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Xie Zhi Hong
Cardiology
About me
The Secretary-General and Standing Committee Member of the Cardiovascular Disease Professional Committee of the Rehabilitation Medical Association in Ganzhou City, and a member of the Ganzhou City Working Committee of the Heart Emergency Branch of the China Medical Health International Exchange Promotion Association. He has chaired 4 provincial and municipal-level research projects, participated in more than 20 research projects, and published over 20 papers.
Proficient in diseases
Specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of coronary heart disease, hypertension, and structural heart disease. Research interests include hypertension, coronary heart disease, arrhythmia, and cardiac rehabilitation.
Voices
How to deal with a cold and fever in rheumatic heart disease?
Patients with rheumatic heart disease who catch a cold and develop a fever may experience a worsening of their existing rheumatic heart disease, with more severe mitral stenosis or regurgitation, and there could also be recurrent attacks of existing heart failure. Therefore, if a person with rheumatic heart disease catches a cold, it is crucial to seek medical treatment early and go for a hospital examination. If it is a viral infection, antiviral treatment should be given, and for bacterial infections, medications to control and kill bacteria should be administered. Furthermore, if there are repeated fevers during the treatment process, physical methods to reduce fever can be used, such as applying a cold cloth or ice pack to the head when the temperature is below 38°C, along with medication therapy using ibuprofen. In short, it is essential to treat colds and fevers early in patients with rheumatic heart disease. (Medication should be used under the guidance of a physician.)
The cause of thromboembolism in mitral stenosis
The mitral valve is an important part of the left heart system, located between the left ventricle and the left atrium. When the heart is in diastole, the mitral valve opens, allowing blood from the atrium to be transferred into the ventricle. However, when the mitral valve is narrowed, blood from the left atrium cannot flow into the left ventricle in a timely manner. This leads to an increased load on the left atrium. Over time, this can cause severe enlargement of the left atrium and lead to atrial fibrillation, a type of cardiac arrhythmia. Once atrial fibrillation occurs, it can cause thrombosis in the left atrium, particularly in the part called the atrial appendage. If a thrombus forms, it may dislodge during the heart's contractions, potentially causing systemic embolism with serious consequences, including paralysis or even sudden death.
The causes of nausea and vomiting in myocardial infarction
During the acute phase of a myocardial infarction, symptoms such as nausea and vomiting often occur, particularly with acute inferior wall myocardial infarction. In the later stages of acute myocardial infarction, including anterior and lateral wall infarctions, patients may experience poor diet, issues with medication, or poor food intake, leading to electrolyte disturbances, which can also result in symptoms of nausea and vomiting. Therefore, nausea and vomiting during myocardial infarction are manifestations of gastrointestinal distress indirectly stimulated by the condition. Additionally, patients with acute right ventricular infarction may experience worsening right heart function, gastrointestinal tract water retention, and edema, which can also lead to nausea, vomiting, and decreased appetite.
Can rheumatic heart disease with enlarged heart be treated with surgery?
Patients with rheumatic heart disease generally present with valvular insufficiency or severe stenosis. If the patient's heart is enlarged and the ejection fraction significantly decreases, for example, if the left ventricular diastolic diameter is greater than 75, and the ejection fraction is less than 30%, the surgical outcome may be poor. This is particularly the case if there is associated pulmonary arterial hypertension, which may lead to no improvement in condition after surgery, indicating a poor surgical outcome. However, if the patient has severe stenosis or insufficiency of the valve function, not performing surgery could further worsen the condition.
How to prevent coronary heart disease in its early stages
Coronary heart disease is caused by a variety of reasons leading to arteriosclerosis of cardiac vessels or narrowing, resulting in insufficient cardiac blood supply. Common risk factors for coronary heart disease include older age, smoking, high blood lipid levels, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, among others. Generally, aging is unavoidable, but we can prevent the progression of coronary heart disease by quitting smoking, controlling blood sugar, blood pressure, and blood lipid levels. It is also important to control weight, reduce the intake of fatty foods, improve lifestyle, exercise regularly, keep a regular schedule, and avoid excessive fatigue. These are the methods for the early prevention of coronary heart disease, and medication may be necessary when needed.
