The heart condition Arrhythmia causes a malfunction in your heart. In most cases, if this condition is not detected early and left untreated it can lead to serious heart damage. The reason for the late detection of Arrhythmia is that few people can actually identify the symptoms of the condition. This is why we decided to write this guide on Arrhythmia. We’ll discuss the symptoms, causes, and possible treatments. if you are intrigued to know, then read through this guide.
What is Arrhythmia?
An arrhythmia is an irregular heartbeat. It meayour heart is out of its usual rhythm.
It may feel like your heart skipped a beat, added a beat, or is “fluttering.” It might feel like it’s beating too fast (which doctors call tachycardia) or too slow (called bradycardia). Or you might not notice anything.
Arrhythmias can be an emergency, or they could be harmless. If you feel something unusual is happening with your heartbeat, get medical help right away so doctors can find out why it’s happening and what you need to do about it.
Heart arrhythmias may feel like a fluttering or racing heart and may be harmless. However, some heart arrhythmias may cause bothersome — sometimes even life-threatening — sigand symptoms.
Types of Arrhythmia
In general, heart arrhythmias are grouped by the speed of the heart rate. For example:
Tachycardia (tak-ih-KAHR-dee-uh) is a fast heart. The resting heart rate is greater than 100 beats a minute.
Bradycardia (brad-e-KAHR-dee-uh) is a slow heartbeat. The resting heart rate is less than 60 beats a minute.
Fast heartbeat (tachycardia)
Types of tachycardias include:
- Atrial fibrillation (A-fib). Chaotic heart signaling causes a rapid, uncoordinated heart rate. The condition may be temporary, but some A-fib episodes may not stop unless treated. A-fib is associated with serious complicatiosuch as stroke.
- Atrial flutter. Atrial flutter is similar to A-fib, but heartbeats are more organized. Atrial flutter is also linked to stroke.
- Supraventricular tachycardia. Supraventricular tachycardia is a broad term that includes arrhythmias that start above the lower heart chambers (ventricles). Supraventricular tachycardia causes episodes of a pounding heartbeat (palpitations) that begin and end abruptly.
- Ventricular fibrillation. This type of arrhythmia occurs when rapid, chaotic electrical signals cause the lower heart chambers (ventricles) to quiver instead of contracting in a coordinated way that pumps blood to the rest of the body. This serious problem can lead to death if a normal heart rhythm isn’t restored within minutes. Most people who have ventricular fibrillation have underlying heart disease or have experienced serious trauma.
- Ventricular tachycardia. This rapid, regular heart rate starts with faulty electrical signals in the lower heart chambers (ventricles). The rapid heart rate doesn’t allow the ventricles to properly fill with blood. As a result, the heart can’t pump enough blood to the body. Ventricular tachycardia may not cause serious problems in people with an otherwise healthy heart. In those with heart disease, ventricular tachycardia can be a medical emergency that requires immediate medical treatment.
Slow heartbeat (bradycardia)
Although a heart rate below 60 beats a minute while at rest is considered bradycardia, a low resting heart rate doesn’t always signal a problem. If you’re physically fit, your heart may still be able to pump enough blood to the body with fewer than 60 beats a minute at rest.
If you have a slow heart rate and your heart isn’t pumping enough blood, you may have a type of bradycardia. Types of bradycardias include:
- Sick sinus syndrome. The sinus node is responsible for setting the pace of the heart. If it doesn’t work properly, the heart rate may alternate between too slow (bradycardia) and too fast (tachycardia). Sick sinus syndrome can be caused by scarring near the sinus node that’s slowing, disrupting or blocking the travel of impulses. Sick sinus syndrome is most common among older adults.
- Conduction block. A block of the heart’s electrical pathways can cause the signals that trigger the heartbeats to slow down or stop. Some blocks may cause no sigor symptoms, and others may cause skipped beats or bradycardia.
What Are the Symptoms of Arrhythmia?
An arrhythmia can be silent, meaning you don’t notice any symptoms. Your doctor may spot an uneven heartbeat during a physical exam.
If you have symptoms, they may include:
- Palpitatio(a feeling of skipped heartbeats, fluttering, or “flip-flops”)
- Pounding in your chest
- Dizziness or feeling lightheaded
- Fainting
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain or tightness
- Weakness or fatigue (feeling very tired)
- Anxiety
- Blurry vision
- Sweating
Causes of Arrhythmia
Arrhythmias can have medical, physical, emotional, or genetic causes. The cause may also be unknown.
Antibiotics and other medicatiocan trigger arrhythmia in some people. These may include medicatiothat treat:
- high blood pressure
- depression
- allergies
- colds
Changes in blood flow or physical alteratioto the heart, such as scarring, can also cause arrhythmia. Other medical conditiomay also be the source. They can include:
- high blood pressure
- dehydration
- thyroid disorder
- sleep apnea
- diabetes
- electrolyte imbalance, such as from low levels of calcium, potassium, or magnesium
- anemia
Other physical or lifestyle factors can also cause arrhythmia in some cases. These can include:
- exercise
- coughing
- strong emotiolike anger, stress, or anxiety
- drinking alcohol
- smoking
What Are Some Arrhythmia Risk Factors?
Things that may make you more likely to have an arrhythmia include you:
- The chances go up as you get older.
- Your odds might be higher if a close relative has had an arrhythmia. Some types of heart disease can also run in families.
- Alcohol, tobacco, and recreational drugs can raise your risk.
