Cardiovascular diseases. What are the main factors in the development of cardiovascular diseases? Cardiovascular diseases and their treatment

Diseases of the cardiovascular system are widespread among the adult population of many countries around the world and occupy a leading place in overall mortality statistics. This problem mainly affects countries with middle and low income levels - 4 out of 5 deaths from cardiovascular pathology were residents of these regions. The reader who does not have a medical education should at least understand in general terms what this or that heart or vascular disease is, so that if its development is suspected, it does not waste precious time, but immediately seeks medical help. To find out the signs of the most common diseases of the cardiovascular system, read this article.

Atherosclerosis

According to the WHO (World Health Organization) definition, it is constantly elevated blood pressure: systolic - above 140 mm Hg. Art., diastolic – above 90 mm Hg. Art. The blood pressure level at diagnosis should be determined as the average of two or more measurements during at least two examinations by a specialist on different days.

Essential hypertension, or essential hypertension, is increased blood pressure in the absence of an obvious reason for its increase. Accounts for about 95% of all cases of arterial hypertension.

The main risk factors for this disease are the same factors that contribute to the development of ischemic heart disease and the following accompanying pathology aggravates the course of hypertension:

• diabetes;
• cerebrovascular diseases - ischemic or hemorrhagic strokes (TIA);
• heart diseases – myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, heart failure;
• kidney diseases - diabetic nephropathy;
• peripheral arterial disease;
• retinal pathology – papilledema, hemorrhages, exudates.

If a patient suffering from hypertension does not receive therapy that helps lower blood pressure, the disease progresses, hypertensive crises occur more and more often, which sooner or later can cause all sorts of complications:

• acute hypertensive;
• pulmonary edema;
• myocardial infarction or unstable angina;
• stroke or transient ischemic attack;
• aortic dissection;
• eclampsia - in pregnant women.

Secondary, or symptomatic, hypertension is a persistent increase in blood pressure, the cause of which can be determined. It accounts for only 5% of cases of arterial hypertension.

Of the diseases that lead to high blood pressure, the most commonly diagnosed are:

• damage to kidney tissue;
• adrenal tumors;
• diseases of the renal arteries and aorta (coarctation);
• pathology of the central nervous system (brain tumors, polyneuritis);
• (polycythemia);
• pathology of the thyroid gland (-, -, hyperparathyroidism) and other diseases.

Complications of this type of arterial hypertension are the same as with hypertension, plus complications of the underlying disease that provoked hypertension.

Heart failure

A frequently occurring pathological condition, which is not an independent disease, but is a consequence, outcome of other acute and chronic heart diseases. In this condition, due to changes in the heart, its pumping function is disrupted - the heart is unable to supply all organs and tissues with blood.

Complications of heart failure are:

• arrhythmias;
• congestive;
• thromboembolism;
• chronic renal failure (the so-called “stagnant kidney”);
• cardiac cachexia (exhaustion);
• cerebrovascular accidents.

Acquired heart defects

Acquired heart defects occur in approximately 1-10 people per 1000 population, depending on the region of residence, and account for about 20% of all heart lesions of an organic nature.

The main reason for the development of acquired heart defects is rheumatic damage to the valves: 70-80% of all defects are pathology of the mitral valve, the second place in the frequency of damage belongs to the aortic valve, stenosis and/or insufficiency of the tricuspid valve and pulmonary valve are relatively rarely diagnosed.

This pathology affects people of different age groups. Every 2nd patient with heart disease requires surgical treatment.

The essence of the disease is that, under the influence of etiological factors, the heart valves lose their ability to function normally:

• stenosis is a narrowing of the valve, as a result of which it does not allow enough blood to pass through, and the organs experience a lack of oxygen, or hypoxia;
• insufficiency - the valve leaflets do not close completely, as a result of which blood is thrown from the part of the heart located below to the part located above; the result is the same - the organs and tissues of the body do not receive the vital oxygen they need, and their function is impaired.

Complications of heart defects include many conditions, among which the most common are acute, infectious bronchopulmonary complications, chronic circulatory failure, atrial fibrillation, thromboembolism and others.

Clinically, myocarditis is manifested by attacks of chest pain, signs of valve pathology, symptoms of arrhythmias, and circulatory disorders. May be asymptomatic.

The prognosis for this disease depends on the severity of its course: mild and moderate forms, as a rule, result in complete recovery of the patient within 12 months after the onset of the disease, while severe forms can lead to sudden death, refractory circulatory failure and thromboembolic complications.

Cardiomyopathies

Cardiomyopathies are independent, steadily progressing forms of damage to the heart muscle of unclear or controversial etiology. Within 2 years, about 15% of patients die from some forms of this disease in the absence of symptoms, and up to 50% in the presence of symptoms corresponding to the disease. They are the cause of death in 2-4% of adults, and are also the leading cause of sudden death in young athletes.

The probable causes of cardiomyopathies are:

• heredity;
• infection;
• metabolic diseases, in particular glycogenosis;
• lack of certain substances in the diet, in particular selenium, thiamine;
• pathology of the endocrine system (diabetes mellitus, acromegaly);
• neuromuscular pathology (muscular dystrophy);
• exposure to toxic substances - alcohol, drugs (cocaine), certain medications (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin);
• diseases of the blood system (some types of anemia, thrombocytopenia).

Clinically, cardiomyopathies are manifested by all sorts of symptoms of cardiac dysfunction: angina attacks, fainting, palpitations, shortness of breath, cardiac arrhythmias.

Cardiomyopathy is especially dangerous due to the increased risk of sudden death.

Pericarditis

– this is an inflammation of the layers of the lining of the heart - the pericardium - of infectious or non-infectious etiology. Areas of the pericardium are replaced by fibrous tissue, and exudate accumulates in its cavity. Pericarditis is divided into dry and exudative, acute and chronic.

Clinically manifested by chest pain, shortness of breath, fever, muscle pain, combined with signs of the underlying disease.

The most serious complication of pericarditis is cardiac tamponade - the accumulation of fluid (inflammatory or blood) between the layers of the pericardium, preventing normal contractions of the heart.

Infective endocarditis

It is an inflammatory lesion of valve structures with subsequent spread to other organs and systems, resulting from the introduction of a bacterial infection into the structures of the heart. This disease is the 4th leading cause of death in patients from infectious pathology.

