Cardiac arrhythmias – causes and symptoms. What is the treatment of arrhythmia?

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A heart rhythm disturbance (arrhythmia) is a condition characterized by a fast, slower and irregular heartbeat. In some patients, this disorder is completely asymptomatic, while in others it can be life-threatening. The causes of this ailment are most often diseases of the valves and diseases of the heart muscle.

How does the heart work?

The work of this system, although it is in a sense autonomous, i.e. independent, is subject to quite strict supervision of the nervous system and biochemical influences (it is dependent on the concentration of calcium, potassium and, to a lesser extent, sodium in the blood) and hormonal (e.g. adrenaline and thyroxine), temperature, intravascular pressure, etc.

Under normal conditions, the heart should contract rhythmically from the moment of starting work in the fetal stage until the end of life, i.e. biological death of the organism. Physiologically (i.e. under conditions of normal functioning of a healthy organism), the heart rate varies and depends on age, i.e. it is very fast in prenatal age, fast in infancy, and slower in childhood, and with 68-74 beats per minute at rest adult man. The whole organism is regulated by the cerebral cortex, so the heart is also under it.

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In some people, a marked change in heart rate can be observed under the influence of strong stressful stimuli such as fear, joy, etc.

1. Do you feel that your heart is disrupted? Don’t wait in line! Talk to your cardiologist today

Causes of abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias)

The most accurate and reliable method of testing for arrhythmias is electrocardiographic examination, consisting in recording the bioelectrical activity of the heart on paper, i.e. creating an electrocardiogram using an electrocardiograph. You can buy EGK research with a description on Medonet Market.

Heart rhythm disturbances (arrhythmia) occur as a result of disturbances in the rhythmicity or frequency of stimulus formation in the sinus node or from disturbances in their conduction in the so-called conductive system. There are two types of conducting systems (blocks) depending on the location of the impediments in the conduction of the stimulus.

Heart rhythm disturbances may also appear due to the excessive excitability of the heart muscle, its excessive response to stimuli and the production of accessory contractions from the so-called extra-sinus stimulus centers. Then there is also a change in the frequency or irregularity of the heartbeat.

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What are cardiac arrhythmias?

Cardiac arrhythmias include:

• acceleration or slowing down of the heart’s normal, i.e. sinus, rhythm while keeping it beating regularly,

• the occurrence of accessory contractions resulting from various stimulus-generating foci,

• the expected heart contractions do not appear,

• chaotic formation of ventricular contractions due to irregular, chaotic conduction of beats from the atria to the AV node and then into the ventricles.

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Basic forms of heart rhythm disorders

Taking into account the general characteristics of cardiac arrhythmias, the most important and the most common ones are distinguished below.

a) ventricular tachycardia,

b) bradycardia,

c) additional ventricular and supraventricular contractions,

d) atrial fibrillation (the most dangerous form of disorders leading to cardiac arrest and death, without sufficiently early defibrillation),

e) supraventricular and ventricular tachycardia (ventricular fibrillation, atrial fibrillation).

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Symptoms of heart rhythm disturbances

Cardiac arrhythmias can be symptomatic and sometimes may be completely asymptomatic. The symptoms vary depending on the type of disorder, but are most often felt palpitations (feeling of a fast, uneven heartbeat). The Start by iHealth upper arm blood pressure monitor allows you to detect arrhythmias during the test.

Sometimes patients feel a jerking sensation in the heart area, a sudden urge to cough and choking. The feeling lasts only a moment and is self-limiting, although it is relapsing in some people. There is also a slow and strong heartbeat and the so-called. extra contractions. During additional contractions, the patient has the feeling of “skipping” in the chest, or even stopping for one second of the heartbeat.

1. Heart palpitations is one of the symptoms of arrhythmia. Don’t ignore him! Make an appointment with a cardiologist who will be able to see you within 10 minutes

For the patient, cramps are an additional discomfort. The cramps that occur very often are called tachycardia (a serious type of disorder). Due to tachycardia, the patient experiences additional symptoms such as dizziness, choking feeling, fainting (very fast or very slow arrhythmia) and often loss of consciousness.

Other symptoms of cardiac arrhythmias include:

1. shortness of breath
2. pain in the chest,
3. weakness.

Disease symptoms may also depend on the location of the focus of additional electrical stimuli and concomitant diseases. Tachycardia exacerbates coronary pain in people with atherosclerosis and exacerbates symptoms of heart failure.

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Accelerating the heart rate

Tachycardia we diagnose when the sinus rhythm is between 100 and 220 contractions per minute, which may be due to stress, mental excitement, strain on the body – and thus the circulatory system – with physical exertion, increased sympathetic nervous system tension.

Acceleration of the so-called sinus problems caused by stress or excessive nervous excitability disappears after the stressful cause is removed or after taking general sedatives. There is no need for medical intervention, especially urgently. However, there is always a need for a medical evaluation and possible implementation of causal treatment.

Slow heart rate

Bradycardia this is a situation where the sinus rate is less than 60 heartbeats per minute. It occurs during sleep and in states of increased tension of the vagus nerves, i.e. the sympathetic nervous system.

