tooth[인터뷰] Director of Internal Medicine Seonghee Kim
toothCoronary arteries, valves, muscles… problems can occur anywhere in the heart
toothModerate-intensity aerobic exercise recommended for heart health
The heart is a small organ the size of an adult’s fist, but it beats non-stop every minute and one second, sending blood containing oxygen and nutrients to every corner of the body. These important heart problems are collectively referred to as ‘cardiovascular disease’. There are various types of cardiovascular diseases, such as coronary artery disease, arrhythmia, heart valve disease, and heart failure, and each disease has slightly different symptoms. We heard more detailed explanations from Dr. Seong-Hee Kim (Heart Clinic in Germany), an internal medicine counselor at Haidak, an expert in cardiovascular disease.
Director Seonghee KimㅣSource: German Heart Clinic
Symptoms to watch out for by cardiovascular disease
Coronary arteries are the blood vessels that supply oxygen and nutrients to the heart. When the coronary artery, which is supposed to be open, is narrowed or blocked, blood cannot be sufficiently supplied to the heart, causing pain near the heart. This can lead to angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, heart attack, etc. These diseases are collectively called coronary artery disease.
Angina pectoris is caused by a narrowing of the coronary arteries by more than 50%. Director Seonghee Kim cited “chest pain that occurs during exercise” as a representative symptom of angina pectoris. He went on to say, “Sometimes, instead of chest pain, symptoms such as shortness of breath or tightness in the chest occur.”
Myocardial infarction is a disease in which the coronary artery is completely blocked and blood is not supplied to the heart at all, causing the heart muscle to die. Chest pain that is more severe than in angina pectoris lasting more than 30 minutes. In addition, symptoms such as shortness of breath, cold sweat, nausea, vomiting, and loss of consciousness may be accompanied. A myocardial infarction can lead to heart failure or even death.
An adult’s heart usually beats regularly, 60 to 100 times per minute. An arrhythmia is when the regular heart rhythm is disrupted and the heart does not beat normally. There are three main types of arrhythmias. ‘Bradycardia’, in which the heart rate is slower than 60 beats per minute, ‘Tachycardia’, which is faster than 100 beats per minute, and ‘Irregular pulse’, in which the heart beats in an irregular rhythm, although the heart rate is normal at 60 to 100 beats per minute. Director Kim explained, “If the symptoms of sudden heart palpitations and then getting better are repeated even when you are not exercising or excited, it is highly likely that you have arrhythmia.”
The heart has four gates that direct circulation within the heart. The name of this door is ‘valve’. If the valves are damaged, blood flow may be blocked or blood may flow in the opposite direction rather than in one direction. Director Kim pointed out that the representative symptom of heart valve disease is shortness of breath. He added, “If the heart is not functioning properly due to a valve abnormality, it can cause arrhythmia, in which you feel easily fatigued and the pulse becomes irregularly fast even with the slightest movement.”
Finally, heart failure is a disease in which the heart’s ability to relax or contract is reduced, that is, the pump function is weakened, so that the body cannot properly supply the necessary blood. As a result, various organs and muscles are not supplied with blood properly, and shortness of breath occurs even if you climb only a few stairs.
Dr. Seong-Hee Kim said, “At first, shortness of breath appears when the body is moving, but as the disease progresses, it becomes short of breath even during rest at the end of the disease.” “There is also a tendency to urinate more frequently at night than during the day.”
Director Seonghee KimㅣSource: German Heart Clinic
Lifestyle to protect cardiovascular health recommended by Dr. Kim Seong-hee
1. Make exercise a part of your life
Regular moderate-intensity aerobic exercise such as walking, cycling, and swimming is recommended. If you continue to do aerobic exercise, your heart muscle will develop, which leads to improved heart activity and cardiorespiratory fitness. However, you should avoid high-intensity exercise that makes you unable to speak due to breathlessness so as not to strain your heart.
2. Sobriety and sobriety
When you drink alcohol, alcohol, the main component of alcohol, enters the body and breaks down into acetaldehyde, which spreads throughout the body. Through this process, alcohol stimulates the secretion of adrenaline, a hormone that excites the heart and constricts blood vessels. Acetaldehyde, a toxic and carcinogenic substance, can damage the heart muscle and cause cardiovascular diseases such as alcoholic cardiomyopathy and arrhythmias.
3. Drink plenty of water
Dehydration in patients with heart disease can cause the pulse rate to rise rapidly, so it is important to drink enough water. However, if you drink more than 600mL at a time, it will not only burden your stomach but also interfere with your breathing.
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