Cardiovascular diseases represent one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality in Brazil and throughout the world , being responsible for millions of deaths each year.
According to the Virtual Health Library , from the Ministry of Health, data from the latest report “Global Burden of Disease and Cardiovascular Risk Factors”, published in December 2023 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, indicates that approximately 400 thousand Brazilians died due to a set of 18 cardiovascular diseases.
Given this worrying scenario, early and accurate detection of these conditions is essential for prevention, effective treatment and reducing the devastating impact they can have on public health.
Therefore, we need to talk about identifying these diseases and how diagnostic tests are essential to help with discovery.
In addition, we will show you some of the tests available to detect cardiovascular diseases . Keep reading!
What are cardiovascular diseases?
Cardiovascular diseases are a group of conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels, including arteries, veins, and capillaries.
These diseases can have a variety of causes and manifestations, but generally involve problems related to the functioning of the circulatory system.
The main diseases that affect the cardiovascular system are:
Heart failure
Heart failure occurs when the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs. It can be caused by conditions such as high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, valve disease, cardiomyopathy, and other conditions that affect the structure or function of the heart.
High blood pressure
Hypertension, commonly known as high blood pressure, is a condition in which blood pressure in the arteries is persistently high. If left unchecked, it can lead to serious complications such as coronary artery disease, stroke, heart failure, kidney disease, and other cardiovascular conditions.
Coronary heart disease
Coronary heart disease is characterized by narrowing or blockage of the coronary arteries, which supply blood to the heart muscle. This can lead to angina (chest pain), myocardial infarction (heart attack), and other serious complications.
Cerebrovascular disease
Cerebrovascular disease includes conditions that affect the blood vessels in the brain, such as stroke, transient ischemic attack (TIA), and cerebral hemorrhage. These conditions can cause significant brain damage and can be fatal or result in permanent neurological disabilities.
Peripheral arterial disease
Peripheral arterial disease is characterized by narrowing or blockage of arteries outside the heart, usually in the legs. This can cause pain when walking (intermittent claudication) and increase the risk of serious complications, such as leg ulcers, gangrene, and amputation.
Rheumatic heart disease
Rheumatic heart disease is a complication of bacterial infections, such as rheumatic fever. It can affect the heart valves, causing damage and dysfunction that can lead to heart failure, arrhythmias, and other complications.
Congenital heart disease
Congenital heart defects are heart malformations that are present at birth. They can range from mild defects that cause no symptoms to serious anomalies that require immediate medical intervention. These conditions can affect the structure of the heart, the heart valves, the blood vessels, or the heart’s electrical system.
Main causes of cardiovascular diseases
The main causes of cardiovascular disease include modifiable risk factors such as smoking, poor diet, lack of physical activity, obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol and stress.
Furthermore, non-modifiable factors, such as advanced age, family history of cardiovascular disease and genetic predisposition, can also play an important role in the presentation of these diseases.
Cardiovascular diseases can be serious and potentially fatal if not treated properly. They can lead to serious complications such as heart attacks, strokes, heart failure, aneurysms, and sudden death.
Tests that detect cardiovascular diseases
Among the main tests that detect cardiovascular diseases are:
Electrocardiogram (ECG)
An electrocardiogram is a test that records the electrical activity of the heart. It can detect cardiac arrhythmias, electrical conduction disorders, signs of acute heart injury (such as myocardial infarction), and other heart rhythm abnormalities.
Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring (ABPM)
ABPM is a test that measures blood pressure throughout the day and night, usually over a 24-hour period. It provides detailed information about blood pressure changes over time, helping to diagnose high blood pressure and assess the effectiveness of treatment.
Holter
A Holter monitor is a test that continuously records the electrical activity of the heart over a long period of time, usually 24 hours or more. It is used to detect intermittent cardiac arrhythmias and to evaluate symptoms related to the heart rhythm, such as palpitations.
Echocardiography
Echocardiography is an imaging test that uses ultrasound to visualize the structures of the heart in real time. It provides detailed information about the size, shape, function and movement of the different parts of the heart, allowing the evaluation of conditions such as valve disease, heart failure, cardiomyopathies and other structural abnormalities.
These are some of the most commonly used tests for detecting and evaluating cardiovascular disease. Each of them plays a unique role in investigating different aspects of the health of the heart and blood vessels, helping doctors make an accurate diagnosis and plan the appropriate treatment for each patient.
Finally, when you need this type of exam, look for clinics with good infrastructure, security and cutting-edge equipment. In Belo Horizonte, you can count on Clínica CEU.