Of Cardiovascular diseases Manifestations Of Cardiovascular diseases Dr.Fakhir Yousif

The cardinal symptoms of heart disease are: Chest pain Breathlessness(dyspnea) Palpitation Syncope Peripheral Edema

Risk factors : Age,sex,obesity.smoking,diabetes. Angina pectoris Sudden,severe,pressing chest pain starting substernal &radiate to left arm. Due to imbalance between myocardium oxygen requirement and oxygen supply. Risk factors : Age,sex,obesity.smoking,diabetes.

Classification of angina Angina pectoris (Stable angina) Exertional angina,Atherosclerotic,Classic, Due to obstruction of coronaries by atheroma. 2- Unstable angina. (rest angina) Due to spasm and more obstruction of coronaries.

Transient Myocardial ischemia Clinical Manifestations Myocardial Blood Flow Myocardial O2 Demands Differential Diagnosis of Chest Pain Transient Myocardial ischemia Fixed threshold angina Variable threshold angina Severe Chest pain

Character of chest pain Dull Ache Character of chest pain Pressure

Breathlessness (Dyspnoea) It is defined as an abnormally uncomfortable awareness of breathing It is one of principal symptoms of cardiac and pulmonary disease and ranges from an uncomfortable awareness of breathing to intense respiratory distress or a frightening sensation of fighting for breath.

Cardiac dyspnea is due left side heart failure occurs initially on exertion and progress to orthopnea ,paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea , and dyspnea at rest . Orthopnoea is dyspnoea on lying flat due to increased pulmonary venous congestion Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnoea occurs during sleep the patient awakes one to two hours after sleeping

Palpitation ● This common symptom is defined as unpleasant awareness of the forceful or rapid beating of the heart . It is described as pounding, jumping, racing, fluttering & skipping a beat. ●Most causes due to awareness of heart beating in normal sinus rhythm in a healthy person e.g. after exercise, excessive tea &coffee & smoking . ●Other common benign cause is premature ectopic beats (extrasystole) which cause irregularity at rest & subside on physical activity . ●Palpitation may be due to more serious conditions such as cardiac arrhythmia e.g. atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, supra ventricular & ventricular tachycardia . ●

In a patient with palpitation ask about: ● The mode of onset & termination. ● Specific triggers e.g. exercise, alcohol, caffeine & drugs. ● Frequency. ● Duration of attacks. ● Rhythm (ask patient to tap out). ● Any associated symptoms. ● History of organic heart diseases .

Syncope Syncope is a sudden brief loss of consciousness. Cardiac syncope is usually sudden with no aura with extreme death –like pallor & rapid recovery (< 1 minute) .usually due to serious cardiac arrhythmia such as ventricular tachycardia & complete heart block (stokes- Adam) . Severe aortic stenosis , hypertrophic cardiomyopathy & severe coronary artery disease can cause lightheadedness or syncope on exertion. Posturnal hypotension is a significant (>20 mmHg) fall in systolic BP on standing .due to anti hypertensive drugs or autonomic neuropathy may be a cause.

Peripheral Oedema Oedema is accumulation of fluid in the intersticial tissues Oedema can be both a symptom (ankle swelling) & a sign (pitting oedema). It is usually found in the lower limbs,especially the ankles,or over the sacrum in patients confined to bed .It is symptom & sign of right side or congestive heart failure mainly due to increased systemic venous pressure. cardiac oedema is generally symmetrical as it progresses Other causes for generalized oedema are liver cirrhosis & renal diseases as nephrotic syndrome. In liver cirrhosis the oedema starts in the abdomem (ascites)& descend to the lower limb. In renal diseases the oedema though generalized the patient notices the oedema first around the eyes ( periorbital) & the face ( puffiness).

Peripheral Oedema

Other symptoms Cyanosis though it is a physical sign sometime it is a symptom especially in children .Cyanosis is bluish discoloration of the skin & mucous membrane resulting from an increased quantity of reduced hemoglobin or of abnormal hemoglobin pigments in the blood. There are two principal forms of cyanosis: (1) central cyanosis characterized by decreased arterial oxygen saturation due to cardiac & pulmonary diseases. &(2) peripheral cyanosis ,most commonly secondary to cutaneous vasoconstriction due to low cardiac output or exposure to cold. Central cyanosis usually appear when reduced hemoglobin level in the blood exceed 40 gm/L .& usually involve the tongue, lips& mucous membrane of the mouth .

Cyanosis