Functional heart problems

Nervous heart problems

Functional heart disease is a condition that causes chest pain and / or increased heart rate. The term "functional" means that it is a disease in which there are no organic causes. The symptoms occur frequently in anxious, nervous and insecure people. Before the diagnosis was made, those affected often had an odyssey of hospital admissions, cardiac catheterization and numerous visits to the doctor.

contents

• Nervous heart problems
• Symptoms of functional heart disease
• Exclusion of organic diseases
• Causes of functional cardiac pain
• Vicious circle of functional heart problems
• School medical therapy
• Naturopathic therapies

Symptoms of functional heart disease

Those affected are organically healthy, but complain of chest pain, pain in the arm lift, palpitations, inner restlessness, anxiety, stinging in the chest and pain that can radiate to the shoulder. The pain is stress-independent and sudden. In addition, there is usually a feeling of tightness in the chest.

The range of possible heart problems ranges from mild cardiac arrhythmias to a heart attack. (Image: Alterfalter / fotolia.com)

The complaints usually occur at night and are accompanied by a sweating and possible breathlessness. Many sufferers avoid physical stress to protect their heart. However, the complaints are often amplified because lack of exercise, the performance of the heart muscles decreases.

Exclusion of organic diseases

In order to make a diagnosis of "functional cardiac disorders", first of all organic causes have to be excluded with the aid of a variety of examination methods. Coronary artery disease must be considered, and other conditions such as heart attack, hypertension, lung disease, upper back pain or spinal disorders associated with chest pain should be clarified by differential diagnosis.

After the diagnosis "functional heart complaints" most patients feel left alone, since conventional medicine offers hardly any treatment possibilities. However, there are numerous therapies that relieve or even cure the symptoms.

Causes of functional cardiac pain

Various influences can lead to functional heart problems. Physical processes are not only influenced by the body, but are also subject to the psyche and the mind. In those affected, there is often an increased excitability of the autonomic nervous system. As a result, sensations of physical as well as mental nature are increased. Small but completely normal physical changes can lead to functional heart problems.

People with functional heart problems are often mentally unstable and respond quickly to stress. (Image: michaelheim / fotolia.com)

In most cases, those affected will not be able to cope with stress, problems and life changes. Significant events, such as a separation can quickly cause the symptoms of heart trouble. About thirty percent of those affected are the cause of depression, anxiety or panic disorder.

In the past, functional cardiac complaints were attributed exclusively to younger people. Meanwhile, however, more and more older patients suffer from the symptoms mentioned. Often, this is associated with organic diseases such as mitral valve failure, spinal cord changes, and coronary microangiopathies (small blood vessel disorders).

Vicious circle of functional heart problems

Because they are often anxious, anxiety associated with cardiac pain, heart stuttering, palpitations, and respiratory distress may be added, which of course makes things worse. In case of anxiety, the body releases stress hormones. These contribute to a narrowing of the vessels, which causes a rise in blood pressure and an increased heart rate. The nervous and anxious patient does not perceive this as "normal", but then gets even more anxious. The vicious circle is perfect.

School medical therapy

Sufferers of high blood pressure, beta-blockers are the drug of choice. These lower the blood pressure and also reduce the heart rate. If necessary, antidepressants are used.

Conversational therapies are important in order to rethink one's own coping strategies and to dissolve any mechanisms of repression that may have been acquired. Most of the family doctor prescribed a behavioral therapy. As part of the therapy, the patient is explained how the heart works and which symptoms indicate a heart disease. In the further course, the affected person should test his / her performance in order to feel that the increase of the heart rate within the scope of sports activities is a normal physical process.

In this context, it is recommended to use endurance sports to increase the performance of the heart. It is important that the intensity of the sport is increased slowly and continuously depending on your physical condition. Endurance racing, cycling, swimming, long walks or walking are possible. To produce a positive effect, one hour of exercise should be performed at least three times a week with a slight increase in heart rate (between 100 and 130 pulse rate). After just a few months of sports and therapy, most patients report an improvement in the supposed cardiac pain.

In order to rule out potassium and magnesium deficiency, it is important to pay attention to a balanced and healthy diet. For example, a lot of potassium contains bananas or pistachios. Excess weight should be reduced to increase physical well-being.

Endurance sports, such as Swimming, jogging or Nordic walking are particularly good for training the heart. (Image: SolisImages / fotolia.com)

Naturopathic therapies

For functional heart conditions, naturopathic therapies are used to increase the mental capacity, strengthen the body and reduce fears.

Guidance methods, such as cupping or Baunscheidtherapie in the area of ​​the neck and between the shoulder blades are used. There is the so-called psychogenic triangle. Applications administered here have a positive effect on the psyche. For example, injections with a variety of complex homeopathic remedies, depending on the initial situation of the patient, help against nervousness and anxiety.

In homeopathy, plants such as Cactus (Queen of the Night), Ignatia (Ignatius Bean), Gelsemium (Wild Jasmine) or Coffea (Green Coffee) are commonly used agents. These are applied in high or low potency depending on the medical history.

Hydrotherapy is also a naturopathic form of therapy that can be used successfully in this disease. Changing showers, a foot bath and dry brushing can stabilize the vegetative area. Regular visits to the sauna are also recommended to relieve the functional heart problems.

From the field of phytotherapy plants come, such as hawthorn, Adonis, valerian, St. John's wort, passionflower or lemon balm. These are used in the form of tinctures or tea blends for therapy. They strengthen the heart, have an anticonvulsant, calming and anxiolytic effect.

Beneficial is the treatment with a heart ointment, which consists of camphor, rosemary, pine needles and menthol. This rubs in the left arm and left chest. The reflex lines located there provide the heart with the ingredients. This has a balancing and relaxing effect.

Those affected are advised to eat healthy and rich in vitamins, to reduce animal protein, to give up smoking and to provide daily relaxation. Regular exercise is also very important and helps to relieve the symptoms. The daily routine should be extremely structured in patients suffering from functional heart disease. In addition, a talk therapy and the learning of relaxation techniques for stress relief are recommended. (sw, last updated on 23.10.2017)
Specialist supervision: Barbara Schindewolf-Lensch (doctor)