Drugs Drug treatment of atrial fibrillation depends on the cause. In addition, the drugs, known as antiarrhythmics, have clear indications, contraindications and interactions with other drugs. Commonly used drugs in atrial fibrillation are beta blockers, flecainide, propafenone and amiodarone. Beta-blockers such as bisoprolol are drugs that act on the so-called beta-adrenoreceptors. They are used to … Drugs | Atrial fibrillation therapy
What is a cardioversion? The term cardioversion describes the restoration of a normal heart rhythm (so-called sinus rhythm) in the presence of cardiac arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation. There are two different methods of restoring a normal heart rhythm by means of cardioversion: electrical cardioversion by means of a defibrillator, also known as electric shock, … What is a cardioversion? | Atrial fibrillation therapy
Pacemaker Pacemakers are used, for example, to treat a slow heart rate or atrial fibrillation. The pacemaker provides the heart with regular electrical stimulation, which prevents the occurrence of atrial fibrillation. Whether a pacemaker is necessary depends on the cause of the atrial fibrillation. Ablation Cardiac ablation is a treatment in which surplus or diseased … Pacemaker | Atrial fibrillation therapy
Guidelines for the treatment of atrial fibrillation The guidelines of the German Society of Cardiology (DGK) provide guidelines for the treatment of atrial fibrillation. To diagnose suspected but undocumented atrial fibrillation, cardiac rhythm monitoring may be necessary to determine the type of atrial fibrillation. In the chronic condition called atrial fibrillation, there are different types … Guidelines for the treatment of atrial fibrillation | Atrial fibrillation therapy
Definition Toxoplasmosis is an infectious disease caused by the unicellular organism Toxoplasma gondii. The first description of toxoplasmosis dates back to 1923, but it was not fully understood until almost 50 years later. Toxoplasmosis usually proceeds without further symptoms and is usually harmless. For people with a weak immune system or a first infection during … Toxoplasmosis
An accumulation of water in the pericardium – also called pericardial effusion – refers to the presence of fluid between the two connective tissue membranes surrounding the heart (pericardial cavity). This accumulation of water can occur both acutely and chronically. In a healthy person, there is about 20ml of fluid in the pericardium, which is … Water in the pericardium – Dangerous?
Symptoms If only small amounts of water are present in the pericardium, few to no symptoms occur. However, if there is a lot of fluid, a variety of symptoms occur. These are caused by the fact that the heart is spatially constricted in its pericardium and cannot really expand during contraction or pumping. As a … Symptoms | Water in the pericardium – Dangerous?
Diagnosis The method of choice for the diagnosis of pericardial effusion is ultrasound diagnostics (sonography), in which the water in the pericardium can be visualized. Computer tomography (CT) can also be used to visualize fluid between the two pericardium layers. After visual confirmation of water accumulation, fluid is usually taken from the pericardial cavity (puncture) … Diagnosis | Water in the pericardium – Dangerous?
Duration Among the most common causes of water accumulation in the pericardium are various infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis, diphtheria, Coxsackie viruses, HIV or herpes. However, frequently existing autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus erythematosus, can also cause pericardial effusion. Other triggers can be metabolic diseases (e.g. uremia), malignant tumors or metastases, traumas, … Duration | Water in the pericardium – Dangerous?
Life expectancy Untreated, the prognosis of a calcified heart valve is unfavorable, since arteriosclerosis worsens as the disease progresses. Without treatment, the heart valve calcifies more and more until at some point complications occur, such as a stroke, cardiac arrhythmia or even sudden cardiac death. With the right therapy, life expectancy is hardly reduced. In … Life expectancy | Calcified heart valve
Definition Heart valves are mechanical, functional closures between the atria, ventricles and large conduction pathways. They open during the pumping cycle of the heart to transport the blood in a specific direction. As in any body vessel, deposits can form in the area of the heart valves and narrow them. Colloquially, this is referred to … Calcified heart valve
Diagnosis In patients without symptoms, a calcified heart valve is usually discovered by chance during a visit to the doctor. During the examination with the stethoscope, the physician can hear valve noises characteristic of heart valve defects. If the examining physician notices a pathological valve noise, a referral to a cardiologist is usually made. The … Diagnosis | Calcified heart valve
