Arrhythmia Types And Treatment
An arrhythmia is a change in the rhythm of your heartbeat
. Most people have experienced these occasional, brief irregular heartbeats that feel like a skipped, fluttering or racing heartbeat. Cardiac dysrhythmia is technically more correct, as arrhythmia would imply that there is "no rhythm," but this term is not used frequently.
An arrhythmia can also mean that your heart beats irregularly (skips a beat or has an extra beat) However, some heart arrhythmias may cause bothersome sometimes even life-threatening signs and symptoms. These occasional changes can be brought on by strong emotions or exercise. They usually are not a cause for alarm.
There are many types of arrhythmia:
atrial fibrillation (rapid, irregular beats of the upper chambers of the heart) is common in the elderly and also in people who have an overactive thyroid gland; it is not usually life-threatening, but can cause deteriorating heart function,
ventricular arrhythmias (rapid, irregular beats initiated in the lower chambers of the heart) are most common in people who have had a heart attack or who have heart disease, and are life-threatening. They are the most frequent cause of death in developed countries and are common in the first few days after a heart attack. This is why people who have had a heart attack are monitored for a few days afterwards.
Causes of Arrhythmias
The common Causes of Arrhythmias :
It can be caused by heart disease or high blood pressure .
Stress, caffeine, smoking, alcohol, pregnancy, and some medications can also cause an arrhythmia.
The arrhythmia may be caused by a congenital heart defect (a heart problem from birth).
Symptoms of Arrhythmias
Some Symptoms of Arrhythmias :
Shortness of breath
Sweating
Heart murmur
Chest pain
Fainting Skipping beats
Skipping beats - changes in the pattern of the pulse
Paleness
Light-headedness , dizziness
Difficulty exercising
Cardiac arrest
Medicines
A variety of prescribed medicines are used to treat arrhythmias. The most commonly used is digoxin. This is used to slow the rate of atrial fibrillation, and so increase heart filling and the amount of blood the heart pumps out with each beat. All anti-arrhythmia medicines can cause life-threatening side effects. They must be used as instructed by a doctor, and any unusual or new symptom must be reported to the doctor immediately.
Atrial fibrillation due to an overactive thyroid reverts to a normal rhythm once the overactive thyroid has been treated.
Treatment of Arrhythmias
An artificial pacemaker is an electronic device placed under the skin on the chest. It helps the heart maintain a regular beat, especially when the heart beats too slowly.
Cardiac defibrillation (very brief electric shock) can be used to stop an abnormal rhythm and restore a normal one.
Surgery can correct certain types of arrhythmias. For example, arrhythmias caused by coronary artery disease may be controlled by bypass surgery. When an arrhythmia is caused by a certain area of the heart, sometimes that part of the heart can be destroyed or removed.
by: credulous jolly
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