THE CARDINAL SYMPTOMS OF HEART DISEASE ARE:
Chest pain Breathlessness(dyspnea) Palpitation Syncope Peripheral EdemaANGINA 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
Severe Chest painMyocardial Blood Flow
Myocardial O2 Demands
Fixed threshold angina Variable threshold angina
Clinical Manifestations
Differential Diagnosis of Chest Pain
Character of chest pain
Dull AchePressure
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