Heart disease can be divided into congenital or acquired, in addition, according to the venue in question, observed:
1. changes in sheath;
2. alteration of the coronary arteries;
3. alterations of muscle fibres or muscle (myocarditis);
4. diseases of the inner tunic (endocarditis);
5. lesions of the heart valves;
6. conduction disturbances (arrhythmia);
Congenital abnormalities
There are cases in which the heart is completely lacking or is present in rudimentary form (incompatible with life). In other cases there was the development of part of the heart with the result of communications (shunts) inter-atrial or inter-ventricular. Where alterations are compatible with life symptoms worsen over time.
The causes of heart disease are many, especially genetic or infectious or toxic insults during fetal life. And it is a sensitive and important organ. Remember:
* Dextrocardia
* Right-sided aortic arch
* Diverticulum of Kommerell
* Tetralogy of Fallot
* High blood cholesterol
The coronary circulation consists of the blood vessels that carry blood to the heart muscle. Although the cardiac cycle during the 4 chambers of the heart fill and empty of blood, muscle tissue of the heart (myocardium) is so often a need for a vascular network that performed deep penetration. The vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood to the myocardium are called coronary arteries, the vessels that remove the deoxygenated blood from the heart muscle are known as cardiac veins.
The coronary arteries that pass over the surface of the heart are called coronary arteries epicardiali. These arteries, in physiological conditions, have a mechanism of auto regulation that maintains a level of blood flow appropriate for the needs of the myocardium. These vessels have a relatively small diameter, so if they are affected by atherosclerosis, the risk of being occluded: the consequences may be angina pectoris or myocardial infarction.
Myocarditis is the progressive deterioration of the myocardium, due to physical factors (such as excessive blood viscosity or thoracic trauma), chemical factors (such as blood pH with abnormal or foreign substances, hypersensitivity to drugs) or biological factors (bacteria or viruses established in the myocardium ) that lead to the development of local inflammation, with lymphocytic infiltration. The myocardium loses elasticity and tends to impede its motion to develop a long-term dilated cardiomyopathy, while the SA node can wear out and cease its function.
The symptoms are chest pain, shortness of breath resulting in psycho-motor disabilities. An early diagnosis can detect and act on the causes, whereas in its advanced stage disease can be cured only with a heart transplant.
For endocarditis means an inflammation of the endocardium. Anatomic districts more involved in infectious disease are as heart valves.
The arrhythmia is a lack of electrical conduction of the heart.
Arrhythmias are caused by
* A normal or abnormal impulse formation,
* Abnormal impulse conduction,
* A combination of these.
Diagnostics and therapy
The diagnosis of many cardiac diseases can be confirmed by electrocardiogram (ECG), one of the most important cardiology examinations.
Cardiac surgery dates back to 1945, with the intervention of Alfred Blalock in the heart of a child suffering from “blue disease”. In 1967 he came to the first heart transplant, performed by Christiaan Barnard.