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Zhou Yan
Geriatrics
About me
Member of the 7th Rehabilitation Professional Committee of the Chinese Society of Rehabilitation Medicine, and Chairman of the 1st Youth Committee of the Geriatric Health Medical Professional Committee of the Hunan Provincial Women Physicians Association.
Proficient in diseases
Specializes in geriatric internal medicine diseases, particularly in the rescue of cardiovascular critical illnesses such as acute coronary syndrome, hypertensive crisis, malignant arrhythmia, acute heart failure, etc.
Voices
Is myocarditis easy to treat?
Myocarditis refers to the inflammatory disease of the myocardium. Symptoms of myocarditis can vary greatly; some individuals may exhibit no symptoms, while others may experience cardiogenic shock or sudden death. Currently, there are no specific treatments for myocarditis. Patients should avoid exertion, rest appropriately, and receive nutritional support. It is advised to encourage patients to consume a diet that is easy to digest and rich in vitamins and proteins. For asymptomatic patients, attention should be paid to rest and nutrition. However, in cases where there is left ventricular dysfunction, treatment primarily supports these symptoms. For instance, in the event of heart failure, diuretics, vasodilators, or ACE inhibitors might be administered. Most cases of myocarditis are self-limiting, but there are occasional instances of fulminant or severe myocarditis, which should be taken seriously. Therefore, the treatability of myocarditis is related to the extent and location of the pathological changes. (Please use medications under the guidance of a doctor.)
What medicine to buy for arrhythmia?
Arrhythmia encompasses a large category of diseases, including sinus tachycardia, bradycardia, sick sinus syndrome, as well as atrial fibrillation, flutter, premature atrial contractions, supraventricular tachycardia, premature ventricular contractions, and atrioventricular block, among others. Due to the various types of arrhythmias, the medications used also differ. It is necessary to go to a hospital for a clear diagnosis to determine the specific type of arrhythmia before using appropriate anti-arrhythmic drugs. Some arrhythmias cannot be resolved just by medication; for instance, in cases like pacemaker syndrome, a pacemaker needs to be installed. Additionally, patients with atrial fibrillation who have tachy-brady syndrome also require a pacemaker. Therefore, the decision on what medication to purchase for arrhythmia should be made by a doctor.
What should be avoided in the diet for myocarditis?
Myocarditis is an inflammatory disease of the myocardium. Currently, there is no specific treatment for myocarditis. Patients should avoid fatigue, rest adequately to reduce cardiac load, and pay attention to nutritional intake. It is encouraged to eat easily digestible foods that are rich in vitamins and high in protein, and to avoid spicy, greasy, and hard-to-digest foods. Additionally, it is advisable to consume more fruits and vegetables, which are rich in vitamin C.
How is myocarditis diagnosed?
The examination of myocarditis includes several aspects: First, the biochemical blood test shows that white blood cells can increase, erythrocyte sedimentation rate can accelerate, and both cardiac enzymes and troponins can rise. There may also be abnormalities in the electrocardiogram, such as arrhythmias or ST-segment changes. In addition, there are X-ray examinations, which can show an enlarged heart shadow or pulmonary congestion. Echocardiograms may not show any specific changes or can exhibit phase-dependent or regional abnormalities in ventricular wall motion. Furthermore, nuclear imaging and magnetic resonance imaging indicate the presence of fluttering and inflammatory changes. The virological examination can isolate the virus through throat swabs or stool samples, and if necessary, an endocardial or myocardial biopsy can be performed.
Is it good to soak your feet if you have myocarditis?
For myocarditis, whether soaking feet is good or bad is irrelevant because soaking feet has no effect on the treatment of myocarditis. For the treatment of myocarditis, there is general treatment and medication treatment. General treatments typically aim to reduce the cardiac load, such as resting and providing easily digestible food rich in vitamins and proteins, and soaking feet offers no benefit in these respects. Additionally, myocarditis should be treated with medications, including diuretics, vasodilators, ACE inhibitors as appropriate. If arrhythmias occur, anti-arrhythmic drugs should be provided, and if a viral infection is confirmed, specific antiviral treatment should be administered. Therefore, soaking feet is not significantly relevant. (Specific medication use should be conducted under the guidance of a doctor.)
Difference between hypertensive crisis and hypertensive encephalopathy
Hypertensive crisis, now referred to as hypertensive emergency, includes hypertensive encephalopathy. It mainly refers to cases where, under certain triggers, the blood pressure of patients with primary or secondary hypertension suddenly or significantly rises, typically exceeding 180/120 mmHg, accompanied by progressive failure of critical target organs such as the heart, brain, and kidneys. Hypertensive emergencies include hypertensive encephalopathy, cerebral hemorrhage, cerebral infarction, acute heart failure, acute coronary syndrome, aortic dissection, etc. Hypertensive encephalopathy is characterized by symptoms caused by hypertension, such as headache, blurred vision, nausea, vomiting, and severe edema of the head.
What is bradycardia?
Bradycardia generally refers to a heart rate of less than 60 beats per minute, often seen in healthy young people, athletes, and during sleep. Other possible causes include hypothyroidism, obstructive jaundice, as well as severe hypoxia and hypothermia. If the patient's bradycardia does not cause other pathological conditions, such as dizziness or fainting, it generally does not require treatment. If severe dizziness and fainting occur, indicating insufficient cardiac output, medications that increase the heart rate, such as atropine or aminophylline, can be used. (These medications should be taken under the guidance of a doctor.)
Causes of acute heart failure
Acute heart failure refers to the acute onset of heart failure or an exacerbated clinical syndrome, which can present as either newly developed acute or acute decompensation of chronic heart failure. Clinically, it is commonly divided into two main categories. One category is acute left heart failure, often caused by acute decompensation of chronic heart failure, or by acute coronary syndrome, hypertensive emergencies, acute cardiac valvular dysfunction, severe myocarditis, serious arrhythmias, and peripartum cardiomyopathy. The other category is acute right heart failure, which can be caused by right ventricular infarction, acute large pulmonary embolism, and right-sided valvular heart disease.
The dangers of myocarditis
Myocarditis is an inflammatory disease of the myocardium. Most cases of myocarditis are self-limiting, but if not treated promptly, it can progress to dilated cardiomyopathy. Dilated cardiomyopathy often begins insidiously. Once symptoms appear and the patient enters the stage of heart failure, the condition becomes very serious. Additionally, a minority of patients experience a fulminant onset, leading to acute decompensation or sudden death. Fulminant myocarditis and severe myocarditis progress quickly and have a high mortality rate, thus highlighting the dangers of myocarditis.
Causes of Myocarditis
Myocarditis is also an inflammatory disease of the myocardium. Common causes are viral infections, such as Coxsackievirus B, Parvovirus B19, Human Herpesvirus 6, and Poliovirus, with Coxsackievirus B being the most common cause, accounting for about 30%-50%. Bacteria, fungi, spirochetes, rickettsiae, and protozoa can also cause myocarditis, but they are relatively rare. Non-infectious causes of myocarditis include drugs, radiation, connective tissue diseases, vasculitis, giant cell myocarditis, among others. These are all causes of myocarditis.