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.
Clinical Examination of the Cardiovascular System (CVS)
Introduction
Clinical examination of the cardiovascular system (CVS) is a crucial part of diagnosing and managing heart-related conditions. It involves a systematic approach to evaluating the patient's heart and blood vessels to detect any abnormalities.
General Approach
A thorough CVS examination includes the following steps:
History Taking
- Ask about chest pain, breathlessness, palpitations, dizziness, syncope (fainting), and swelling in the legs.
- Inquire about risk factors: hypertension, diabetes, smoking, family history, and lifestyle habits.
- Check for past medical history of cardiovascular diseases.
General Inspection
- Observe signs of distress, cyanosis (bluish skin), and pallor.
- Check for clubbing, splinter hemorrhages, or xanthomas (cholesterol deposits in the skin).
- Assess jugular venous pressure (JVP) which can indicate heart failure or fluid overload.
Palpation
- Pulse: Assess rate, rhythm, volume, and character (e.g., bounding, weak, irregular).
- Blood pressure: Check for variations between arms.
- Precordial palpation: Feel for heaves, thrills, and apex beat location.
Auscultation
- Use a stethoscope to listen to heart sounds.
- Identify normal heart sounds (S1, S2) and abnormal findings (murmurs, gallops, clicks).
- Evaluate for extra heart sounds that may indicate valve disease or heart failure.
Peripheral Circulation Assessment
- Check capillary refill time and peripheral pulses for symmetry.
- Examine for edema (swelling) in the legs and sacral area.
- Look for skin changes associated with vascular disease (e.g., ulcers, hair loss).
Conclusion
A detailed clinical examination of the CVS helps in detecting and diagnosing cardiovascular diseases early. It should always be complemented with further diagnostic tests like ECG, echocardiography, and blood tests when necessary.
Source recommendations
1. ESC Guidelines on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Acute and Chronic Heart Failure
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34447992/
- https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/article/42/36/3599/6358045
- https://www.escardio.org/Guidelines/Clinical-Practice-Guidelines/Acute-and-Chronic-Heart-Failure
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22611136/
- https://www.escardio.org/Guidelines/Clinical-Practice-Guidelines/Focused-Update-on-Heart-Failure-Guidelines
2. AHA Guidelines for the Management of Patients with Valvular Heart Disease
- https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIR.0000000000000923
- https://www.acc.org/Latest-in-Cardiology/ten-points-to-remember/2024/03/13/18/13/2024-acc-aha-clinical-performance-valvular
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33332149/
- https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIR.0000000000000932
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16880336/
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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.