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.
Physical Examination of the Heart
Introduction
The physical examination of the heart is a crucial part of diagnosing cardiovascular conditions. It involves a systematic assessment using inspection, palpation, and auscultation to detect abnormalities in heart function and structure.
Steps of the Cardiac Examination
1. Inspection
- Observing the chest for any visible pulsations, asymmetry, or deformities.
- Looking for signs of cyanosis (bluish skin) or edema (swelling), which may indicate heart failure.
2. Palpation
- Feeling for the apical impulse (left ventricle's contraction, best felt at the 5th intercostal space, midclavicular line).
- Checking for thrills (palpable murmurs) and heaves (forceful heart movements suggesting hypertrophy).
3. Auscultation
- Using a stethoscope to listen to heart sounds in 5 main auscultation areas:
- Aortic valve – Right 2nd intercostal space
- Pulmonary valve – Left 2nd intercostal space
- Tricuspid valve – Lower left sternal border
- Mitral valve – Left 5th intercostal space (apex of the heart)
- Erb’s point – Left 3rd intercostal space (best for hearing certain murmurs)
- Identifying heart sounds:
- Normal sounds: S1 (closure of mitral & tricuspid valves), S2 (closure of aortic & pulmonary valves)
- Abnormal sounds: Murmurs, gallops (S3, S4), rubs (pericarditis)
Clinical Significance
A thorough heart exam can help detect conditions such as: - Valvular heart disease (e.g., stenosis, regurgitation) - Heart failure - Pericarditis (inflammation of the pericardium) - Congenital heart defects
Regular physical exams are essential for early diagnosis and preventing complications.
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://professional.heart.org/en/guidelines-and-statements
- https://atlas.heart.org/
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.
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.