Overview

Cardiovascular diseases are conditions that affect the structure or function of the heart. There are several different types of cardiovascular diseases that affect the heart and blood vessels in different ways. They are usually associated with the build-up of fatty deposits inside the arteries and the risk of the development of blood clots.

There are a lot of rare diseases in the world, some of which affect the heart and circulatory system. Therefore, it is important to learn about them and their significance to help prevent serious complications in the future.

Five Rare Cardiovascular Diseases

Below are some of the rarest cardiovascular diseases with their causes, symptoms and treatments:

1.   Kawasaki Disease

Kawasaki disease is a rare condition that mainly affects children under the age of five.It is thought to be caused by an infection, although the exact cause is unknown. The disease causes inflammation (swelling and redness) in blood vessels throughout the body. It happens in three phases, and a lasting fever usually is the first sign.

The symptoms might include:

• Fever
• Red eyes
• Rashes on different parts of the body
• Red, dry, cracked lips
• A sore throat
• Swollen palms, soles and lymph glands in the neck

The disease is treatable if diagnosed early. However, if the condition isn't found until later, patients can have serious complications that affect the heart such as aneurysm (a bulge in the wall) of the coronary arteries, inflammation of the heart muscle, arrhythmias (changes in the normal pattern of the heartbeat) and various problems with heart valves.

Treatment involves high-dose aspirin and intravenous immunoglobulins (a solution of antibodies). Some people who develop heart problems from Kawasaki disease, might need more testing and consult an experienced cardiologist for further treatment.

2.   Cardiac Syndrome X

CardiacSyndrome X or microvascular angina is an under-diagnosed condition caused by problems with the smallest arteries of the heart, thus producing a lack of blood flow to the heart muscle.  The small blood vessels are less than half a millimetre across and are very tiny to be detected using standard tests like angiograms. However, the condition is most common in women than men.

Microvascular angina is not always diagnosed as there is, unfortunately, a lack of awareness as to how common the condition is and the situation is not helped by the fact that abnormalities of the coronary microvessels are difficult to stop.

The treatment varies according to the mechanism causing microvascular angina. However, lifestyle changes such as improving diet, doing regular exercise, avoiding smoking, reducing obesity and controlling diabetes can often improve the symptoms.

3.   Restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM)

Restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM), the rarest form of cardiomyopathy, is a condition where the chambers of the heart become stiff over time and lack the flexibility to expand as the ventricles fill with blood. Though the heart is able to squeeze well, it's not able to relax between beats normally. This makes it harder for the heart to fill with blood leading to heart failure. The cause of the disease is not inherited and is often unknown. To diagnose the condition, the cardiologists take a careful medical history and do a thorough physical exam of the patient.

Symptoms may occur at any age in life and may include:

• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue
• Inability to exercise
• Swelling of the legs and feet
• Weight gain
• Nausea, bloating, and poor appetite
• Fainting
• Chest Pain

Treatment of this condition is difficult and depends on the cause of the condition. In addition, cardiologists may recommend lifestyle changes including a healthy diet, exercise and medication to treat heart failure.

4.   Brugada Syndrome

Brugada syndrome is a rare and genetic heart rhythm disorder. It affects about 5 of every 10,000 people worldwide. Symptoms often start during adulthood but the disorder can develop at any age, including infancy. The syndrome is usually inherited and frequently diagnosed in men than women. People with Brugada syndrome experience fast and irregular heartbeat than usual in the lower chamber of the heart. As a result, the heart doesn't pump enough blood to the rest of the body leading to fainting or even death, especially during sleep or rest. The disease has been called sudden, unexplained nocturnal death syndrome because people with it can often die in their sleep.

An electrocardiogram (ECG) can help diagnose the disease. Some of the symptoms associated with Brugada syndrome include:

• Dizziness
• Fainting
• Palpitations
• Extremely fast and chaotic heartbeat
• Seizures

Currently, there is no cure for Brugada syndrome. The treatments include preventive measures such as avoiding aggravating medications and reducing fever. When necessary, treatment may also include a medical device called an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) to help prevent sudden death linked to it.

5.   Truncus arteriosus

Truncusarteriosus is a rare heart defect that's present at birth (congenital). The cause of the defect among most babies is unknown however, it occurs in less than one out of every 10,000 live births. It can occur by itself or as part of certain genetic disorders. In this heart defect, a single common blood vessel leads out of the heart, instead of the usual two vessels.  As a result, too much blood goes to the lungs and the heart works harder to pump blood to the rest of the body. There is also usually a hole between the bottom two chambers of the heart (ventricles) called a ventricular septal defect.

The defect can be diagnosed during pregnancy or soon after birth through screening tests (also called prenatal tests) and echocardiograms.

Signs and symptoms of truncus arteriosus often develop in the first few days of life. They include:

• Blue colouring of the skin
• Poor feeding
• Pounding heart
• Excessive sleepiness
• Poor growth
• Breathing problem

For treatment, babies with truncus arteriosus usually require surgery to repair the heart and blood vessels. Most babies with the defect survive the surgical repair but may need more surgery or other procedures as they get older. However, they will need regular follow-up visits with a cardiologist to monitor their progress and avoid complications or other health problems.

Conclusion

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death globally. It is important to detect cardiovascular diseases as early as possible so that treatment and counselling can begin. Most cardiovascular diseases can be prevented through small lifestyle changes such as a healthy diet, regular physical inactivity, maintaining a healthy weight and managing stress.

To book an online or physical consultation with the best cardiologist in Karachivisit https://www.shifaam.com.You can also download the Shifaam Health App from Google Play Store (bit.ly/2JqZo3C) or the iOS App Store (apple.co/2QUVxQz)We are just a call 021-37132273 or Whatsapp 0347 7222273 away!

If you or someone has any signs of cardiovascular disease, you should see a cardiologist in Karachi at your earliest. For more information on Cardiologistsin Karachi or for an appointment with experienced doctors click on the links below: