8 top questions about arrhythmia

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Many of us do not know anything about this common cardiovascular disease and cannot assess the risks to ourselves and our loved ones. It is worth correcting the situation.

What is arrhythmia?

Arrhythmias are changes in the normal frequency, regularity, and source of excitation of the heart. In addition, impulse conduction disorders are also referred to as arrhythmias.

Is a rapid heartbeat an arrhythmia?

Not all palpitations can be attributed to arrhythmias. An increase in heart rate (HR) is possible and normal. For example, the heart begins to beat more often during emotional or physical exertion, this feeling is familiar to everyone: a surge of love, stress or fear, running up the stairs or swimming.

How to identify arrhythmia? Is it possible to diagnose it yourself on the basis of obvious signs?

To find out, you need to "seize the moment" and do an electrocardiogram at the time of the attack. According to it, the frequency and regularity of the rhythm, the source of its occurrence, the correctness of the heart impulse are assessed.

Therefore, to determine arrhythmia, an examination by a cardiologist is needed. The doctor assesses the general condition of the patient and uses instrumental methods - electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter ECG monitoring. For the last examination, the patient wears a portable device on a belt or on a shoulder strap for a long time in order to record an ECG in conditions of daily physical activity. The information received enables the doctor to draw conclusions and then, if necessary, determine further treatment tactics.

Can arrhythmia be asymptomatic?

Yes, asymptomatic arrhythmias are possible. Asymptomatic arrhythmia can be paroxysmal (paroxysmal) and constant, when atrial fibrillation persists for years. Therefore, even with good health in general, an irregular rhythm is a reason to consult a doctor.

How dangerous is arrhythmia?

Different types of arrhythmias have a different prognosis - from safe to life-threatening. In addition, the presence or absence of structural heart diseases and the presence of concomitant diseases also affect the prognosis. Moreover, the same arrhythmia in different patients may have a different prognosis, therefore, a risk assessment should be carried out by a doctor in each case.

Why arrhythmia can appear?

There are many reasons for arrhythmias. Among them:

• congenital or acquired heart disease;
• arterial hypertension;
• electrolyte imbalance;
• hormonal disorders;
• the presence of concomitant diseases;
• bad habits.

All these factors can serve as the cause of arrhythmias and cardiac conduction disturbances.

What can I do to prevent arrhythmias?

The main prevention of arrhythmia is a healthy lifestyle. Everything is simple here:

• healthy eating;
• lack of bad habits;
• moderate physical activity;
• maintenance of body mass index (BMI) is normal - 20-25. You can calculate your BMI using the formula: weight in kg / (height in m) ².

Compliance with these conditions contributes to the correct functioning of the heart. Of course, it is better not to be limited to this: it is important to undergo regular medical examinations and be sure to consult a doctor with alarming symptoms.

How is arrhythmia treated?

Today, arrhythmias are treated with a variety of methods. Let's talk about two main ones.

Conservative, aka medicinal

Prescribed to take medications to eliminate arrhythmias or prevent complications arising from the disease. In some cases, lifelong medication is required.

Surgical

There is also a low-traumatic surgical method of treatment. For example, for tachyarrhythmias (attacks of rapid heart rhythm), radiofrequency ablation is used. The technology is almost like in a fantasy film: a thin catheter is passed through a puncture of a vessel on the thigh to the heart, and with the help of an X-ray, what is happening is displayed on the screen of a special apparatus in the form of a 3D model of the heart. The doctor looks for an abnormal zone of the pulse, and then destroys this point with a radio frequency current.

In the opposite case - a rare heart rhythm - the treatment consists in the implantation of pacemakers, which perform the function of rhythm driving. Pacemakers send individually set and dosed impulses to the heart muscle, making the heart work within its natural rhythm range.

For life-threatening arrhythmias, implantable devices are used - cardioverter-defibrillators. When life is threatened, they produce an electrical discharge and restore normal cardiac activity. Some of these machines even help avoid heart transplants.

Treatment, of course, is prescribed by the doctor depending on the exact diagnosis and the general condition of the patient.