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An irregular heartbeat can have various causes and consequences. There are several dozen types of arrhythmias. Some can even be fatal. Therefore, each arrhythmia requires specialist diagnosis.
Cardiac arrhythmias, i.e. arrhythmias, can appear at any age, starting in fetal life. They occur sporadically, periodically or constantly. Some cause acute ailments, others remain asymptomatic. Detailed research is required to diagnose the type of arrhythmia. Diagnosis based on symptoms alone can be misleading.
Heart-rhythm
Our heartbeat accompanies us throughout our lives. The contractions and relaxation pump the oxygenated blood in the lungs and distribute it throughout the body. The heart has its own contractile mechanism. It is the bundle of His that conducts impulses and causes contractions throughout the organ. To check the heart rate, which is the number of beats per minute, we measure the heart rate. The pulse rate changes with age – in infants it is around 110-115 beats per minute, while the adult heart beats only 70 times a minute. Accelerated heartbeat can sometimes occur in healthy people as a result of exercise, emotions or stress. It happens, however, that it starts to work irregularly without such a reason.
Arrhythmia is nothing more than an irregular heartbeat. It can result in serious health complications. However, the term arrhythmia covers a whole group of heart diseases characterized by an abnormal heartbeat. Therefore, it is not a specific diagnosis that enables effective treatment. Unfortunately, many cardiac patients are told they have arrhythmias, and that’s it. Meanwhile, the diagnosis of a specific type is necessary for the proper treatment of the patient. Especially since some arrhythmias are associated with the risk of sudden cardiac death and require immediate treatment.
They set the rhythm
Electrical problems of the heart are the area of activity of cardiologists-electrophysiologists. Electrophysiology studies the electrical impulses of the heart. It is a subspecialty in cardiology that selectively deals with cardiac arrhythmias. The electrophysiologist is therefore a certified cardiologist who also specializes in clinical electrophysiology and focuses only on the electrical phenomena in the heart.
Medical consultation: dr Radosław Sierpiński, Heart for Arrhythmia Foundation