What You Should Know about Arrhythmia

Arrhythmia is a condition which is associated with the rhythm of your heartbeat. If you have this ailment, it means that your heart is either beating too slowly, too quickly or in an irregular pattern.

When your heart beats faster than the normal rate, the condition is called tachycardia. However, when it beats slowly, the condition is called bradycardia.

If you are tachycardic(your heart beats too rapidly), it means that your blood flow to the rest of the body, including the heart itself is reduced. Since the heart is beating faster, the muscles of the heart, commonly known as myocardium, require more oxygen to function. If the condition persists, the myocardial cells become oxygen-starved, something that typically results in a heart attack.

According to the American Heart Association, bradycardia means your heart rate is too slow. In most cases, it is the older people who are susceptible to the condition.

However, there are exceptions. For example, during a deep sleep, the heartbeat of a healthy person is low. If you are a physically active person or an athlete for that matter, you will also have a heart beat that is lower than 60 beats per minute.

Atrial fibrillation is a common type of arrhythmia that is linked to an irregular heartbeat. At times, it is difficult to notice this condition since certain types of arrhythmia are “silent.”

Arrhythmia can be harmless or an emergency. It is highly advisable that if you feel something strange that is happening within your heart, consult your doctor quickly. This will allow the doctor find out why your heart is behaving in an unusual manner, and he will then offer guidance on what you need to do about it.

When the heart does not beat in right way, it means it cannot pump blood efficiently. When the blood flow in your body is interfered with, the body organs become unable to perform their roles well. In such a scenario, they either become damaged or they completely shut down.

Each day, a normal heart expands and contracts (heartbeat) more than 100 000 times, and it pumps more than 2000 gallons of blood all through the entire body.

 In a 70-year lifetime, your normal human heart will beat more than 2.5 billion times.

Causes of arrhythmias include:

·     Changes in your heart muscle

·     Injury that may result from heart attack

·     Electrolyte imbalance in your blood. These electrolytes comprise of potassium and sodium.

·     Heart disease

·     Healing process principally after you have undergone surgery.

Arrhythmia is known to display a wide range of symptoms. Such symptoms include:

·     Anxiety and shortness of breath

·     Pressure or chest pains

·     Pounding in the chest or rapid heartbeat

·     Lightheadedness or dizziness

·     Weakness or fatigue

·     In extreme cases, sudden cardiac arrest or collapse

How are arrhythmias treated?

Before treatment, your doctor will first make a determination on the exact origin of the arrhythmia, and whether it is life threatening. An electrocardiogram (ECG) is mostly used to monitor the heart, and it produces a graphic record of the heart’s electrical impulses

According to MedlinePlus, an electrocardiogram test can show the strength of your heart and whether it is beating at a normal rate. An abnormal electrocardiogram test is a sign that your heart is either damaged or you have a heart disease.

Other methods of monitoring arrhythmia include the use of Holter Monitor, tilt table test, exercise stress tests and electrophysiologic studies.

In the treatment of arrhythmias, your doctor can use any of the following methods of treatment depending on the severity of the condition:

·     Anticoagulants to prevent blood clots and even stroke

·     Medicines that control and prevent arrhythmia

·     lifestyle changes on the patient

·     A pacemaker insertion that will assist your heart in beating in a normal and regular manner.

·      Cardiac ablation

·      Cardiac defibrillation

·     surgery

There are different types of arrhythmias. Most of these pose no danger. However, certain types of arrhythmias are not harmless, in fact, they are extremely life threatening.

Therefore, as a precautionary measure, report all cases of arrhythmia to your doctor promptly. Today, due to technological advancement, it is possible to have even the most complicated form of arrhythmia treated successfully, thus enabling you to live an ordinary life.

Written by Raphael Mutuku