Echocardiography
It is the primary test in diagnosing heart conditions. It allows not only to assess the anatomical structure but also to see if the heart functions properly. The examination is painless and non-invasive. During an echo, the valves (their size and function) and the chambers (atria and ventricles) of the heart are analysed – their volume, wall thickness and contractility is measured. There are no contraindications to this examinations. The patient does not have to be specifically prepared for it.
Indications for echocardiography:
- Every patient with a newly diagnosed cardiovascular disease
- Diagnosing chest pains
- Recent heart attack
- Arterial hypertension
- Ischaemic heart disease (coronary disease)
- Heart rhythm disorders
- Suspected congenital or acquired heart disease
- Suspected heart tumour
- Myocarditis
- Other heart muscle conditions
- Pericarditis
- Vascular diseases
- Verifying and inconclusive ECG result
- Prophylaxis of cardiovascular diseases
Specialists
Dr n. med. Benita Busz – Papież
Internal medicine specialist, hypertensiologist
Sleep apnoea
Sleep apnoea is a disorder where short pauses of breathing occur during sleep, often many times per night. These pauses in breathing, called apnoea, can wake the person and cause numerous other adverse effects, such as hypoxia or blood pressure elevation.
Most common signs and symptoms of sleep apnoea are:
- Loud snoring
- Daytime sleepiness (falling asleep or sleepiness during talking, watching television, everyday chores or every while driving a car)
- Morning headaches
- Problems with concentration, memory and learning
- Fatigue
- Decrease in sexual drive
- Depression, belligerence, moodiness
Untreated sleep apnoea can cause or worsen the symptoms of such conditions as:
- Arterial hypertension
- Pulmonary hypertension
- Coronary heart disease (ischaemic heart disease)
- Arrhythmias
- Congestive heart failure
- Cerebrovascular insults
- Glucose intolerance, diabetes or metabolic syndrome
To diagnose apnoea, a polysomnography screening test is done using a high-tech, portable device which allows to monitor the patient’s sleep at his/her home.
An analysis of such recording confirms the diagnosis and can measure its severity.
