Heart problems are continuously increasing due to an increase in bad eating habits and obesity. Many people are affected by heart problems, and one of them is the myocardial bridge. In every 5 people, 1 is affected by this problem. This is not a disease, this is just a problem of the heart, which is created by a section of a coronary artery that runs inside the heart muscle instead of lying on the surface. In this article, we will discuss the symptoms of myocardial bridge, including causes, the importance of early detection, and the treatment options.
The myocardial bridge is a problem of the heart in which a section of a coronary artery runs inside the heart muscle instead of lying on the surface. The problem arises when the heart squeezes to pump blood. Here, the heart muscles or myocardial bridge press the artery and stop the flow of blood to the heart. This causes heart attacks and even heart failure sometimes due to a lack of blood.
Causes of the Myocardial Bridge
Here are some main causes of this problem:
- Congenital Anomaly: This happens due to a misdirected artery that changes its actual path and causes heart problems. Mainly, this type of problem starts happening in the child when they are in their mother’s womb. Due to a DNA problem in the developing phase, these changes arise.
- Genetic Component: There are some genetic problems that also cause these types of problems in people. The main reason behind this is DNA transfer from one generation to another. That infected DNA gives misdirected signals to body parts, which results in problems like a myocardial bridge.
Common Symptoms of Myocardial Bridge
Here are some common symptoms of myocardial bridge:
Chest Pain
This is one of the common and main symptoms of a myocardial bridge. It feels like something is squeezing your chest from inside your body. This happens due to the process when the heart tries to squeeze to pump blood, but the myocardial bridge blocks the artery and reduces the blood flow to the heart. This is a dangerous situation and sometimes results in a heart attack and even heart failure. So it is very important to consult with a doctor if you feel chest pain regularly. This action can save your life in an emergency.
Shortness of Breath
This is another symptom of a myocardial bridge. In this, people have difficulty breathing, and this problem increases more while performing any exercise. This also happens due to the myocardial bridge. While doing exercise, the heart needs more oxygen and tries to pump blood more quickly than before, but at the same time, this bridge blocks the way of oxygenated blood to the heart, due to which the required amount of oxygen is not supplied to the body parts that are engaged in exercise. This is the reason people face shortness of breath while exercising.
Fatigue
The feeling of unexplained tiredness and fatigue is also a symptom of the myocardial bridge. In this, people feel fatigue without doing any physical work. This happens due to a poor supply of oxygenated blood in the body. In this condition, the best option is that go directly to a doctor and get more insight of your problem and the reasons behind fatigue and tiredness.
Irregular Heartbeat
This is a symptom of a myocardial bridge, in which people feel their heartbeat is irregular or higher than the normal level. This happens due to the bridge that blocks and releases the artery as the heart pumps the blood. This is a serious problem, and people are recommended to visit the best doctor and book a consultation for accurate information about their heart performance.
Dizziness
This is another symptom of a myocardial bridge. In this problem, most people feel like an imbalance in the body and the spinning impact on their body. The main cause behind it is low blood pressure, which is caused by a myocardial bridge blocking a blood vessel. In this condition, you can rest until you get normal, and then visit the best doctor for consultation.
Some Rare Symptoms of the Myocardial Bridge
Here are some advanced symptoms of the myocardial bridge:
Cardiogenic Shock
This is a rare but very dangerous symptom for people. This is a condition where a person gets shocked due to a low supply of blood to the heart. The main reason behind this is the heart muscles that compress the coronary arteries, due to which the supply of blood to the heart is reduced while pumping blood. This situation causes sudden shock in the body, which can be deadly sometimes. The first thing a person can do is relax and then connect for help. Going to the nearest hospital is the best option for patients in this condition.
Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA)
That is another advanced symptom of myocardial bridge, in which the heart suddenly stops beating effectively, due to which the person feels loss of consciousness and lack of breathing. This is a life-threatening symptom and requires a medical emergency. This also happens due to the compression of the coronary artery, which supplies blood to the heart and disturbs the heart’s pumping. In this condition, patients should directly visit a reputable hospital for treatment or consult from doctor.
Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD)
This is another life-threatening symptom of the myocardial bridge. It happens when the heart stops beating effectively, due to a person feels faint and has difficulty breathing for some time. This is a serious condition, and a person needs sudden guidance from expert doctors. This problem is rare but dangerous and can cost your life. So do not ignore these symptoms and consult with the doctor.
Heart Attack
That is a serious symptom of myocardial bridge, in which the blood supply to your heart slows, which results in heart attacks. This is caused by the compression of the coronary artery, due to which the blood flow to the heart is reduced during the blood pumping process. This can be converted to death if a person does not get medical guidance on time.
Importance of Early Detection of the Myocardial Bridge
Here are some points regarding the importance of early detection of the myocardial bridge:
- Prevents Serious Complications: Early detection of this problem helps in preventing life-threatening complications in the future. After knowing their problems, patients should consult with the doctor for a proper explanation of the problem and to reduce the chances of complications.
- Identifies at-risk Patients: Early detection can save a person’s life by giving them a hint or time for better treatment options. Patients with higher risks from this problem are mainly identified and treated on time.
- Informs Proper Treatment: Early detection gives time to both patients and doctors to consider the best treatment options.
- Support in Future Medical Decisions: This also helps in knowing the overall condition of the patients so that doctors can make a proper medical plan for the patient.
How is the Myocardial Bridge Diagnosed?
Here are some points regarding diagnosis:
- Invasive Diagnostic Procedures: Invasive procedures like coronary angiography and intravascular ultrasound are mainly used for diagnosis. These procedures help the doctors know the main problem behind a disease. This procedure requires a cut in the diseased area for the test. This procedure helps the doctors to the the roots of the main problem.
- Non-invasive Diagnostic Procedures: This is another way of the diagnostic process, which is non-invasive in nature. Such as a CT coronary angiogram and an MRI, which are used for the diagnosis procedure. They are used to capture the image of the heart and blood vessels to check the main problem behind a disease.
Treatment Options Available for the Myocardial Bridge
Here are some treatment options available for the myocardial bridge:
- Beta-Blockers: These blockers help in reducing the heart rate so that blood can flow through the compressed coronary artery. This is also called the first line of treatment.
- Calcium Channel Blockers: These are alternatives to beta blockers, which are used to improve the flow of blood into the heart through compressed arteries.
- Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) with Stenting: This is a minimally invasive procedure in which doctors place a stent to hold the artery open so that blood can easily flow through the artery.
- Surgical Myotomy: This is an invasive procedure used to cut the muscle that is compressing the artery. It is used in shorter or shallower bridges.
Conclusion
Myocardial Bridge is a rare but serious problem that can cause death if not treated on time. It is very important for patients with a myocardial bridge to know the symptoms of it so that they can detect their problems on time. Taking a consultation with your heart doctor regarding treatment options is the best decision for you. I hope this article helps you in understanding the myocardial bridge symptoms and gives you answers to your questions. So, for now, take care, and we will meet you in our next informative article.