Arrhythmia: Diagnosis, Treatment, Prevention and Complications
October 3, 2022 | by Yashaswi Pathakamuri | Posted in Diseases
Arrhythmia is a condition of the heart where the heart’s electrical impulses are irregular. The symptoms of arrhythmia can vary depending on the type of arrhythmia, but they typically include palpitations, dizziness, lightheadedness, and shortness of breath.
An arrhythmia is a change in the rate or rhythm of the heartbeat. An arrhythmia can be caused by many things, including an illness or heart disease. It can also be a side effect of some medications.
The most common types of arrhythmias are:
- Atrial fibrillation
- Premature atrial contractions (PACs)
- Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs)
- Ventricular tachycardia
What are the Factors Causing Arrhythmia?
Arrhythmia is a condition where the heart beats in an irregular pattern. This can lead to a number of complications, such as heart failure, stroke, and high blood pressure.
Arrhythmias can be caused by various factors. Some of these factors include:
- A previous heart attack or surgery
- Heart disease like cardiomyopathy or myocarditis
- Alcohol abuse or drug use
- Problems with the thyroid gland
- Electrolyte imbalance
- Certain medications such as digitalis, beta blockers, and calcium channel blockers
- Stressful situations such as trauma and emotional stress
How is Arrhythmia Diagnosed?
The first step in diagnosing arrhythmia is to identify whether you are experiencing palpitations or not. Palpitations are defined as a feeling of your heart racing or skipping beats. The next step is to determine if you have any other symptoms that are associated with arrhythmia such as shortness of breath, chest pain, lightheadedness, dizziness or fainting spells.
You should also tell your doctor about any family history of heart problems and any previous episodes of arrhythmia that you may have experienced in the past.
The diagnosis of arrhythmia usually starts with a physical examination and the taking of the patient’s medical history. There are also some diagnostic tests that can be done to confirm the diagnosis: ECG, Holter monitor, and electrophysiology studies.
- ECG: The ECG for arrhythmia is a technique that is used to identify an abnormal heart rhythm, which can be caused by an arrhythmia. It is used to diagnose abnormal rhythms of your heart such as atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, ventricular tachycardia, and ventricular fibrillation.
- Holter monitor: A Holter monitor is a portable device that records the electrical activity of the heart over a period of 24 hours. It can be used to diagnose arrhythmias, or abnormal rhythms. The device is strapped to the chest, and records heartbeats as they happen. A Holter monitor may also be recommended if you’ve had other types of procedures done on your heart, such as ablation therapy or open-heart surgery.
- Electrophysiology studies: The electrophysiology studies for arrhythmia are a type of study that is done to understand the electrical properties of the heart. This type of study is especially helpful when a person has an abnormal heart rate or when they are experiencing an irregular heartbeat.
How is Arrhythmia Treated?
The treatment for arrhythmia depends on the cause of the arrhythmia. For example, if the arrhythmia is caused by a heart attack, then doctors will prescribe medication to help reduce the risk of another heart attack. If the arrhythmia is caused by an electrolyte imbalance, then doctors will prescribe increased fluid intake and electrolyte supplements to help with the imbalance.
Surgery:
Arrhythmia is a condition where the heart beats too fast, too slow, or in an irregular pattern. Surgery for arrhythmia is done to correct the arrhythmia and make the heart beat normally.
Surgery for arrhythmia may be performed endoscopically or open heart surgery. The type of surgery that is used depends on the type of arrhythmia and the patient’s medical history. Surgery for arrhythmia is usually done under general anesthesia and takes about 2 hours.
Surgery for arrhythmia can be done by opening up the chest, or by going through a smaller incision in the leg.
Medications:
Cardiac arrhythmia is a common type of heart rhythm disorder. Common medications for arrhythmia are:
- Amiodarone
- Dronedarone
- Sotalol
- Quinidine
- Propafenone
All these medications helps prevent abnormal heart rhythms and reduces the risk of sudden cardiac death.
How is Arrhythmia Prevented?
Arrhythmia is a condition that can be caused by a variety of factors. These factors range from genetic predisposition to environmental toxins, and many people are not aware that they are at risk for developing arrhythmia. It is important to know the risk factors in order to prevent arrhythmia.
The best way to prevent arrhythmia is through regular exercise and a healthy lifestyle. A heart-healthy lifestyle includes:
- Eating a heart-healthy diet
- Staying physically active
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Stop smoking
- Limiting or avoiding caffeine and alcohol
- Reducing stress, as intense stress and anger can cause heart rhythm problems
- Always take your prescribed medications as directed and tell your doctor about any medicines you use, with or without a prescription.
What are the Complications?
Complications of arrhythmia are caused by the changes in the electrical impulses that control the heart rate. The most common complication is tachycardia which is a condition when the heart beats more than 100 times per minute. Other complications include fainting and seizures due to arrhythmia.
Complications of arrhythmia can be as serious as sudden death. It can also lead to other problems such as chest pain and shortness of breath.
Summary
Arrhythmia is an abnormality of the heart rhythm. The heart may beat too quickly, too slowly, or irregularly.
A normal heartbeat is regular and has a set pattern of beats, usually at a rate of 60 to 100 times per minute. The two most common types of arrhythmia are tachycardia and bradycardia. Tachycardia means that the heart is beating faster than 100 beats per minute (BPM) and bradycardia means that the heart is beating slower than 60 BPM.
If you are experiencing symptoms of arrhythmia, it is important to see your doctor as soon as possible in order to find out what causes your arrhythmia and get treatment for it.