On the other hand, in disease states, especially in the elderly, in whom, apart from slowing down the heart rate, there is a feeling of general weakness, yawning, drowsiness, and especially a tendency to fainting, urgent medical assistance, and sometimes even implantation of an artificial pacemaker, is necessary.

Respiratory arrhythmia

The most common form of cardiac arrhythmias is the so-called respiratory arrhythmia. It is characterized by a gradual acceleration of the heart’s sinus rhythm at the same time as you inhale, and a slow slowing of it as you exhale.

It is actually the only type of physiological arrhythmia that occurs in children and adolescents, and can sometimes also occur in adults. People with disorders of the autonomic system are at risk of respiratory arrhythmia.

People with increased irritability may be given sedatives.

Other types of heart rhythm disturbances

People who develop cardiac arrhythmias in the form of the so-called accessory contractions or the so-called complete arrhythmias during atrial flutter and fibrillation, they may feel some kind of anxiety around the heart or the so-called palpitations. Occasionally, most often during extrasystoles, sufferers may feel as if their hearts are “turning over”, “tumbling” or “dying back”.

Different types of cardiac arrhythmias require different types of treatment. Appropriate therapy can only be started by a doctor.

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Until the doctor arrives:

• place the patient in a supine, close to horizontal position;

• check the patient’s breathing and heart rate, start CPR if necessary until emergency services arrive.

Certain types of heart rhythm changes, such as a marked reduction in heart rate or extra contractions accompanied by nausea (and even vomiting), may occur when treating heart failure or arrhythmias with drugs from the group of digitalis glycosides, please contact your doctor. who recommended the treatment. The described situation may be the result of intolerance to this type of drugs by the body, or the result of excessive saturation with them.

Taking dehydrating preparations for a long time, in addition to the beneficial and expected increased water loss (e.g. treatment of circulatory failure with edema), may also result in a less beneficial loss of potassium for the body, the reduced concentration of which in the blood serum contributes to the occurrence or the persistent persistence of arrhythmias. . Hence the conclusion: do not arbitrarily stop taking medications, especially those containing potassium (usually recommended by your doctor together with dehydrating medications).

Cardiac arrhythmias – diagnosis

In the diagnosis of cardiac arrhythmias, first of all, the patient should be thoroughly auscultated and his pulse checked. This is followed by an EKG, or a 24-hour EKG, if the contractions are not very frequent. In patients diagnosed with arrhythmia, its cause should always be found. For this purpose, the ECG test must be repeated many times. You can buy a resting ECG with a description at Medonet Market.

1. How to read the ECG test?

Other tests / activities performed in diagnostics are:

1. exercise test i coronary angiography – two tests used in the suspicion of ischemic heart disease;
2. testing the level of electrolytes – it is recommended especially for people who use diuretics; special attention should be paid to the concentration of potassium, because its disturbance leads to dangerous disorders;
3. urine and serum creatinine tests – helps to establish a safe dose of preparations;
4. control of blood coagulation parameters.
5. chest X-ray and heart ECHO – these are tests performed to assess the condition of the heart and lungs;
6. ECG Holter method – it is used to capture short-term and rapidly disappearing arrhythmias.

An EKG test with the Holter method, which monitors the heart rate around the clock, is offered by the Polmed medical center.

Cardiac arrhythmias – treatment

Treatment of cardiac arrhythmias depends on the type of arrhythmia, its severity and symptoms. The doctor’s job is to determine whether the disorders are benign or malignant. The best results of treatment occur when the cause of the arrhythmia can be eliminated, e.g. treatment of valves, hormonal disorders. Treatment involves more than just taking medications and surgery.

Changing your lifestyle is important. Patients should take care of their diet and keep their body weight constant. Smoking is bad for you! Therefore, it is a good idea to quit smoking immediately (this also applies to family members). In addition, the treatment of comorbid ailments is of great importance, e.g .:

1. hypertension,
2. diabetes,
3. elevated cholesterol.

If you want to monitor your pressure, it is worth getting a suitable blood pressure monitor. A good choice will be a blood pressure monitor with automatic measurement Nissei Comfort, which has the function of remembering up to the last 60 results of 2 users.

Drug treatment of cardiac arrhythmias – what is it?

The drugs most often administered in the treatment of heart rhythm disorders are:

1. glycosides,
2. amiodarone (may cause side effects)
3. beta-blockers (especially in patients with ischemic heart disease or high blood pressure),
4. propafenone – in a certain group of patients with atrial fibrillation,
5. calcium antagonists (less effective, with few side effects).

The surgical treatment consists of:

1. heart valve surgery
2. implantation of a pacemaker,
3. RF ablation,
4. surgical treatment of ischemic heart disease,
5. electrical cardioversion,
6. implantation of a cardioverter-defibrillator.

In order to counteract heart disease, it is worth including appropriate supplementation in your daily diet. Try a Solgar brand dietary supplement, rich in EPA and DHA acids, which support the work of the cardiovascular system.

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