In recent years, the incidence of infective endocarditis has increased significantly, which is associated with the wider spread of surgical interventions on the heart. It can occur at any age, but it most often affects people between 20 and 50 years of age. The ratio of incidence between men and women is approximately 2:1.

Infective endocarditis is a potentially life-threatening disease, so timely diagnosis, adequate, effective treatment and rapid identification of complications are extremely important to improve the prognosis.

Arrhythmias

Heart rhythm disturbances are not separate diseases, but are manifestations or complications of any pathological conditions associated with heart disease or non-cardiac pathology. They can be asymptomatic for a long time, and can pose a danger to the patient’s life. There are many types of arrhythmias, but 80% of them are due to extrasystole and atrial fibrillation.

Clinically, arrhythmias are manifested by a feeling of interruptions in the functioning of the heart, dizziness, shortness of breath, weakness, a feeling of fear and other unpleasant symptoms. Their severe forms can provoke the development of cardiac asthma, pulmonary edema, arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy or arrhythmic shock, and also cause sudden death of the patient.

Which doctor should I contact?

Diseases of the cardiovascular system are treated by a cardiologist. They are often combined with pathology of the endocrine glands, so consultation with an endocrinologist and nutritionist will be useful. A cardiac and vascular surgeon is often involved in the treatment of patients. Patients must be examined by a neurologist and an ophthalmologist.

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In the presence of cardiovascular diseases, patients complain of shortness of breath, palpitations, interruptions in heart function, pain in the heart and behind the sternum, swelling, cough,.

Shortness of breath is a common and often the main complaint of patients with circulatory failure; its occurrence is caused by excessive accumulation of carbon dioxide in the blood and a decrease in oxygen content as a result of stagnation in the pulmonary circulation.

In the initial stage of circulatory failure, the patient only experiences physical activity. As heart failure progresses, shortness of breath becomes constant and does not disappear at rest.

From shortness of breath, characteristic of cardiac asthma, which most often occurs suddenly, at rest or some time after physical overload or emotional stress. They are a sign of acute failure of the left ventricle of the heart and are observed in patients with acute myocardial infarction, with heart defects and high blood pressure (BP). During such an attack, patients complain of extreme lack of air. Pulmonary edema often develops very quickly in them, which is accompanied by a strong cough, bubbling in the chest, and the release of foamy fluid and pink sputum.

Heartbeat- a feeling of strong and frequent, and sometimes irregular contractions of the heart. It usually occurs when the heart beats rapidly, but can be felt in people without heart rhythm disturbances. In the presence of heart pathology, palpitations can be a sign of functional myocardial failure in patients with diseases such as myocarditis, myocardial infarction, heart defects, etc. Often this unpleasant sensation occurs in patients with cardiac arrhythmias (paroxysmal tachycardia, extrasystole, etc. .). However, you need to know that palpitations are not always a direct sign of heart disease. It can also occur due to other reasons, for example, hyperfunction of the thyroid gland, anemia, fever, reflexively due to pathology of the gastrointestinal tract and biliary tract, after the use of certain medications (aminophylline, atropine sulfate). Since palpitations are associated with increased excitability of the nervous system, which regulates cardiac activity, it can be observed in healthy people during significant physical activity, anxiety, and in case of abuse of coffee, alcohol, and tobacco. Palpitations can be constant or occur suddenly in attacks, such as proximal tachycardia.

Patients often complain of a feeling of “interruptions” in the heart, which are accompanied by a feeling of fading, cardiac arrest and are mainly associated with such heart rhythm disturbances as extrasystolic arrhythmia and sinus-arterial block.

Particular attention should be paid to patients who complain of pain in the heart and behind the sternum, which is observed during the course of various diseases. It can be caused by a violation of the coronary circulation (most often occurs with the development of angina or myocardial infarction), diseases of the pericardium, especially acute dry pericarditis; acute myocarditis, cardiac neurosis, aortic lesions. However, you should know that patients often complain of “pain in the heart” or “pain in the heart” when the organs and tissues surrounding the heart are affected, in particular the ribs (bruise, fracture, periostitis, tuberculosis), intercostal muscles (myositis), intercostal nerves (neuralgia, neuritis), pleura (pleurisy).

Pain in the heart

The course of various heart diseases is characterized by pain and has a different character, therefore, when questioning the patient, it is necessary to find out in detail its exact localization, place of irradiation, causes and conditions of occurrence (physical or psycho-emotional overstrain, appearance at rest, during sleep), nature (prickly, compressive, burning, feeling of heaviness behind the sternum), duration, what makes it go away (from stopping while walking, after taking nitroglycerin, etc.). Pain caused by myocardial ischemia resulting from coronary circulatory failure is often observed. This pain syndrome is called angina. In the case of angina pectoris, the pain is usually localized behind the sternum and (or) in the projection of the heart and radiates under the left shoulder blade, neck and left arm. Mostly its character is compressive or burning, its occurrence is associated with physical labor, walking, in particular with climbing up, with excitement. Pain, lasts 10-15 minutes, stops or decreases after taking nitroglycerin.

Unlike the pain noted with angina pectoris, the pain that occurs with myocardial infarction is much more intense, prolonged and does not go away after taking nitroglycerin.

In patients with myocarditis, the pain is intermittent, of course not intense, dull. Sometimes it gets worse with physical activity. In patients with pericarditis, pain is localized in the middle of the sternum or throughout the entire heart area. It is prickly or shooting in nature, can be long lasting (several days) or appear in the form of attacks. This pain intensifies with movement, coughing, even pressing with a stethoscope. Pain associated with damage to the aorta (aortalgia) is usually localized behind the breastbone, is constant and does not radiate.

Localization of pain at the apex of the heart or more often in the left half of the chest. This pain is prickly or aching in nature, can be long-lasting - it may not disappear for hours or days, intensifies with excitement, but not during physical activity, and is accompanied by other manifestations of general neurosis.

Patients with heart disease may be bothered by a cough, which is caused by stagnation of blood in the pulmonary circulation. In this case, a dry cough is usually noted, sometimes a small amount of sputum is released. A dry, often hysterical cough is observed in cases of enlargement of the heart, mainly the left atrium, in the presence of an aortic aneurysm.

Heart disease in most cases is caused by stagnation of blood in the pulmonary circulation and facilitated release of red blood cells from capillaries stretched by blood into the lumen of the alveoli, as well as rupture of small vessels of the bronchi. More often, hemoptysis is observed in patients with stenosis of the left atrioventricular orifice and pulmonary embolism. If an aortic aneurysm ruptures into the respiratory tract, profuse bleeding occurs.

