What is arrhythmia?
An arrhythmia is an irregularity in the beat of the heart. The heart may seem to skip a beat, beat irregularly or beat very fast or very slowly. Such arrhythmias may just cause discomfort without posing any major risk to your health.
On the other hand, they may indicate a serious problem.
Arrhythmias may be an indication of an underlying abnormality of the heart which may be in the muscle, valves or arteries. The disorder can appear in healthy hearts, in people who do not have any underlying heart disease. Middle aged adults are more likely to get this disorder.
Arrhythmias do not pose any serious threat for most people. A person with this disorder may not need any specific type of test or treatment. However in people who have this disorder due to heart disease, they of course require treatment for their heart disease, which does pose a greater risk to their life and health.
A person with serious symptoms of arrhythmias will require treatment. Medical treatment is necessary for him/her to maintain a regular heartbeat.
What makes the heart to pump?
The heart is a muscular pump divided into four parts, called chambers. Two chambers located in the top portion of the heart are called atria, while the two lying in the bottom are called ventricles.
A heart beat starts in the right atrium, where the sinus node lies. The sinus node is a group of special cells, which produces an electric signal, this electric signal spreads throughout the atria and then passes to the ventricles through a node, called atrioventricular node.
As this signal travels through the heart, it makes the heart contract. First the atria contract, pushing the blood into the ventricles, and then a fraction of a second later, the ventricles contract sending blood throughout the body. Each contraction of a heart is one beat and in normal circumstances there are 60-100 beats per minute.
What are the causes of arrhythmias?
Usually there is no definite cause of this disorder. Common causes of arrhythmias include:
- Heart disease.
- Stress.
- Use of caffeine, tobacco and alcohol.
- Use of diet pills.
- Use of cough and cold medicines.
Symptoms:
- Heart beating very fast.
- Fluttering in the chest.
- Heart skipping a beat.
- Feeling dizziness, faint or out of breath.
- Off and on chest pain.
What are the different types of arrhythmias?
There are different types of Arrhythmias. Each type is identified by the origin of the irregular heartbeat
- Arrhythmia arising in the atria is called atrial arrhythmia.
- Arrhythmia arising in the ventricle is called ventricular arrhythmia.
Diagnosis:
First of all your GP will take your medical history and then do a physical examination. The most common and easiest way to diagnose the disorder of an irregular heartbeat is through ECG (electro cardiograph).
Some abnormalities will require a holter monitor for diagnosis – this test involves a box being attached to your belt for 24 hours and your heart rhythm being monitored continuously throughout that period.
Treatment:
Many arrhythmias do not require any treatment. However, treatment is necessary in very serious cases. The choice of the treatment depends on the factors causing the disorder or its location. The following treatments may be given:
- Treatment by medicines: There are several medicines, which can be used to treat the arrhythmia. The choice of medication is very important. While choosing a medicine, the benefits must be weighed against the risks of using that medicine. The dosage must be followed as advised by your GP. While you are using a medicine, you may be advised to have some tests to check whether the medicine therapy is working or not.
- Cardioversion: Some times a treating doctor may apply a small electric shock to your chest to quickly restore the heartbeat. This treatment is advised in emergency situations. After this treatment, some medicines may be given to prevent the recurrence of arrhythmia.
- Using special devices: There are certain mechanical devices, e.g. pacemaker which can be used to treat arrhythmias. Another such device is called automatic implantable defibrillators. This device is surgically placed inside the chest, where it monitors the heart’s rhythm and while identifying the serious arrhythmias it immediately disrupts it with an electric shock.
An artificial pacemaker can take charge of sending electrical signals to make the heart beat if the heart's natural pacemaker is not working properly or its electrical pathway is blocked. During a simple operation, this electrical device is placed under the skin. A lead extends from the device to the right side of the heart, where it is permanently anchored.
When an arrhythmia can’t be controlled by other treatments, doctors may perform surgery. After locating the heart tissue that is causing the arrhythmia, the tissue is altered or removed so that it will not produce the arrhythmia.
Written by Medpages Editorial Team
Last Editorial Review:20/1/2010
