Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in the world, including in Croatia. They claim more lives than all forms of cancer combined. At the International Medical Center Priora, we attach great importance to the cardiology system. The Cardiology Department at IMC Priora is made up of a team of experienced experts who rely on the latest technology and minimally invasive procedures to provide each patient with personalized care.
Heart health – our life force
On the eve of World Heart Day, September 29th, we bring you a brief overview of diseases that often affect our heart and circulatory system, how to recognize the symptoms, and what to do to prevent them.
Coronary heart disease
Coronary or ischemic heart disease occurs due to atherosclerotic narrowing or complete blockage of the coronary arteries, which supply the heart muscle with oxygen-rich blood.
When the oxygen supply becomes insufficient, damage to heart tissue occurs, which can result in angina pectoris (chest pain) or myocardial infarction (heart attack).
It is the most common heart disease and the leading cause of death in developed countries, but also an increasingly frequent problem in developing countries. Risk factors include smoking, high blood pressure, high blood fats, diabetes, obesity, physical inactivity and chronic stress.
Regular physical activity, a healthy diet, quitting smoking, stress management, and regular preventive checkups are key to maintaining heart health.
A heart attack
A heart attack (infarction) occurs when, due to a sudden blockage or narrowing of a blood vessel that supplies the heart – usually a blood clot – there is a disruption in blood flow. The heart muscle is then left without enough oxygen and nutrients, which causes part of the heart tissue to die. If emergency medical help is not provided in time, the consequences can be permanent damage to the heart, and in the most severe cases, death.
For the best possible treatment outcome, it is crucial to seek help within 90 minutes of the onset of symptoms.
Symptoms of a heart attack include pressure, pain or tightness in the chest, shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, dizziness, sudden fatigue or weakness. In women, the elderly and diabetics, symptoms may be atypical or mild, such as only fatigue, nausea or back pain.
Hypertension
Hypertension is a disease of high blood pressure. The diagnosis is not made on the basis of a single measurement, but on the basis of repeated values above 140/90 mmHg.
It is an insidious disease that can “sweep under the radar” for years because it shows no symptoms. High blood pressure is often discovered only when serious damage has already occurred – to the heart, brain, kidneys or eyes.
Hypertension causes constant strain on the heart as a pump that pushes blood through the body, as well as damage to blood vessels due to increased pressure on their walls.
Regularly measure your blood pressure – it’s a simple but vital habit.
Heart failure
Heart failure occurs when the heart cannot contract or relax properly – most often because the muscle is weakened, stiff or damaged. As it can no longer pump blood effectively, blood supply to the body is reduced, and fluid builds up in the lungs, veins and other parts of the body, putting additional strain on the weakened heart muscle.
The early stages may pass without any problems or with only a lower tolerance for physical exertion, while later on, difficulty breathing, fatigue, and swelling of the legs or abdomen may occur due to fluid accumulation.
Liječenje se usmjerava na uzrok bolesti, naglasak je na promjeni životnog stila, uzimanju terapije, a u nekim je slučajevima potreban i kirurški zahvat.