Shortness of breath is the most common complaint of patients with heart disease in the decompensation stage. They appear as a symptom of venous stagnation in the systemic circulation and are initially detected only in the afternoon, usually in the evening, on the dorsum of the feet and in the ankle area, and disappear overnight. In case of progression of edematous syndrome and accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity, patients complain of heaviness in the abdomen and an increase in its size. Particularly often there is heaviness in the area of ​​the right hypochondrium due to stagnation in the liver and its enlargement. Due to impaired blood circulation in the abdominal cavity, in addition to the indicated signs, patients may experience poor appetite, nausea, vomiting, bloating, and disorders. For the same reason, kidney function is impaired and diuresis decreases.

Headache (cephalgia) can be a manifestation of increased blood pressure. In the case of a complication of hypertension—hypertensive crisis—the headache intensifies and is accompanied by dizziness, tinnitus, and vomiting.

In the presence of heart disease (endocarditis, myocarditis, etc.), patients complain of body pain, often up to low-grade fever, but sometimes there may be a high temperature that accompanies infective endocarditis. When asking patients, it is necessary to clarify at what time of day the body temperature rises, whether its increase is accompanied by chills, profuse sweating, and how long the fever lasts.

In addition to the above-mentioned main, most important complaints, patients may note the presence of rapid fatigue, general weakness, as well as decreased performance, irritability, and sleep disturbances.

Cardiovascular disease is the general name for a whole group of diseases of the heart and circulatory system. Around the world, about 17.5 million people die from heart disease every year. At risk are older people with bad habits, diabetes, high blood pressure and excess weight.

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Common symptoms of heart disease

The first symptoms of the disease appear as an unpleasant sensation in the chest and diaphragm. A person experiences high sweating, coughing, fatigue, and swollen limbs. Signs of cardiovascular disease (CVD) vary depending on the type of disease and individual characteristics. All this makes it difficult to timely diagnose such diseases and initiate treatment. The appearance of a severe cough may be a sign of a cold or viral infections, but in the case of CVD, the use of expectorants has no effect. An important signal is the sudden appearance of cough when the body is in a horizontal position, and frequent attacks at night. Appearing weakness is a sign of a functional malfunction in the nervous system. The patient experiences high fatigue, sleep disturbances, absent-mindedness, memory problems, causeless anxiety and trembling of the limbs. All these problems are caused by impaired blood circulation and appear in the early stages of the disease.



Increased body temperature, spasms, and pallor appear in severe forms of CVD and the presence of concomitant inflammatory processes in the body (myo-, peri-, endocarditis). Such disturbances cause a sharp rise in temperature to forty degrees and above. With this development of the disease, there is a threat of hemorrhage in the brain. Increasing pressure at 140/90 is a good reason for immediately taking blood pressure-lowering medications and further maintaining normal blood pressure levels. If the opposite situation is observed, a pulse of less than 50 beats per minute is a sure sign of coronary heart disease and cardiac dysfunction.

The appearance of swelling of the limbs at the end of the day can occur due to kidney problems, a large amount of salt in the body, and heart problems. This happens because the disruption of the heart does not allow it to fully pump blood fluid; as a result, it accumulates in the limbs, which causes swelling. Frequent and sudden dizziness may be signs of an impending stroke. The person feels a throbbing headache, weakness and nausea. Shortness of breath and acute lack of air occur, which also occurs with some types of myocardial infarction. Similar symptoms can also appear in diseases of the lungs and kidneys, which makes it difficult to determine the true cause.

During physical activity, a person may feel pain in the back, between the shoulder blades and the lumbar region. Such symptoms often occur during severe emotional shocks and even during rest. The use of heart medications does not give the desired result, which indicates an impending heart attack. Symptoms may include chest pain, squeezing and burning. A strong dull pain occurs, which becomes stronger and weaker. Also, similar signs are observed with the appearance of vascular spasm and angina.

Acute, prolonged chest pain radiating to the left arm is a clear symptom of myocardial infarction. If the attack develops quickly, the patient may lose consciousness. With all this, acute chest pain can be a sign of other diseases, such as radiculitis, neuralgia, shingles, etc. All this makes it difficult to take correct measures to provide first aid to the patient. The main symptom of all cardiac disorders is rapid heartbeat, not caused by physical exertion or emotional shock. Such an attack is accompanied by weakness, nausea, and loss of consciousness. These are symptoms of developing angina and tachycardia, heart failure.



Types of Cardiovascular Diseases

The following diseases of the heart and blood vessels are distinguished:

• Cardiac ischemia.
• Vascular atherosclerosis.
• Peripheral circulation disorders.
• Rheumatic carditis.
• Heart disease.
• Thromboembolism.





Cardiac ischemia

The essence of the disease is damage to the myocardium, which causes a decrease or complete cessation of blood supply to the heart muscle. The main cause of the disorder is narrowing of the coronary arteries. Symptoms of the disease are manifested by pain in the chest, radiating to the left side of the body, occurring during physical activity, rest, and eating. The pain intensifies over several months, appearing more and more often. This is due to an increase in atherosclerotic spots, which gradually closes the lumen of the artery. Narrowing of the lumen by 90% causes an exacerbation of the disease and is critical.

The disease has mental manifestations, expressed in causeless anxiety, fear of death, apathy, and a feeling of lack of air. As the disease progresses, the occurrence of such conditions becomes more frequent, which only worsens the disease. Feelings of anxiety and fear provoke stress on the heart, increased blood pressure and temperature, which is already a dangerous condition in the presence of CVD.

Conservative treatment of the disease is aimed at improving blood supply to the myocardium, maintaining an acceptable level of blood pressure and improving the general condition of the patient. However, such methods do not always give the desired result. In this case, surgical interventions are used, such as coronary artery bypass grafting, deep artery stenting and myocardial revascularization.

The method of coronary bypass surgery involves connecting the damaged vessel to the coronary artery, thereby creating a bypass path to the affected area. After this, blood begins to flow into the myocardium in full, which eliminates ischemia and angina. This method is recommended in the presence of concomitant diseases, such as diabetes mellitus, congenital heart disease, damage to a large number of blood vessels, etc.