Is hyperthyroid heart disease difficult to treat?
Hyperthyroidism occurs when an excessive amount of T3 and T4 is released by the thyroid gland, leading to hyperactive metabolism throughout the body. This can cause disturbances in autonomic nervous function or receptor hyperactivity, resulting in a series of conditions related to excessive cardiac load and insufficient blood supply. Therefore, the majority of hyperthyroidism-related heart diseases improve after controlling the hyperthyroidism and are relatively easy to treat. However, if the thyroid function is not controlled repeatedly, or if the treatment is not effective, it may lead to severe enlargement of the heart and recurrent arrhythmias, making hyperthyroid heart disease difficult to cure. Nonetheless, such cases are relatively rare, with an incidence of less than 10%.
Can cardiogenic sudden death cause vomiting?
Sudden cardiac death is commonly seen in three scenarios. The first scenario involves severe arrhythmias, such as ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, or cardiac arrest, which do not cause vomiting. The second scenario is due to severe valvular dysfunction caused by acute myocardial infarction or valvular disease, which also generally does not cause vomiting. The third scenario concerns patients with severe cardiac diseases who have mural thrombi in their hearts. If a thrombus detaches, it can lead to fatal systemic embolism. For instance, if the thrombus travels to the cerebral arteries, it can cause cerebellar or cerebral artery occlusion, leading to brain herniation. This may result in symptoms such as headache, nausea, vomiting, and limb dysfunction. If it travels to the mesenteric artery, it can cause gastrointestinal pain and result in vomiting. Therefore, some cases of sudden cardiac death may cause vomiting.
Can a normal heart rate have atrial fibrillation?
Atrial fibrillation includes paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and persistent atrial fibrillation. Patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation may have a normal heart rate during non-attack periods. In contrast, those with persistent atrial fibrillation continuously experience atrial fibrillation rates, presenting with irregular heart sounds of varying intensity. A normal electrocardiogram displays P waves, QRS complexes, and T waves. However, patients with atrial fibrillation either do not exhibit P waves or show irregularly sized, serrated P waves resembling dog teeth, suggesting atrial fibrillation. Therefore, although atrial fibrillation is associated with arrhythmias, individuals with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation may have a normal heart rate but experience repeated palpitations, chest tightness, discomfort in the precordial region, and fatigue. Therefore, patients who frequently experience palpitations should undergo a 24-hour Holter monitor test or consider esophageal electrophysiological examinations to rule out arrhythmic disorders, such as atrial fibrillation and supraventricular tachycardia. Hence, a normal heart rate does not exclude the presence of atrial fibrillation in individuals with corresponding symptoms.
What will happen if patent ductus arteriosus is not treated with surgery?
Patients with patent ductus arteriosus are characterized by a congenital connection between the pulmonary artery and the aortic arch. This is a remnant passageway that was used during embryonic development to supply blood within the umbilical vessels, ensuring the development of the infant. Normally, this ductus arteriosus may close on its own within a few months. If it does not close after one year from birth, it is considered a patent ductus arteriosus. This condition can lead to increased workload on the heart. Because it allows blood pumped into the aorta to return to the right ventricle, over time, this can increase the burden on the left ventricle as well as the right ventricle. This may lead to heart failure and, in severe cases, trigger Eisenmenger's syndrome. If this condition reaches such a state, the patient loses the opportunity for surgery, resulting in a shortened lifespan.
Is there a difference between sudden cardiac death and myocardial infarction?
Sudden cardiac death refers to the death of patients caused by various reasons such as cardiac enlargement, ventricular aneurysm, cardiac valve dysfunction, arrhythmias, and cardiac infections. Myocardial infarction leading to myocardial death is just one type of sudden cardiac death, mainly due to insufficient cardiac blood supply, leading to arrhythmias, heart failure, shock, acute death caused by the formation of intracardiac thrombosis, or death caused by complications after a heart attack. Therefore, the range of sudden cardiac death is quite broad, including myocardial infarction.