For the undisturbed function of the heart, in addition to a healthy valve apparatus and a functional musculature, the undisturbed supply of the heart muscle with oxygen and nutrients is a decisive prerequisite. If this supply to the heart muscle is disturbed, the function of the heart is also impaired. The coronary vessels play a major role in supplying the heart with oxygen and nutrients.
General knowledge about heart disease
Infographic on the anatomy and causes of cardiovascular disease. Click image to enlarge. The arteries of this circulatory territory arise from the aorta and branch on the outside of the heart muscle. The arterial blood vessels are functional end arteries, which means that under physiological conditions they have very little connection to each other. If an arterial vessel is blocked, the supply of oxygen and nutrients is interrupted in a certain section of the heart muscle. If this interruption persists for a long time, the consequence is the demise of the heart muscle tissue in this district. The extent of functional impairment depends on the location and size of this area and may result in cardiac dysfunction or limitation of cardiac output. However, when the area that perishes reaches a certain size, the heart also can no longer maintain its function; thus, cardiac activity fails. This condition, however, is then no longer compatible with life. If a smaller part of the heart musculature fails as a result of a circulatory disorder, the first thing that happens is that the musculature dies. After that, a scar forms. These events, which involve an interruption of blood circulation in a specific area of the heart muscles and lead to the demise of part of the heart muscles, are called myocardial infarctions.
Myocardial infarction and angina pectoris
Myocardial infarction is a clinical picture that can vary greatly in its manifestations. In this context, it is worth mentioning another disease known as angina pectoris. It involves transient, temporary disturbances in the supply of oxygen to the heart muscle. Such events may be accompanied by pain in the left side of the chest radiating to the left shoulder or arm. These symptoms can be observed after mental or physical stress, but also occur at rest. In angina pectoris, however, adequate circulation in the vessels of the heart is always restored. However, this condition is a sign that the normal blood supply to the heart muscle is compromised. Since myocardial infarction is a disease mechanism in which the same conditions as angina are present at the beginning, we can observe similar symptoms in myocardial infarction as in angina. Pain in the left side of the chest, often radiating to the left arm, is thus also possible in myocardial infarction, without needing to be a typical feature of it. In some cases they are more severe, in others they are less severe than in angina pectoris. Today we know that a part of heart attacks (based on recent observations up to 40 percent) occur without pain. The disease can then only be diagnosed with the help of the electrocardiogram (ECG) or by blood tests if the patient has uncharacteristic complaints. Although the greater part of the disease leads only to a temporary impairment of cardiac function and, with regard to the further course, causes only a moderate or more permanent restriction of cardiac output, the myocardial infarction is to be considered a serious clinical picture. The pain in the left side of the chest is considered by many people as an alarm signal of a serious disease, because most people are aware that the undisturbed function of the heart is of vital importance for life processes.
Treatment and prevention of heart disease
Often underlying a heart attack is a narrowing of the coronary arteries called atherosclerosis. If such a narrowing becomes blocked by a blood clot, all subsequent heart muscle areas are no longer supplied with blood and oxygen. The heart muscle then dies within a few hours. Click to enlarge.This is understandable and correct from a medical point of view. However, what conclusions should be drawn from this? If pain occurs in the left side of the chest, this sign should prompt the patient to see a doctor immediately. The doctor, with the help of modern examination methods, can determine what change is present in the heart, what medical measures should be taken, and give advice on how the patient should continue to behave. As already mentioned, not every pain in the left side of the chest means a heart attack and thus a serious threat to life. However, this fact should not lead to indifference. Every heart disease must be evaluated and treated by a doctor. This is the only way to prevent further damage. This is an indispensable necessity and must be stressed with all emphasis. Today, the physician has the possibility to detect even minor changes already and to initiate treatment measures. This also raises the question: Are there ways to prevent heart attacks? As in the case of many diseases, it is possible to have a preventive effect by shaping one’s life. Therefore, it is not only necessary to provide for sufficient night’s rest and sensible relaxation, but also to ensure that the necessary physical strain is guaranteed in addition to mental activity. The safest means of prophylaxis of heart attack is an extensive and daily light sport program, such as jogging or swimming. However, it is not meant that only the movement in the fresh air leads to relaxation, but that a daily, extensive sport also brings about a training condition of the circulatory system and the healthy heart, which guarantees an optimal function, whereby then the forces are used as economically as possible. However, even in the case of pre-existing cardiac disorders, sensible physical exertion is of essential importance. However, it should be done in agreement with the attending physician, who can determine the magnitude of the load and is able to judge when the performance limit has been reached. In order to ensure a reasonable physical load, there are the most diverse possibilities. In addition to regular walks for the elderly, endurance sports should also be mentioned. However, sport is meant here, which guarantees all-round training. The references to physical activity seem particularly important to us because there are still some misconceptions about it. It is not physical rest that helps to prevent cardiovascular damage, but sensible physical activity that is an effective means of preventing cardiovascular disease, although of course one-sided overexertion should be avoided. In addition to physical exertion, sufficient night’s rest is significant. The most important thing is that it really leads to relaxation. For this reason, it is necessary to relax physically beforehand, for example by taking a short walk. It is also known that mental stress has an unfavorable effect on the regulation of cardiovascular activity. It is difficult to make a general demand that mental stress should be avoided. However, it must be emphatically pointed out that under the pressure of mental stress and mental overload, the sensible structuring of the daily routine must not be allowed to disappear. However, since psychological stress often results from bad interpersonal behavior or from the feeling of not being able to master a certain task, education and training are also important factors in infarct prevention. It makes sense to eat smaller meals frequently and to avoid overloading with unreasonably large meals. A fixed rhythm of both food intake is essential for maintaining the vegetative balance and ensuring physiological reflex mechanisms. We do not want to talk in detail about the medical measures for the prevention of myocardial infarction, but it should be mentioned that on the basis of scientific studies today in certain cases a preventive treatment with anticoagulant substances can be carried out, by which the occurrence of the acute disease event can be prevented in the case of an impending myocardial infarction. Myocardial infarction is a clinical picture that can present itself in very different ways.In some cases, uncharacteristic complaints occur that are often not regarded by the sufferer as a heart disease; they can also cause severe pain in the left side of the chest, combined with a feeling of anxiety. Since myocardial infarction is a disease that can be cured in many cases but may include an unfavorable outcome, it is necessary to prevent cardiovascular disease by taking measures to lead a sensible lifestyle.