Atherosclerosis of cerebral vessels

The disease affects the walls of blood vessels with focal inflammation, there is an increasing thickening of the walls of the arteries with cholesterol stains, which leads to a narrowing of the lumen and oxygen starvation of the brain. Symptoms of the disease are expressed in changes in gait, noise in the ears, and flashing dots before the eyes. Impaired perception and memory are the most characteristic symptoms of the disease, and memory problems extend only to recent events, without affecting deeper memory. In severe cases, the patient may experience decreased vision and hearing, severe migraines and facial flushing.

Treatment in most cases is prescribed medication, with a strict diet. A number of drugs are prescribed to dilate blood vessels, as well as a complex of vitamins and antioxidants. It is necessary to limit the consumption of fatty, fried, salty foods, chocolate, cocoa, and fatty dairy products.



Peripheral circulation disorder

Under normal conditions, the peripheral circulatory system provides organs with sufficient blood flow to function properly. Functional changes in blood circulation occur as a result of changes in heart rhythm. When the resistance to blood flow by the vessels begins to weaken, the walls of the vessels dilate, which leads to arterial hyperemia. In another case, with an increase in the resistance of the circulatory system, there is a difficult flow of blood to the organs and thrombosis, which threatens the development of ischemia. Such disorders occur when there is a decrease in the volume of blood passing from the heart to the veins and back, with heart defects, dysfunction of the heart valves, and enlargement of the heart muscle. All this leads to obstruction of blood flow and blood stagnation.

Symptoms of the disorder appear in more than 80% of patients; in other cases, an atypical course of the disease without severe symptoms may be observed. Typical symptoms are lameness, pain in the calf muscles that manifests itself when walking, and decreased sensation in the limbs. In more severe stages, pain appears in the buttocks and thighs, and the development of a trophic ulcer and, as a result, gangrene are possible.

Drug treatment involves the use of a whole range of drugs aimed at lowering blood pressure, dilating blood vessels and strengthening their walls. Antiplatelet agents are prescribed, drugs that reduce the risk of myocardial infarction, eliminate muscle pain and prevent blood clots.

Surgical intervention is permissible in the following cases:

• severe intermittent claudication, the elimination of which is impossible with medications;
• critical damage to the arteries and vessels of the lower extremities as a result of ischemia and the development of trophic ulcers;
• acute ischemia, threatening the formation of blood clots and the development of gangrene;
• development of gangrene (the focal nature of the disorder involves the removal of the affected areas of the vessels and their subsequent replacement with borrowed or artificial arteries (shunts); with extensive development of inflammation, amputation of the limb is performed).

In the first three cases, surgical revascularization is used, allowing blood flow to bypass the affected areas by applying a vascular bypass. If gangrene develops, general surgical methods are used to remove limbs.

A highly effective way to prevent circulatory disorders is physical therapy, which increases blood pressure, improves heart function and relieves symptoms of intermittent claudication in 70% of cases.



Rheumatic carditis

The disease affects the walls of the heart, resulting in an inflammatory process developing inside the organ. Pathological changes begin with the myocardium and end with the outer lining of the heart - the pericardium. The disorder is not an independent disease; it develops as one of the complications of rheumatism in the form of allergic and inflammatory reactions to the presence of streptococcus in the blood. Most often, the primary source of the disease is located in the upper respiratory tract.

Mild forms of the disease do not have pronounced symptoms and can occur without any noticeable manifestations. When the disease is acute, a person experiences a high temperature of up to 40 degrees and pain in the joints, especially the knees. This condition lasts up to two months; in the absence of timely relief of the disease, more severe symptoms develop: fever, hemoptysis, pressing pain in the chest, fainting, the face becomes pale with a blue tint.

Treatment methods are determined by the degree, form and severity of the disease. Pharmacological treatment is carried out at any stage of the disease and consists of three components:

1. 1. Antimicrobial treatment. Antibiotics of the penicillin group and drugs combined with them are used to suppress streptococcal infections.
2. 2. Anti-inflammatory therapy. In the acute course of the disease, glucocorticosteroids (Prednisolone, Dexamethasone) are prescribed; if the disease is mild, anti-inflammatory drugs based on salicylic acid are used.
3. 3. Maintenance therapy. These are diuretics, sedatives and a course of vitamins.

Dietary food is prescribed that will provide the necessary amount of useful elements for the patient, and junk food is excluded from the diet. The menu should contain foods high in animal and plant proteins. Boiled meat and fish, fresh vegetables and fruits. Side dishes should consist of buckwheat, oatmeal and rice porridge. It is undesirable to eat sweet, starchy and spicy foods. Coffee, alcohol and tobacco are strictly prohibited. It is not recommended to consume products containing soy, food dyes, and cholesterol.



Heart disease

Heart disease is a pathology of the heart valves in which the heart ceases to function properly. The disease can be congenital or acquired. Congenital heart disease occurs in only 1-2% of newborns. In this case, anomalies in the development of the organ are observed, which lead to its malfunction. In adulthood, the disorder can develop under the influence of other diseases, such as rheumatism, ischemia, and stroke.

To treat heart defects, both congenital and acquired, a complex of measures is required, including surgery and drug treatment. During surgery to restore the functionality of the heart valves, a valvuloplasty procedure is performed, using animal heart valves, mechanical or biological prostheses for replacement. The operation is performed with artificial circulation and lasts from 4 to 8 hours. The rehabilitation period takes from 6 to 12 months, depending on the severity of the disease and the complexity of the recovery period. Further treatment is carried out conservatively. A daily routine, a course of physical therapy, and diet are established.

Thromboembolism

The disease is a blockage of a blood vessel by a blood clot that has broken off from the walls of the vessel or the heart. As a result, blood stops flowing to the heart, and a rupture of blood vessels occurs, leading to an ischemic heart attack. Most often, thromboembolism occurs during surgical operations, especially if the patient has malignant neoplasms. A blood clot forms in the veins of the systemic circulation, which causes blockage in the left heart chamber and adjacent arteries.

Symptoms of the disease include rapid heartbeat, bluish facial skin, chest pain, hypertension, and abnormal pulsation of the veins. The severity of these symptoms depends on the degree and form of the disease. The acute form can be accompanied by severe pain, muscle spasms, and breathing problems, which most often leads to death. Milder forms are characterized by an increase in the above symptoms.

