Cardiology
The cardiovascular (cardiovascular) system is one of the most important vital structures of the human body. This system is involved in pumping and transporting blood to all organs and tissues of the body. Therefore, it is extremely important to fulfill this function. However, for various reasons, the heart may become unable to pump the blood that the body needs. This condition, which is defined as heart failure, needs to be treated. In this context, the science of cardiology deals with the diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of all diseases related to the cardiovascular system. In other words, cardiology examines diseases related to the heart and circulatory system.
Cardiovascular diseases are a group of diseases that can occur in any age group. It can be seen in a wide age range from very young ages to advanced ages. Therefore, today, unfortunately, millions of people lose their lives due to cardiovascular diseases. It manifests itself with symptoms such as fatigue, bruising (cyanosis), palpitations, fainting, urination at night, edema, shortness of breath, chest pain and tightness in the left part of the body, numbness and fatigue.
The most common diseases of the cardiovascular system
The heart consists of three layers: the epicardium , the middle, the myocardium, and the innermost endocardium. The epicardium and endocardium are thin, while the myocardium forms the thick main layer of the heart and contains cardiac muscle fibers. The heart has three main vessels that feed it, called the coronary. The heart consists of four chambers, two chambers above (the atrium) and two chambers below (the ventricle). There are also four valves, two between the chambers (mitral and tricuspid) and two in the arteries (pulmonary and aortic). The electrical signals produced autonomously from the point called the sinoatrial (SA) node in the heart operate the heart uninterruptedly in the form of systole (contraction) and diastole (relaxation). Cardiovascular diseases are mostly seen in the form of diseases of the heart itself and the vessels associated with it. The most common cardiovascular system diseases are:
Aortic vessel diseases
Hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis)
Endocardial diseases
Hypertension
Heart valve diseases (insufficiency-stenosis)
Heart rhythm disorders
Heart failure
Cardiac tumors
Cardiomyopathies
Coronary artery diseases
Peripheral vascular diseases
Pericardial tamponade
Pulmonary insufficiency
Cardiovascular system diagnostic methods
Chest X-rays
CT coronary angiography
Doppler (venous-arterial)
Exercise/stress test (stress ECG)
Echocardiography (ECO)
Electrocardiography (ECG)
Holter ECG
Cardiac catheterization
Laboratory (CK, CK-MB, troponin)
Myocardial perfusion scintigraphy
Radionuclide testing
Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE)
