Identifying issues with proper diagnostic evaluation of heart disease
Identifying issues with proper diagnostic evaluation of heart disease
Introduction
Talented, young assistant director Anil Xavier of the famous movie “Manjummel Boys”, passed away tragically at age 39 while undergoing treatment after a heart attack. This makes it extremely important for all to ensure that there is a proper diagnostic evaluation of heart disease. Timely screening can help prevent tragic circumstances, and restore health. Let is take a detailed look at some of the measures required.
What is nursing diagnosis for rheumatic heart disease?
- This refers to the focus on the effects of RHD on the physical and emotional well-being of the patient. Nursing diagnosis also helps in preventing future complications. Some of the possible nursing diagnoses of rheumatic heart disease are outlined below:
- Lesser cardiac output – could be due to poor valvular function and could be noticed through symptoms like overall tiredness and possible dyspnea. The person may not be able to exercise for longer periods and may have weak peripheral pulses. There could be indications of edema, and heart murmur.
- Inability to participate in activities – could be due to lesser cardiac output and reduced tissue oxygenation. Symptoms of this include difficulty breathing, fatigue, irregular heartbeats and overall weakness.
- Poor supply of oxygen rich blood to tissues – because of lesser cardiac output from valvular dysfunction. Symptoms include slower capillary refill, cool limb extremities, and indications of congestive heart failure.
- More fluid volume – due to impaired cardiac function resulting in fluid retention and potential heart failure. Symptoms include peripheral edema, swollen and bulging veins in the neck, sudden weight gain, and pulmonary congestion.
- Poor gas exchange – because of pulmonary congestion or edema consequent to left-sided heart failure. Symptoms include dyspnea, tachypnea and lesser oxygen saturation.
- Pain – this could be chronic and due to persistent inflammation of the joints because of rheumatic fever. Symptoms include pain in the joints and chest, possible swelling.
- Anxiety – this could be abnormal and due to anxiousness about the disease, future complications, and the effects on lifestyle. The patient may display insomnia, restlessness, and may share concerns, apart from having trouble in focusing.
- Sorrow – this could be due to existing health issues and the resultant changes in lifestyle because of chronic heart disease. The patient may express sadness and grief, apart from a complex due to physical limitations or present health
What is ICD 10 code for heart disease?
ICD-10 refers to an international code used during diagnostic evaluation of heart disease. Acronym for International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, it is a set of specific codes that denote different heart diseases. Common ICD-10 codes of heart disease are as given below:
- Ischemic heart disease, also commonly known as coronary artery disease has the following codes – I25.10, and I25.119.
- Hypertensive heart disease has the following codes – I11.9, and I11.0.
- Heart failure is denoted with 5 different codes – I50.9, I50.1, I50.22, I50.32, and I50.42.
- Rheumatic heart disease is denoted by the following two codes – I09.81, and I09.9.
- Cardiomyopathy is indicated with three codes – I42.9, I42.0, and I42.1.
- Valvular heart disease has the following three codes – I34.0, I35.0, and I36.0.
- Arrhythmias is denoted by the following three codes – I49.9, I48.91, and I47.2.
- Congenital heart disease is indicated the following code – Q24.9.
- Other heart diseases are identified by two codes – I51.9, and I21.9
What are the ECG changes in ischemic heart disease?
Ischemic heart disease will bring about changes in ECG indicating severity, as part of diagnostic evaluation of heart disease. Here is how typical ECG changes may be recorded or observed with ischemic heart disease:
- T-Wave changes – these are known as some of the earliest signs of ischemia, when the heart muscle does not receive adequate blood and oxygen. This causes changes in the T-wave on an ECG.
- ST-Segment changes – this represents the period between the contraction and recover of the heart, and indicates when the heart does not receive adequate blood and oxygen.
- Q-Wave formation – represents the initial part of the electrical activity in the heart when the main pumping chambers contract. When the waves turn bigger, it indicates that a part of the muscle has died or been damaged.
- R-Wave changes – indicate damage to the heart muscle.
- Reciprocal changes – are changes observed during a heart attack, especially in ST elevation myocardial infarction.
- These ECG changes help diagnose and managing IHD, especially when urgent interventions are necessary
How to check for heart disease at home?
While diagnostic evaluation of heart disease is performed in a full-fledged medical facility, you can carry out some basic steps at home to monitor heart health. This will help to identify possible warning signs of heart conditions. Let’s take a quick look at how you can carry out some checks at home.
- Heart rate – you can check your pulse in the morning before you move out of bed. The ideal resting heart rate for adults should be between 60 and 100 beats per minute. Look for signs of irregular or rapid heartbeats, and consult a specialist if you notice any.
- Blood pressure – a home blood pressure monitor can help you check blood pressure. The ideal blood pressure level is around 120/80 mmHg; seek medical help if it is consistently above 130/80 mmHg.
- Symptomatic observations – make a note of unexplained chest pain, or pressure, or some discomfort, that radiates to the arm, neck, jaw, or your back. Difficulty breathing, extreme fatigue, swelling in the legs, and dizzy feelings are other symptoms that need to be monitored.
- Weight – any sudden weight gain, may be an indication of fluid retention. Check your Body Mass Index and keep it below 25.
Genetic testing is suggested, mainly to check for genetic predisposition for heart issues. This could be congenital in nature or inherited conditions, and advanced testing facilities help to check for this risk, which will help in taking the right preventive measures if detected.
Related Blogs :
Top tips for medical management of heart disease
Top tips for medical management of heart disease Inroduction What is the best approach to medical management of congenital heart disease? What are the actions performed as...
What are the reliable methods for diagnosis of heart disease?
What are the reliable methods for diagnosis of heart disease? Introduction What is meant by rheumatic heart disease diagnostic evaluation? What is the ICD code for ischemic...
Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D) from the University of Delhi Experience : Dr. Srinivasan is an experienced pharmacist with a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Delhi and over 12 years in the field. She has worked extensively in clinical and community pharmacy settings, focusing on patient care, medication management, and drug safety. Dr. Srinivasan also contributes to health and wellness publications and serves as a consultant for pharmaceutical companies and healthcare organizations. Her expertise spans clinical practice, pharmaceutical writing, and regulatory affairs.