Thromboembolism is a dangerous condition that threatens death in the absence of immediate help. During a critically acute attack, the patient loses consciousness and can only be saved by using closed heart massage, defibrillation, and artificial ventilation. After stopping the acute attack, an embolectomy procedure is performed, which consists of manually removing the blood clot. The operation carries a high risk and is performed only in critical cases. Next, a set of drugs is prescribed to relieve pain, normalize blood pressure, and prevent recurrent thrombosis of veins or arteries. Individual treatment is used for each stage of the disease.

In 85% of cases with acute thromboembolism, the patient dies before they can provide first aid.

Conclusion

Cardiovascular disease is a broad group of diseases that may have common symptoms but different causes. Most CVD can be prevented by eliminating risk factors such as poor diet, bad habits, and lack of physical activity. According to the Ministry of Health, 76% of diagnoses of serious heart disease occur in overweight people. Of these, 20% are acute and in the vast majority of cases end in death. Heart problems caused by bad habits account for about 40%. Such cases have a severe clinical picture, although the mortality rate is low. The remaining cases of acute manifestations of the disease occur in elderly people and patients with congenital pathologies of the heart and circulatory system.

Heart and vascular diseases are considered one of the most common causes of premature mortality. The main symptom, which indicates the possible development of pathological processes, manifests itself in the form of pain in the thoracic region, radiating to the left. The patient may also experience swelling or shortness of breath. If you experience the slightest signs indicating possible dysfunction of the system, you should consult a doctor. The doctor will conduct appropriate studies, the results of which will either confirm or exclude pathology. Read more about the list of common heart diseases, their symptoms, treatment and causes of development later in this article.

Coronary heart disease is a common disease characterized by myocardial damage. It occurs as a result of impaired blood supply to the heart muscle and ranks first in the list of dangerous pathologies. Manifests itself in both acute and chronic forms. The progression of the disease often leads to the development of atherosclerotic cardiosclerosis.

Among the main causes and risk factors for the occurrence of coronary artery disease are thromboembolism, atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries, hyperlipedemia, problems with excess weight (obesity), bad habits (smoking, alcohol), and hypertension. It should also be taken into account that the disease is more common in males. Hereditary predisposition also contributes to its development.

General signs of ischemia include paroxysmal pain in the chest area, rapid heartbeat, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, fainting, and swelling.

One form of ischemia is unstable angina. According to the Braunwald classification table, the risk of developing a heart attack depends on the classes of the disease:

• First grade. Characterized by normal angina. Pain occurs due to stress. At rest, there are no seizures for two months.
• Second class. Stable angina at rest. It can also occur from two to sixty days.
• Third class. Acute form, occurring within the last 48 hours.

Treatment depends on the clinical form of ischemia, but is always aimed at preventing complications and consequences. Drug therapy is used, as well as lifestyle correction measures: proper nutrition, elimination of bad habits. During treatment, surgery may be necessary - coronary artery bypass grafting or coronary angioplasty.

Chronic heart failure

Heart failure is a common heart disease caused by poor blood supply to vital organs. Violations occur regardless of human activity (both at rest and during exercise). As the pathology progresses, the heart gradually loses its ability to fill and empty. Main symptoms of heart disease:

• Peripheral swelling. Initially it occurs in the feet and legs, and then spreads to the hips and lower back.
• General weakness, fatigue.
• Dry cough. As the disease progresses, the patient begins to produce sputum, and then blood.

The pathology forces the patient to take a lying position with his head raised. Otherwise, coughing and shortness of breath will only get worse. The list of main factors contributing to the development of the disease is quite large:

• Ischemia.
• Heart attack.
• Hypertension.
• Diseases that damage the endocrine system (diabetes, problems with the thyroid gland, adrenal glands).
• Poor nutrition, which leads to the development of cachexia or obesity.

Other factors that cause the development of cardiovascular failure include congenital and acquired heart defects, sarcoidosis, pericarditis, and HIV infections. To minimize the likelihood of the disease occurring, the patient is advised to exclude from his life the consumption of alcoholic beverages, caffeine in high doses, smoking, and follow a healthy diet.

Treatment must be comprehensive and timely, otherwise the development of pathology can lead to irreversible consequences - death, heart enlargement, rhythm disturbances, and blood clots. To avoid possible complications, doctors prescribe patients a special therapeutic diet and optimal physical activity. Drug therapy is based on the use of inhibitors, adenoblockers, diuretics, and anticoagulants. Implantation of artificial pacemakers may also be necessary.

Heart valve defects

A group of serious diseases that affect the heart valves. They lead to disruption of the main functions of the organ - blood circulation and sealing of chambers. The most common pathologies include stenosis. It is caused by a narrowing of the aortic opening, which creates serious obstacles to blood outflow from the left ventricle.

The acquired form most often occurs due to rheumatic valve damage. As the disease progresses, the valves are subject to severe deformation, which leads to their fusion and, accordingly, a decrease in the ring. The occurrence of the disease is also facilitated by the development of infective endocarditis, renal failure and rheumatoid arthritis.

Often the congenital form can be diagnosed at a young age (up to thirty years) and even in adolescence. Therefore, one should take into account the fact that the rapid development of pathology is facilitated by the consumption of alcoholic beverages, nicotine, and a systematic increase in blood pressure.

For a long time (with compensation for stenosis), a person may experience virtually no symptoms. There is no external clinical picture of the disease. The first signs appear in the form of shortness of breath during physical exertion, rapid heartbeat, feelings of malaise, general weakness, and loss of strength.

Fainting, dizziness, angina pectoris and swelling of the airways often manifest themselves in the stage of coronary insufficiency. Shortness of breath can bother the patient even at night, when the body is not subject to any stress and is at rest.

Patients with heart disease (including those who are asymptomatic) should be seen by a cardiologist and undergo testing. Thus, in particular, patients undergo echocardiography every six months. Medicines are prescribed to relieve the disease and prevent possible complications. For preventive purposes, it is necessary to take antibiotics.

At the same time, the main method of treatment is to replace the affected area of ​​the aortic valve with an artificial one. After surgery, patients must take anticoagulants for the rest of their lives.

Congenital defects

The pathology is often diagnosed in the early stages in infants (immediately after birth, the child is subject to a thorough examination). Formed at the stage of intrauterine development. Main signs of heart disease:

• Change in skin color. They become pale and often acquire a bluish tint.
• Respiratory and heart failure are observed.
• There are heart murmurs.
• The child may be delayed in physical development.

In most cases, the main treatment method is surgery. Often it is not possible or not possible to completely eliminate the defect. In such circumstances, a heart transplant should be performed. Drug therapy is aimed at eliminating symptoms and preventing the development of chronic failure and arrhythmia.

