Arrhythmia refers to an irregular heartbeat. This can vary in type. It's possible for people's hearts to beat too slowly, too fast, too early, or with an irregular rhythm in this condition, and it results when the electrical signals that control the heartbeats are malfunctioning. An irregular heartbeat resembles a fluttering or racing heart. Note that most arrhythmias are harmless, but there can be severe symptoms and complications associated with a damaged or weak heart. There are various types of arrhythmias, including: early heartbeat, also known as premature contraction, irregular heartbeat, tachycardia, and bradycardia.
Physicians identify a healthy heartbeat by determining the number of beats per minute. The resting heart rate varies from one person to the other. However, the normal heartbeat ranges from 60 to 100 beats per minute. Lower resting heart rates are typical in fitter individuals, like Olympic athletes. Their hearts are so efficient. You can employ pulse monitoring to determine heart rate. Pulse points on the body are the wrist, the neck, and the insides of the elbow.
Causes of Arrhythmias
Numerous factors may cause arrhythmia, including hypertension, diabetes, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, and sleep apnea. Others are scarring of the heart tissue, coronary artery disease, and cardiomyopathy.
Studies have also linked arrhythmias to genetics, anxiety, drug abuse, smoking, and excessive coffee or alcohol intake. Central nervous system stimulants and recreational drugs can profoundly interfere with the heart, predisposing one to arrhythmias or death because of ventricular fibrillation.
Electrolyte imbalance is also a risk factor for developing arrhythmias. Magnesium, calcium, potassium, and sodium ions play vital roles in triggering and conducting electrical impulses in the heart.
Very low or very high electrolyte levels will affect the heart's electrical impulses, promoting arrhythmia development. Individuals with healthy hearts hardly experience long-term arrhythmias unless an external trigger like an electric shock or drug addiction.
Symptoms of Arrhythmias
Symptoms associated with arrhythmias may not be noticeable. However, a physician can detect arrhythmias after requesting an electrocardiogram or during routine examinations. Even if the symptoms are noticeable, it doesn't imply that it is a severe arrhythmia. Based on the type of arrhythmia, the symptoms may present differently. Tachycardia is associated with lightheadedness, breathlessness, fainting, fluttering in the chest, dizziness, and sudden weakness.
Bradycardia is associated with profuse sweating, palpitations, lightheadedness, confusion, and dizziness. Tiredness, shortness of breath, angina, and trouble concentrating are also common in bradycardia. Atrial fibrillation symptoms have a rapid onset, and they include palpitations, dizziness, breathlessness, angina, weakness, and fainting.
Complications
Most people with arrhythmias may not experience active symptoms. However, prompt medical attention is crucial to prevent complications such as heart failure and stroke. In atrial fibrillation, the heart's pumping mechanism is compromised, and the result is the pooling of blood to form clots.
Upon dislodgment of the clot, it can travel to the cerebral artery causing stroke or fatal blockage. Stroke may cause brain damage. Hence, it requires emergency medical attention. Prolonged bradycardia or tachycardia may cause heart failure because the heart cannot pump sufficient blood to the organs.
Treatment of Arrhythmias
Treatment is based on the class of arrhythmia and its severity. In some instances, treatment is unnecessary. Available treatment options include:
- Medications - Physicians may prescribe anti-arrhythmic drugs for prophylaxis purposes or to convert arrhythmia to a normal rhythm. Other medicines that patients can take concurrently include anticoagulants and heart rate control drugs. Anticoagulants minimize the risk of stroke.
- Lifestyle Modification - There are modifiable risk factors that patients can avoid to help in managing arrhythmias. Some of the tips include: smoking cessation, limiting alcohol consumption, stopping or reducing coffee intake.
- Careful Supplement Use - Some nutritional and herbal supplements may also contain CNS stimulants predisposing one to irregular heart rhythms. Consumers need to be mindful of the ingredients in such products to minimize the risk of arrhythmias. You can also reach out to your physician to advise you on the most appropriate product to use.
Your physician will determine the most suitable treatment option. Some of the available invasive therapies include:
- Catheter ablation
- Electrical cardioversion delivers an electrical shock to your chest wall
- Permanent pacemaker
- Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator
Heart surgery may be necessary for correcting arrhythmias that drugs or non-surgical techniques can't manage. It is advisable to regularly visit your physician for monitoring and any medication adjustment when necessary.