Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) refers to a condition in which the heart becomes enlarged and weakened and is thus unable to pump blood sufficiently to the rest of the body. The left ventricle is usually more affected than the right one (American Stroke Association [ASA], 2011). There are various types of cardiomyopathy, but DCM is the most prevalent as it is thought to occur in at least one out of every 2,500 persons. It is potentially even more common as better understanding of the disease means more people are being correctly diagnosed (Ku, Feiger, Taylor, & Mestroni, 2003). DCM also accounts for about 55-60% of all cases of cardiomyopathies among children. Approximately one child out of every 160,000 is diagnosed with DCM in the United States each year (ASA, 2011).
Dilated cardiomyopathy is caused by a variety of factors, including genetic. As more studies are done with familial genes and family history, it is believed that risk of DCM can be inherited. In one study, nearly 30% of persons diagnosed with this type of cardiomyopathy have a close relative with the condition who may not show any symptoms or have yet to be correctly diagnosed (Baig et al., 1998). It is estimated that 30-50% of persons with DCM of an unknown cause (idiopathic) have one or more family members with similar heart dysfunction. This implies that heredity is a risk factor in the development of the disease (Ku et al., 2003).
DCM is also caused by a number of other factors, the most common of which is heart disease resulting from narrowing of arteries and insufficiently controlled hypertension (Chen, 2012). Chen (2012) lists other risks for DCM, such as those who consume alcohol in excess or abuse cocaine as these behaviors can be toxic to the heart. Abnormal ...
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...rdiogram. Chest X-rays taken will show the size of the heart at that moment in time, while subsequent X-rays can reveal any changes in heart size that may occur as the disease progresses (ASA, 2011). An electrocardiogram (EKG) is used to record the electrical activity in the heart and can provide evidence of thickened or enlarged chambers, as well as any arrhythmias that may be occurring (ASA, 2011).
Other diagnostics that can detect abnormal heart structure and impaired function include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT) scan, coronary angiogram, and even cardiac stress tests (Chen, 2012). In addition, laboratory tests can assist in a DCM diagnosis. These include antinuclear antibody (ANA) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) tests to identify any autoimmune disorders, as well as antibody tests to detect possible infections (Chen, 2012).
According to “Heart Disease and Marfan Syndrome” (n.d.), if the disease is suspected, the doctor will perform a physical exam of the eyes, heart and blood vessels, and muscle and skeletal system. After, a history of symptoms and information about family members will be obtained to determine if you have it. A chest x-ray, an electrocardiogram, and an echocardiogram can also be used to evaluate the heart and blood vessels to detect heart rhythm problems. A transesophageal echocardiogram may also be used, along with an MRI, CT scan, or a slit lamp eye exam to check for dislocated lenses. The various symptoms of Marfan syndrome allow doctors to diagnose the condition and provide treatments that can help the
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, also known as HCM, is a type of heart disease that affects the Cardiac Muscles and Cardiac Muscle cells. This disease occurs if the Cardiac Muscle cells enlarge, which causes the wall of the heart’s ventricles (most often the left ventricle) to thicken. It can also cause stiffness in the ventricles, as well as mitral valve and cellular changes.
Of the two representations of the “Tell-Tale Heart”, the live action version is best. The live action was more accurate to the original story than the animated version was. The animated version was mostly for entertainment and got some facts wrong. In the live action, he killed the man in the same way and it had all the narrative of the story. The narrator wasn't Poe, like he was in the animated version. He disposed of the body the same and acted the way the character did in the original book. In the live action, the old man’s eye was completely covered by the film. He also panicked the same way as the book.
Cardiomyopathy, by definition, means the weakening of the heart muscle. The heart is operated by a striated muscle that relies on the autonomic nervous system to function. Cardiomyopathy is diagnosed in four different ways based on what caused the illness and exactly what part of the heart is weakened. The four main types of cardiomyopathy are dilated cardiomyopathy, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, restrictive cardiomyopathy, and arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia. One other category of cardiomyopathy that is diagnosed is “unclassified cardiomyopathy.” Unclassified cardiomyopathy is the weakening of the heart that does not fit into the main four categories.