According to statistics, in 70% of cases the first year of life ends fatally for the child. The prognosis improves significantly if the disease is detected early. The main prevention lies in careful planning of pregnancy, which means maintaining a correct lifestyle, eliminating risk factors, regular monitoring and following all recommendations of the attending physician.

Arrhythmia and cardiomyopathy

Cardiomyopathy is a myocardial disease that is not associated with ischemic or inflammatory origin. Clinical manifestations depend on the form of the pathological process. Common symptoms include shortness of breath that occurs during physical exertion, pain in the chest area, dizziness, fatigue, and pronounced swelling. The use of diuretics, anticoagulants, and antiarrhythmic drugs is mainly indicated. Surgeon intervention may be required.

Arrhythmia is characterized by any rhythm disturbance. This type of pathology includes tachycardia, bradycardia, and atrial fibrillation. Extrasystole is also considered one of the forms. In most cases, it is asymptomatic, but as the disease progresses, a rapid or slow heartbeat and periodic freezing can be observed. Accompanied by headache, dizziness, pain in the chest area. The treatment process uses both drug therapy and surgical methods.

Inflammatory diseases

Clinical manifestations of heart inflammation depend on which tissue structure was involved during the progression of the pathology:

Common symptoms include pain, irregular heart rhythm, and shortness of breath. If an infectious process has been involved, patients will experience elevated body temperature.

Not all heart diseases are listed. The list of names goes on. For example, often mental (against the background of the prevalence of the vagus nerve) or physical overstrain can lead to neurosis, vegetative-vascular dystonia, mitral valve prolapse (primary and secondary form) or a disorder of another nature.

Modern diagnostic methods make it possible to quickly determine the presence of pathology and take all necessary measures. Most heart diseases cannot be completely cured, but they can be stopped, alleviate the patient’s general condition, minimize risks or prevent possible disability.

The risk group includes both men and women, but most ailments can only be diagnosed at an older, often elderly age. The main problem in treatment is untimely access to qualified help, which in the future can greatly bind and limit the capabilities of modern medicine.

It is important to follow all doctor’s recommendations, take prescribed medications and lead an appropriate lifestyle. If we are talking about traditional methods and means of treatment, then before using them you need to consult a specialist.

Diseases of the cardiovascular system rank first in terms of morbidity and mortality worldwide. This is due to many reasons, including poor lifestyle, bad habits, poor nutrition, stress, heredity and much more. Every year, the age of heart pathologies is getting younger, and the number of patients who become disabled after suffering heart attacks, strokes and other complications is growing. That is why doctors strongly recommend that you pay close attention to your body and immediately go to the hospital if alarming symptoms appear.

What are cardiovascular diseases

Heart and vascular diseases are a group of pathologies affecting the functioning of the heart muscle and blood vessels, including veins and arteries. The most common pathologies are coronary heart disease, diseases of the cerebral vessels and peripheral arteries, rheumatic carditis, arterial hypertension, strokes, heart attacks, heart defects and much more. Defects are divided into congenital and acquired. Congenital ones develop in the womb; acquired ones often become the result of emotional experiences, improper lifestyle, and various infectious and toxic lesions.

Important! Each disease requires timely diagnosis and competent medical treatment, since if treated negligently, there is a risk of developing severe complications and death of the patient.

The list of common diseases of the cardiovascular system includes coronary heart disease. This pathology is associated with impaired blood circulation in the myocardium, which leads to its oxygen starvation. As a result, the activity of the heart muscle is disrupted, which is accompanied by characteristic symptoms.

Symptoms of IHD

When the disease occurs, patients experience the following symptoms:

• pain syndrome. The pain can be stabbing, cutting, pressing in nature, and intensifies with emotional experiences and physical activity. IHD is characterized by the spread of pain not only to the sternum, it can radiate to the neck, arm, shoulder blade;
• dyspnea. Lack of air appears in patients first during intense physical exertion, during hard work. Later, shortness of breath occurs more and more often, when walking, while climbing stairs, sometimes even at rest;
• increased sweating;
• dizziness, nausea;
• a feeling of sinking heart, rhythm disturbance, less often fainting.

On the psychological side, irritability, attacks of panic or fear, and frequent nervous breakdowns are noted.

Due to circulatory disorders, ischemia occurs in certain areas of the heart

Causes

Factors that provoke IHD include anatomical aging of the body, gender characteristics (men get sick more often), race (residents of Europe suffer from the pathology more often than black races). The causes of coronary artery disease include excess body weight, bad habits, emotional overload, diabetes mellitus, increased blood clotting, hypertension, lack of physical activity, etc.

Treatment

Treatment methods for IHD include the following areas:

• drug therapy;
• surgery;
• eliminating the causes of pathology.

Among the medications used are antiplatelet agents - drugs that prevent the formation of blood clots, and statins - drugs to lower bad cholesterol in the blood. For symptomatic treatment, potassium channel activators, beta-blockers, sinus node inhibitors and other drugs are prescribed.

Hypertonic disease

Arterial hypertension is one of the most common diseases affecting the heart and blood vessels. The pathology consists of a persistent increase in blood pressure above acceptable standards.

Signs of hypertension

Signs of cardiovascular pathology are often hidden, so the patient may not be aware of his disease. A person leads a normal life, sometimes he is bothered by dizziness and weakness, but most patients attribute this to normal fatigue.

Obvious signs of hypertension develop with damage to target organs and can be of the following nature:

• headaches, migraines;
• noise in ears;
• flashing midges in the eyes;
• muscle weakness, numbness of the arms and legs;
• difficulty speaking.

The main danger of this disease is myocardial infarction. This serious condition, often ending in death, requires immediate delivery of the person to a hospital and the necessary medical measures.

Causes

The reasons that cause a persistent increase in blood pressure include:

• strong emotional overload;
• excess body weight;
• hereditary predisposition;
• diseases of viral and bacterial origin;
• bad habits;
• excessive amount of salt in the daily diet;
• insufficient motor activity.

Hypertension often occurs in people who spend long periods of time in front of a computer monitor, as well as in patients whose blood often experiences surges of adrenaline.

A common cause of hypertension is bad habits.

Treatment

Treatment of cardiovascular disease accompanied by increased blood pressure consists of eliminating the causes of the pathological condition and maintaining blood pressure within normal limits. For this purpose, diuretics, inhibitors, beta-blockers, calcium antagonist and other drugs are used.

