The heart beyond doubt is a vital organ in the body and when it starts developing functioning problems, the consequences can be serious. Heart disorders can be of numerous types and it is always better to learn about the important ones. A lot of people develop a cardiac condition called arrhythmia (17) or abnormal heart rhythm.
What is arrhythmia/ abnormal heart rhythm disorder?
Your heart keeps on pumping blood and nutrients in the body and it has a certain pace or rhythm of operation. When the normal rhythm and system of heart pumping is interrupted for some reason- it is known as abnormal heart rhythm. However, if you suffer from arrhythmia doesn’t mean you have got a cardiac disease. Based on the body’s electrical system malfunctions, the heart’s normal rhythm can be affected in diverse ways. The heart can beat faster, slower or in irregular speed.
Root cause of heart rhythm disorders
Heart rhythm disturbances can be caused by several factors. It can be caused by factors related to the heart or other organs of the body. The major factors include:
- Significant anemia
- Abnormal electrolyte levels
- Excessive levels of thyroid hormone
- Stimulant drugs
- Certain OTC medications and caffeine loaded drinks
- Emotional or physical stress
Major signs of Heart Rhythm Disorder
On an average, your heart can beat 60-100 times a minute (18). Anything below and above this range can be deemed as irregular heart rhythm. However, it is natural for the heart to beat faster when you run or workout. When you sleep, the heartbeat slows down gradually.
The major signs include:
- Thumping in the chest
- Palpitations, also called “skipped beats”
- A feeling of heart racing
- Shortness of breath
- Confusion
- Dizziness
The reality is all these symptoms can be caused by other ailments too. This is why identifying arrhythmias can be tedious at times.
Various kinds of Arrhythmias
Broadly speaking, arrhythmias are of two types- ventricular and supraventricular. The former type starts in the heart’s lower chambers and in the latter occurs above the ventricles. The commonplace variants include:
Not all arrhythmias cause health complications or are life threatening. However, to be on the safe side, any abnormal heart rhythm must be reported to your doctor without delay or procrastination.
Types of abnormal heart rhythms
The most common types of abnormal heart rhythms are:
Tachycardia
Tachycardia is when your heart is beating way too fast. For instance, a normal heart beats around 60 to 100 times a minute. If your heart beats over 100 beats per minute when you are resting, you may be suffering from Tachycardia (19). There are three subtypes:
- Supraventricular tachycardia that occurs in the atria which are the upper chambers of your heart
- Ventricular tachycardia that occurs in the ventricles or lower chambers of the heart
- Sinus tachycardia wherein a normal increase in the heart rate may occur when you are excited or even sick. In such cases, your heartbeat returns to back to normal as soon as you calm down or get better
Atrial fibrillation
At times a disorganized heart rhythm can occur in the upper chambers of the heart. This is the most common type of arrhythmia. Atrial fibrillation (20), also known as AFib may occur when unstable electrical impulses begin to misfire and this results in the atria quivering and going out of control. This condition causes the heart rate to go up and also become erratic. Your heart rate may go from 100 to a whopping 200 BPM. We will discuss more on this condition in the following section.
Atrial flutter
An atrial flutter normally occurs in the right atrium of the heart, which is an upper chamber of the heart. This may also occur in the left atrium in some patients. Atrial flutter (21) is triggered by a lone electrical impulse that shoots through the affected atrium. This can lead to a fast heart rate too.
Bradycardia
If you are bradycardic, it means you have a very slow heart rate. This condition occurs when the many electrical signals that travel from the atria to the ventricles are disrupted.
Ventricular fibrillation
This type of abnormal rhythm can be devastating. It can stop the heart from beating and lead to a sudden cardiac arrest. This happens when the ventricles aren’t able to pump blood out of your head and to the brain and body. This is a very serious condition and can turn fatal if not treated immediately.
Premature contractions
The doctor may diagnose you with premature contractions when your heart appears to have skipped a beat when your pulse is taken in the chest or wrist. The skipped beat is actually very weak or faint and is not heard or felt. Extra beats and early beats also classify as premature contractions. And all these three types may occur in either the upper or the lower heart chambers.
Howarrhythmia is diagnosed
To diagnosearrhythmia the following tests are conducted:
- EKG
- Echocardiogram
- Chest X-ray
- Heart catheterization
Treatment options for heart rhythm disorders
There is no fixed treatment for any heart rhythm abnormality as such. The treatment will depend on the type of arrhythmia and underlying cause. The doctor may put an implanted cardioverter defibrillator or opt for a surgery, based on patient condition. The implanted cardioverter defibrillator (22) can perform the task of pacemaker and thwart developing lower than usual heart rate.
In some cases, the doctors can offer specific medication to the patients developing an arrhythmia. The usage of calcium channel blockers and beta-blockers are common. Sometimes, the doctor may advise not using any medication or device to treat types of arrhythmia. This is because some types can be handled without using medications and they are harmless.
Things to keep in mind when you have an arrhythmia
When you are diagnosed with arrhythmia, a few things should be followed. These are:
- You should take the medications in a prescribed way.
- Do not stop taking medications without talking with the doctor.
- Discuss your existing medications to learn about the scope of interaction.
Managing certain risk factors can also be helpful for keeping arrhythmia at bay. These include:
- Trying to bring down high blood pressure can be helpful.
- You can try to stop taking food that can raise cholesterol levels.
- Losing excess flab can be helpful to evade arrhythmia.
- Staying fit and working out is also advisable.
Changes in diet and lifestyle
As is the case with people developing serious heart ailments, victims of arrhythmia also need to make some changes in both diet and lifestyle to stay healthy. This includes staying away from consumption of alcoholic drinks and caffeine laced drinks as far as possible. Giving up smoking will also be quite beneficial in this regard. Sometimes not using specific OTC cold medications can be helpful to keep arrhythmia away.
Atrial Fibrillation – To Be Covered
Let us now delve deeper into what atrial fibrillation is and how it can be treated.