cardiovascular-disease/heart-health-screenings
- https://professional.heart.org/en/guidelines-and-statements
- https://atlas.heart.org/
- https://professional.heart.org/en/guidelines-and-statements/prevent-calculator
2. European Society of Cardiology Guidelines on Cardiovascular Examination
- https://www.escardio.org/Guidelines/Clinical-Practice-Guidelines/ESC-Guidelines-on-non-cardiac-surgery-cardiovascular-assessment-and-managem
- https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/article/43/39/3826/6675076
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36017553/
- https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/article/35/35/2383/425095
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25086026/
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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.
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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.