Important! A sharp increase in blood pressure is called a hypertensive crisis. This dangerous complication requires urgent medical attention using complex therapy.

Rheumatic carditis

The list of cardiovascular diseases includes a pathology accompanied by disruption of the functioning of the heart muscle and valve system - rheumatic carditis. The disease develops due to damage to the organ by group A streptococci.

Symptoms

Symptoms of cardiovascular disease develop in patients 2 to 3 weeks after suffering a streptococcal infection. The first signs are pain and swelling of the joints, increased body temperature, nausea, and vomiting. The patient's general well-being worsens, weakness and depression appear.

The pathology is classified into pericarditis and endocarditis. In the first case, the patient suffers from chest pain and lack of air. When listening to the heart, muffled tones are heard. Endocarditis is accompanied by rapid heartbeat and pain that occurs regardless of physical activity.

Causes

As already mentioned, heart damage is caused by diseases caused by group A streptococci. These include sore throat, scarlet fever, pneumonia, erysipelas of the dermis, etc.

Treatment

Patients with severe rheumatic carditis are treated in a hospital setting. A special diet is selected for them, which consists of limiting salt, saturating the body with potassium, fiber, protein and vitamins.

Among the medications used are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, glucocorticosteroids, painkillers, quinoline drugs, immunosuppressants, cardiac glycosides, etc.

Cardiomyopathy

Cardiomyopathy is a disorder of the functioning of the heart muscle of unknown or controversial etiology. The insidiousness of the disease is that it often occurs without visible symptoms and causes death in 15% of patients with this pathology. The mortality rate among patients with symptoms characteristic of the disease is about 50%.

Cardiomyopathy is often the cause of sudden death

Signs

Patients with cardiomyopathy experience the following symptoms:

• fast fatiguability;
• loss of ability to work;
• dizziness, sometimes fainting;
• pallor of the dermis;
• tendency to edema;
• dry cough;
• dyspnea;
• increased heart rate.

It is cardiomyopathy that often causes sudden death in people leading an active lifestyle.

Causes

The causes of cardiovascular disease, such as cardiomyopathy, are as follows:

• poisoning;
• alcoholism;
• diseases of the endocrine system;
• arterial hypertension;
• myocardial damage of an infectious nature;
• neuromuscular disorders.

Often it is not possible to determine the cause of the disease.

Treatment

Treatment of cardiovascular disease requires lifelong adherence to preventive measures aimed at preventing serious complications and death. The patient needs to give up physical activity, bad habits, follow a diet and a proper lifestyle. The patient's menu should exclude spicy, smoked, sour, and salty foods. Strong tea, coffee, carbonated sweet waters are prohibited.

Drug therapy includes drugs such as β-blockers and anticoagulants. Severe pathology requires surgical intervention.

Important! Lack of treatment for cardiomyopathy leads to the development of heart failure, valvular organ dysfunction, embolism, arrhythmias, and sudden cardiac arrest.

It is customary to talk about cardiovascular diseases when a person experiences any disturbance in heart rate or failure of the electrical conductivity of the heart. This condition is called arrhythmia. The disease may have a latent course or manifest itself in the form of palpitations, a feeling of a sinking heart, or shortness of breath.

Arrhythmia is accompanied by disturbances in heart rhythm

Symptoms

Signs of arrhythmia depend on the severity of the disease and are as follows:

• rapid heartbeat is replaced by a sinking heart, and vice versa;
• dizziness;
• lack of air;
• fainting;
• suffocation;
• attacks of angina.

Patients' general health deteriorates and the risk of ventricular fibrillation or flutter develops, which often leads to death.

Causes

The development of pathology is based on factors that provoke morphological, ischemic, inflammatory, infectious and other damage to the tissue of the heart muscle. As a result, the conductivity of the organ is disrupted, blood flow decreases, and a malfunction of the heart develops.

Treatment

To prescribe treatment, the patient must consult a specialist and undergo a full examination. It is necessary to find out whether arrhythmia has developed as an independent pathology or is a secondary complication of any illness.

Treatment methods:

• physical therapy – helps restore metabolic processes, normalize blood flow, improve the condition of the heart muscle;
• diet – necessary to saturate the body with beneficial vitamins and minerals;
• drug treatment - beta blockers, potassium, calcium and sodium channel blockers are prescribed here.

People suffering from various heart pathologies are required to take medications to prevent complications. These are vitamin complexes and sedatives that reduce stress and nourish the heart muscle.

Atherosclerosis is a disease characterized by the accumulation of cholesterol in the arteries. This causes blockage of blood vessels and poor circulation. In countries where people eat fast food, this problem occupies one of the leading positions among all heart diseases.

Atherosclerosis causes blockage of blood vessels

Signs

For a long time, atherosclerosis does not manifest itself in any way; the first symptoms are noticeable with significant deformation of blood vessels, due to bulging of veins and arteries, the appearance of blood clots and cracks in them. The blood vessels narrow, which causes circulatory problems.

Against the background of atherosclerosis, the following pathologies develop:

• ischemic stroke;
• atherosclerosis of the arteries of the legs, which causes lameness, gangrene of the limbs;
• atherosclerosis of the arteries of the kidneys and others.

Important! After suffering an ischemic stroke, a patient's risk of developing a heart attack increases threefold.

Causes

Atherosclerosis is caused by many causes. Men are more susceptible to pathology than women. It is assumed that this is due to lipid metabolism processes. Another risk factor is the patient's age. Atherosclerosis affects people mainly after 45–55 years of age. The genetic factor plays an important role in the development of the disease. People with a hereditary predisposition need to prevent cardiovascular diseases - watch their diet, move more, give up bad habits. The risk group includes women during pregnancy, since at this time the metabolism in the body is disrupted, women move little. It is believed that atherosclerosis is a disease of unhealthy lifestyle. Its appearance is influenced by excess body weight, bad habits, poor nutrition, and poor environment.

Treatment

To prevent complications of the disease and normalize the functioning of blood vessels, patients are prescribed treatment with medications. Statins, LC sequestrants, nicotinic acid medications, fibrates, and anticoagulants are used here. In addition, exercise therapy and a special diet are prescribed, which involves avoiding foods that increase cholesterol levels in the blood.

