Authors

• Vjeran Nikolić Heitzler — Croatian Cardiac Society, Croatia — ORCID: 0000-0001-5332-391X

DOI

Full Text

In my medical practice I meet people every day who seek help because of health problems. As I am a cardiologist, they usually complain about symptoms of what they believe are heart disorders. Should we believe that all of them are ill? Everyday life is not easy, and we are exposed to a chain of stressful situations in our families, at the workplace, in relation to financial problems, in raising our children, and in many other situations. These circumstances may generate problems that are not organic but instead functional disorders. For example, if you are permanently under some kind of pressure or bullying that is a constant source of frustration, you will sooner or later get chest discomfort or some similar symptom. The patients who suffer from oscillating high blood pressure, if we turn off the rare organic causes, are a classical example of neurotic reactions. When examining patients, it is important to create a relaxing atmosphere, make eye contact, avoid negative facial expressions, and listen carefully to their problems. After physical examination and diagnostic procedures we can easily establish the correct diagnosis. The patient will surely be happy if we determine that they do not need medication and instead suggest changing their lifestyle. However, eighty percent of our patients are truly ill and need medication and further medical procedures.