In the modern age of information, there is no need to explain what myocardium is. But still - it is a striated heart muscle that performs the function of contracting the heart and pumping blood throughout the body. Lesions that affect all of her muscle cells are diffuse changes in the myocardium. They can be different in nature of origin, qualitative changes in heart muscle cells and symptoms.
Since the concept of "diffuse" implies the development of deficiencies that affect cells throughout the striated muscle, the ECG will show the occurrence of pathology everywhere, in contrast to focal lesions.
Causes of diffuse changes in the myocardium
Diffuse changes in the myocardium can occur in diseases and circumstances such as:
- myocardial dystrophy;
- myocarditis;
- myocardiosclerosis;
- violation of water-salt metabolism;
- taking certain drugs;
- heavy physical activity.
Myocardial dystrophy
Diffuse changes in the myocardium with dystrophy are not associated with inflammatory lesions. They appear when there is a failure in the chemical and biophysical processes responsible for the contraction of the heart muscle. Such muscle cell damage is considered reversible.
Moderate diffuse changes in the myocardium may not produce noticeable symptoms, which allows them to be detected only on an ECG. More serious disorders are represented by the following complaints: discomfort in the region of the heart, shortness of breath, fatigue, and so on.
Myocardial dystrophy is a concomitant disease (such as vitamin deficiency, hypoxemia, myasthenia gravis, myopathy, and so on). Therefore, it is necessary for the effectiveness of the fight against this type of violation to identify the main problem.
Myocarditis
Diffuse changes in the myocardium may appear due to infectious diseases. For example, such as rheumatism, diphtheria, influenza, tuberculosis, typhoid and other pathologies that cause inflammation of the heart muscle and a possible morphological change in its cells. This heart damage is called myocarditis. Some experts adhere to a slightly different classification and include myocardial dystrophy in the concept of "myocarditis."
There are infectious, allergic, toxic-allergic and infectious-toxic myocarditis that cause inflammatory processes in the myocardium. The course of some is asymptomatic. In other cases, the most common signs are weakness, interruptions or increased heart rate, pain in the area of the heart, and other symptoms.
Myocarditis treatment is based on eradicating the factor that caused inflammation. In the future, therapy is carried out aimed at eliminating the consequences and normalizing the work of the myocardium, as far as possible. Naturally, the use of diet and limitation of physical activity.
Myocardiosclerosis
Diffuse changes in the myocardium can be the result of myocardiosclerosis. With this disease, the connective tissue evenly replaces the muscle cells of the heart, which leads to a change in the valves.
Common signs of this heart damage are tachycardia, shortness of breath, weakness, nocturnal cough, swelling of the legs and ascites ( fluid accumulation in the lungs and abdominal cavity).
The treatment of myocardiosclerosis is to combat the underlying disease that caused this heart disease. And also in preserving the remaining fibers of the heart muscle and improving their condition. It is necessary to eliminate heart failure, limit physical activity and the use of certain diets. In some cases, the preservation of human life is possible only with the implantation of a pacemaker.
Today, traditional medicine is becoming very popular. But it is worth noting that in the treatment of the above diffuse changes in the myocardium, it can play the role of only additional measures. The decision to use non-traditional methods of treatment is made strictly by the doctor.