Irregular Heart Beat - Arrhythmia
It is understandable when your “heart skips a beat’ or “goes bonkers” on seeing your beloved. But other than that, it can be a matter of serious concern if you experience a significant variation in your heart beat often. Find out what all can make your heart rhythm go irregular.
What is irregular heart beat:
Pumping of our heart is based on a conduction system. When something goes wrong with the heart’s electrical system, the heart does not beat regularly or properly. The irregular beating results in a rhythm disorder, or arrhythmia.
Normal arrhythmia: Not all the extra beats or occasional skipping of them is alarming. It can be caused by exercise, anxiety, or strong emotional outburst.
Synonyms: Arrhythmia, Palpitation, irregular heart rhythm, cardiac dysrhythmia
How patients present it: Usually the condition of arrhythmia triggers a panic attack among the patients and they fail to figure out what exactly is happening to them. They generally put it in these phrases, “suddenly my heart started pounding in my chest”, or “my heart began racing fast”, or “my heart skipped a beat”.
Types of Irregular Heart Beat (Arrhythmia):
It can divided in the following categories
According to the site of origin
Ventricular: Occur in the heart's two lower chambers called the ventricles
Supraventricular: Occur in the heart's two upper chambers called the atriu
According to speed
Bradicardia: very slow heart rate, less than 60 beats per minute
Tachycardia: Very fast heart rate, more than 100 beats per minute
Fibrillation: Fast uncoordinated heart rate
Palpitation: An uncomfortable sensation in the heart, rapid or slow, regular or irregular, and which “one is consciously aware of”, is palpitation.
Causes of Irregular Heart Beat (Arrhythmia):
They can be several, such as:
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Congenital (by birth)
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Imbalances of electrolyte in the blood Like sodium, potassium etc.
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Consumption of alcohol, caffeine, or smoking
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Consumption of diet pills
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Some substances or drugs
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Stress
Symptoms of Irregular Heart Beat (Arrhythmia):
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Feeling of uneasiness and discomfort
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Pounding, thumping or fluttering in the chest
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Heartbeat might feel like a “strong pulse” in the neck
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Giddiness or light headedness
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Unconsciousness
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Weakness or tiredness
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Sweating
Possible complications:
There can be further complications if it is left unattended, like
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Heart attack
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Stroke
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Sudden death
Diagnosis of Irregular Heart Beat (Arrhythmia):
Irregular heart beats or arrhythmias can be hard to diagnose, especially the ones which causes symptoms only once a while. The final diagnosis can be reached based upon;
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Family history
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Physical examination – Pulse, BP, swelling in the legs
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Electrocardiogram
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Holter and event monitors
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Blood tests, Chest X-ray
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Stress test
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Cardiac catheterization
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Electrophysiology study
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Implantable loop recorder
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Head-up tilt table test
Treatment of Irregular Heart Beat (Arrhythmia):
Arrhythmia should not be taken lightly and it needs immediate treatment to restore a normal rhythm; although some people with arrhythmias require no treatment at all. For others, treatment can include medication, making lifestyle changes and other medical procedures.
Medical procedures:
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Electrical "shock" therapy (defibrillation or cardioversion)
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Implanting a temporary pacemaker to interrupt the arrhythmia
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Cardiac ablation (ablate means "to destroy”) to destruct areas in the heart that may be causing the rhythm problems.
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Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD): An implantable cardiac defibrillator is placed in people who are at high risk of sudden cardiac death.
Medications:
Antiarrhythmic drugs control heart-rate and it include beta-blockers
Living with arrhythmia:
Many arrhythmias are harmless. People continue to live a healthy life for year’s altogether. If the person has arrhythmia that requires treatment, it's important to practice on-going care. Living with arrhythmia is manageable by keeping in mind and following certain essential steps,
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Learn how to take your pulse
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Follow a healthy diet
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On feeling dizzy, lie down immediately
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Try to stay away from strong emotional stress or anger
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Stay away from stimulants such as alcohol , cough and cold medicines, and caffine
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Quit smoking
Tell your doctors if:
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Your symptoms are getting worse, aggravated, or new are being experienced
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You are having any side effects of the prescribed drugs
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Before taking over-the-counter medicines, nutritional supplements, or allergy medicines
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You're taking blood-thinning medicines