- Medical conditions. High blood pressure, diabetes, low blood sugar, obesity, sleep apnea, and autoimmune disorders are among the conditiothat may cause heart rhythm problems.
- Things in the world around you, like air pollution, can make arrhythmia more likely.
Diagnosis of Arrhythmia
Doctors may use a variety of tests to diagnose arrhythmia. These tests may also help determine why you are experiencing an irregular heartbeat. This information can help guide your treatment.
The following tests may be used to help a doctor reach a diagnosis:
- your medical and family history
- a physical exam
- a range of tests to diagnose arrhythmias, including an electrocardiogram (ECG)
- a Holter monitor, a wearable ECG device that can be worn at home or during daily activities
In addition to an ECG, a doctor may also use a chest X-ray or echocardiogram to check:
- the size and shape of your heart
- the condition of the valves that help regulate the flow of blood through your heart
A doctor may also use additional tests to check for arrhythmias. These can include:
- Stress test. A stress test allows a doctor to monitor your heartbeat while you exercise to see if exertion causes an arrhythmia. They can also use medication to increase your heart rate for the test if you have trouble exercising.
- Sleep study. A sleep study can show whether sleep apnea is the source of your arrhythmia.
- Tilt table test. A tilt table test may be used if your arrhythmia has caused you to faint in the past. The doctor will check your heart rate and blood pressure as you lie on a table that’s tilted between different positions.
- Electrophysiological testing. A doctor will insert thin electrode catheters through your veito different areas of your heart to map electrical signals during electrophysiological testing. The electrodes cause different parts of the heart to contract, which may help the doctor diagnose an arrhythmia and suggest treatment.
- Blood tests. A doctor may also order blood tests to check the levels of substances, such as magnesium, calcium, and thyroid hormones, that may affect arrhythmia.
ECG
An electrocardiogram also called an ECG or EKG, is frequently used to diagnose arrhythmia. The doctor attaches electrodes to your chest, arms, or legs that measure and graph your heart’s electrical activity.
ECG measurements reveal if the electrical activity is unusually fast, slow, or irregular. The test can also show if your heart is enlarged or has poor blood flow.
A doctor may take an ECG while you’re resting or while you’re exercising on a stationary bicycle or treadmill. A portable monitor can also take ECGs to look for irregularities over a longer period of time.
ECGs involve little or no risk.
Heart monitors
Since arrhythmias can be irregular and may not occur while you’re at the doctor’s office, a doctor may have you use a heart monitor at home to help diagnose the conditions.
Types of heart monitors can include:
- Holter monitor. A Holter monitor is a portable monitor that records your heart’s rhythm over the course of 1 or 2 days but can be up to 14 days.
- Event recorders. Event recorders are handheld monitors that can be used to record your heartbeat when you feel an irregularity.
- Implantable loop recorder. A doctor may implant a loop recorder under your skin to continuously monitor your heartbeat and record infrequent arrhythmias.
How is an arrhythmia treated?
Treatment depends on the type and severity of your arrhythmia. In some cases, no treatment is necessary. Treatment optioinclude medications, lifestyle changes, invasive therapies, electrical devices, or surgery.
What medicatiotreat arrhythmias?
A variety of drugs are available to treat arrhythmias. Because everyone is different, it may take trials of several medicatioand doses to find the one that works best for you. Several types of drugs are used:
- Anti-arrhythmic drugs are drugs used to convert the arrhythmia to sinus rhythm (normal rhythm) or to prevent arrhythmia.
- Heart-rate control drugs are drugs used to control the heart rate.
- Anticoagulants or antiplatelet therapy are drugs, such as warfarin (a blood thinner) or aspirin, that reduce the risk of clots forming or having strokes.
- Medicatioare used to treat related conditiothat may be causing an abnormal heart rhythm.
It’s important to know:
- The names of your medications.
- What they are for.
- How often and at what times to take them.
What invasive therapies are used to treat arrhythmias?
Electrical cardioversion and catheter ablation are invasive therapies used to treat or eliminate irregular heart rhythms. Your doctor will determine the best treatment for you and discuss the benefits and risks of these therapies with you.
Electrical cardioversion
In people with persistent past or irregular arrhythmias (such as atrial fibrillation), a normal rhythm may not be achieved with drug therapy alone. Cardioversion is performed by the doctor in a special procedure room. After the administration of short-acting anesthesia, an electrical impulse is delivered through your chest wall that synchronizes the heart and allows the normal rhythm to restart.
Catheter ablation
During catheter ablation, high-frequency electrical energy is delivered through a catheter to a small area of tissue inside of the heart that causes an abnormal heart rhythm. This energy “disconnects” the pathway of the abnormal rhythm.
Ablation can be used to treat most SVTs, atrial flutter, and some atrial and ventricular tachycardias. It can also be used to disconnect the electrical pathway between the atria and the ventricles, which may be useful in people with atrial fibrillation. Ablation may be combined with other procedures to achieve optimal treatment.
Pulmonary vein isolation
In people with frequent, paroxysmal, or persistent atrial fibrillation, isolation of the pulmonary vei(pulmonary vein isolation) is a type of ablation that targets areas thought to cause atrial fibrillation. The goal is to create rings of scar that isolate the foci responsible for triggering atrial fibrillation.
Conclusion
To conclude, arrhythmia can be prevented in most cases if you avoid habits like smoking and excessive drinking. With the above information, you should be well-equipped with knowledge of Arrhythmia