The growth and scarring of connective fibers in the myocardial area, resulting in disruption of the functioning of the heart valves, is cardiosclerosis. The disease has focal and diffuse forms. In the first case, we are talking about local damage to the myocardium, that is, only a separate area is affected. In the diffuse form, tissue scarring extends to the entire myocardium. This most often occurs with coronary heart disease.

Cardiosclerosis causes connective tissue hypertrophy

Symptoms

The focal form of cardiosclerosis sometimes has a hidden course. When lesions are located close to the atrio-sinus node and areas of the conduction system, serious disturbances in the functioning of the heart muscle occur, manifested in arrhythmia, chronic fatigue, shortness of breath and other symptoms.

Diffuse cardiosclerosis causes signs of heart failure, such as increased heart rate, fatigue, chest pain, and swelling.

Causes

The following diseases can cause the development of pathology:

• myocarditis;
• myocardial dystrophy;
• infectious lesions of the myocardium;
• autoimmune pathologies;
• stress.

In addition, atherosclerosis and hypertension are provoking factors.

Treatment

Therapy aimed at eliminating the symptoms of pathology and preventing cardiovascular disease, which is carried out to prevent complications, helps to cope with cardiosclerosis and prevent such negative consequences as rupture of the wall of the heart aneurysm, atrioventricular blockade, paroxysmal tachycardia, etc.

Treatment necessarily includes limiting physical activity, avoiding stress, and taking medications. Among the medications used are diuretics, vasodilators, and antiarrhythmic drugs. In especially severe cases, surgical intervention and installation of a pacemaker are performed.

Myocardial infarction

A heart attack is a dangerous condition caused by blockage of a coronary artery by a blood clot. This causes disruption of blood circulation in the tissues of the brain and heart. The condition develops against the background of various cardiovascular pathologies and requires immediate hospitalization of the patient. If medication is provided within the first 2 hours, the prognosis for the patient is often favorable.

A heart attack causes acute pain in the sternum, a sharp deterioration in general health

Signs of a heart attack

A heart attack is characterized by pain in the sternum. Sometimes the pain is so severe that the person screams. In addition, the pain often spreads to the shoulder, neck, and radiates to the stomach. The patient experiences a feeling of tightness, a burning sensation in the chest, and numbness in the hands.

Important! A distinctive feature of myocardial infarction from other diseases is persistent pain at rest and after taking Nitroglycerin tablets.

Causes

Factors leading to the development of a heart attack:

• age;
• previous small-focal heart attacks;
• smoking and alcohol;
• diabetes;
• hypertension;
• high cholesterol;
• excess body weight.

The risk of developing a serious condition increases with a combination of the conditions described above.

Treatment

The main goal of therapy is the rapid restoration of blood flow in the area of ​​the heart muscle and brain. For this purpose, drugs are used that help resolve blood clots, such as thrombolytics, heparin-based drugs, and acetylsalicylic acid.

When the patient is admitted to the hospital, coronary artery angioplasty is used.

Stroke

A stroke is a sudden disruption of blood circulation in the brain, leading to the death of nerve cells. The danger of the condition is that the death of brain tissue occurs very quickly, which in many cases ends in death for the patient. Even with timely assistance, a stroke often ends in disability.

Symptoms

The following signs indicate the development of a stroke:

• severe weakness;
• sharp deterioration in general condition;
• numbness of the muscles of the face or limbs (often on one side);
• acute headache, nausea;
• impaired coordination of movements.

You can recognize a stroke in a person yourself. To do this, ask the patient to smile. If one part of the face remains motionless, we are more often talking about this condition.

Causes

Doctors identify the following reasons:

• atherosclerosis;
• excess body weight;
• alcohol, drugs, smoking;
• pregnancy;
• sedentary lifestyle;
• high cholesterol and more.

Treatment

Diagnosis of cardiovascular disease and its treatment are carried out in a hospital setting in the intensive care unit. During this period, antiplatelet agents, anticoagulants, and tissue plasminogen activators are used.

How to prevent this pathology? The individual risk of developing cardiovascular pathologies can be determined using the score (SCORE). A special table allows you to do this.

This technique allows you to determine the level of risk for developing cardiovascular pathologies and serious conditions that develop against their background. To do this, you need to select gender, age, status - smoking or non-smoking. In addition, in the table you should select the level of blood pressure and the amount of cholesterol in the blood.

The risk is determined according to the color of the cell and the number:

• 1 – 5% – low risk;
• 5 – 10% – high;
• over 10% – very high.

At high levels, a person should take all necessary measures to prevent the development of stroke and other dangerous conditions.

Pulmonary embolism

Blockage of the pulmonary artery or its branches by blood clots is called pulmonary embolism. The lumen of the artery may be completely or partially closed. The condition in most cases causes sudden death of the patient; only 30% of people are diagnosed with the pathology during their lifetime.

Signs of thromboembolism

Manifestations of the disease depend on the degree of lung damage:

• when more than 50% of the pulmonary vessels are affected, a person develops shock, shortness of breath, blood pressure drops sharply, and the person loses consciousness. This condition often provokes the death of the patient;
• thrombosis of 30 - 50% of the vessels causes anxiety, shortness of breath, drop in blood pressure, cyanosis of the nasolabial triangle, ears, nose, rapid heartbeat, chest pain;
• with less than 30% damage, symptoms may be absent for some time, then coughing up blood, chest pain, and fever appear.

With minor thromboembolism, the prognosis for the patient is favorable; treatment is carried out with medication.

Causes

Thromboembolism develops against the background of high blood clotting, local slowing of blood flow, which can provoke prolonged recumbency and severe heart pathologies. Factors that cause pathology include thrombophlebitis, phlebitis, and vascular injuries.

Blood clots in the lung

Treatment

The goals of treatment for pulmonary embolism include preserving the patient’s life and preventing the re-development of vascular blockage. Normal patency of veins and arteries is ensured by surgery or medication. To do this, they use drugs that dissolve blood clots and medications that thin the blood.

Rehabilitation for diseases of the cardiovascular system in the form of pulmonary embolism is carried out through correction of nutrition and lifestyle, regular examinations, and taking medications that prevent the formation of blood clots.

Conclusion

The article lists only the most common cardiovascular pathologies. Having knowledge about the symptoms, causes and mechanism of development of a particular disease, you can prevent many serious conditions and provide timely assistance to the patient. A correct lifestyle, a healthy diet and timely examination will help to avoid pathologies if even minor alarming symptoms develop.