During a physical examination, a specialist may hear a heart murmur which will prompt a referral to a pediatric cardiologist for an analysis. Diagnostic testing will vary by the child’s age, clinical condition, and institutional preferences. Such test may incorporate a chest X-ray, electrocardiogram, echocardiography and cardiac catheterization. A chest X-ray uses unseen X-ray beams to cr...
The skeletal and ultimate cardiac muscle fibers are affected by DMD. The disease starts by affecting the lower port...
The Tell Tale Heart and Greasy Lake have interesting characters to analyze. Edgar Allen Poe’s Tell Tale Heart has an eerie and dark tone that Poe’s literary work is known for. Greasy Lake by T.C. Boyle starts out with hardcore yet naïve teenagers looking to had a good time. However, their naivety and immaturity will led them into a very bad situation.
It's also important that people with heart problems caused by muscular dystrophy be monitored by a heart specialist.
Tokgozoglu, L. S., Ashizawa, T., Pacifico, A., Armstrong, R. M., Epstein, H. F., Zoghbi, W. A. Cardiac involvement in a large kindred with myotonic dystrophy: quantitative assessment and relation to size of CTG repeat expansion. JAMA 274: 813-819, 1995.
It is evident that religions and their place in society have a profound effect on the growth, development, and accomplishments of a civilization. The theocracies that preceded and followed the Greeks certainly had a profound historical impact, but the tradition that would most greatly affect the development of the western mind was that of the Hellenistic world. The birth of democracy and a Golden Age of western scientific and cultural development occurred in the civilization that furthest separated its religion from its government.
Oxygen is vital to a beating, healthy heart because it is needed to perform cellular respiration in order to pump the blood. When there is no oxygen being transported to the heart, the heart cannot pump blood, and eventually after being inactive, the heart tissue dies . This results in a heart attack. Heart attacks can be diagnosed before it is too late. One method of diagnosis is through a blood test. Blood tests are capable of sorting through the material found in blood, and if heart cell contents are found in the specimen, a heart attack can be diagnosed. If the levels of the cell contents are higher, this signifies that the heart attack is more severe. Another method of diagnosis is an electrocardiogram (ECG). An ECG measures the rhythm of the heart in order to detect defects. There are many other strategies that are used by doctors in order to diagnose a heart attack, such as chest x-rays, stress tests, tilt table tests, and echocardiograms, to name a few. A myocardial biopsy involves looking at the heart cells, and is accomplished by collecting a sample of heart cells from the patient. If the results are positive, a heart attack is diagnosed. A heart MRI involves looking at images of the heart in order to detect heart failure. The doctor uses the images to look for disorders in the structure of the
[11] Nishimura, Rick A., Ommen, Steve R., Tajik, A.J., (2003) Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: A Patient Perspective. Dallas, TX: American Heart Association,
In conclusion it is important to remember that dilated cardiomyopathy is the most common form of cardiomyopathy. There are a variety of acknowledged triggers but often the cause of the dilated cardiomyopathy is unknown. Early identification of the disease aids in proper medical care and may
Oxygen was first admitted to the client with chest pain over 100 years ago (Metcalfe, 2011). Chest pain is a large bracket that can contain many different conditions, but for the purpose of this analysis it is focused manly upon a myocardial infarction. A myocardial infarction is mainly referred to as a heart attack, and occurs when one or more coronary arteries leading to the heart reduce or completely stop blood flow (Tuipulotu, 2013 ). Administering high concentrations of oxygen to patients with chest pain is now embedded in guidelines, protocols and care pathways, even with a lack of clear supporting evidence (Nicholson, 2004 ). High concentration of oxygen means that up to 60% is administered (Knott, 2012). More recent research has suggested that the use of oxygen in this scenario is unnecessary and can lead to unwanted side effects, especially in normoxic cardiac patients (Moradkham & Sinoway, 2010 ). The aim of this comparative analysis is to dismantle and understand both the benefits and risks of the commonly known practice of administration of oxygen to the client with chest pain. Through completing this analysis using recent and appropriate evidence a more improved practice can be given and understood.
Genetics & Personalized Medicine. (2013). University of Ottawa Heart Institute. Retrieved on February 3, 2014 from: http://www.ottawaheart.ca/research_discovery/genetics-personalized-medicine.htm