The
heart contains a special set of cells best thought of as the electrical
system of the heart. These cells send signals to the heart muscle
to get it to contract, causing the heart to pump blood. When the electrical
system of the heart does not function properly, the heart may beat
in an abnormal fashion. This is known as a cardiac arrhythmia.
At rest, the heart normally beats with a fairly regular rhythm and
has a fairly constant rate. An arrhythmia is a broad term used to
describe any irregular or abnormal heartbeat. The heart may beat fast,
slow or at a normal rate and the beats may occur with a regular or
an irregular rhythm. Arrhythmias can be normal and even healthy. For
example, doctors encourage most people to get regular exercise in
order to increase the heart rate above the normal range, which is
technically an arrhythmia.
There are many potential causes of irregular heartbeats. Alcohol abuse,
anxiety, inherited conditions, salt imbalances, heart attacks, hormone
imbalances and certain medications can all trigger irregular heartbeats.
An irregular heartbeat can occur for only a few seconds once a month
or it can be continuous for many years.
| The
symptoms of an arrhythmia are highly variable, depending on the
type and severity. Some people may have no symptoms at all. When
symptoms are present, they may include: |
- An
abnormal awareness of the heartbeat, known as palpitations.
The heart may seem to beat too fast or slow or a person may
feel as though the heart is "skipping" beats
- Shortness
of breath
- Fatigue
- Chest
pain
- Light-headedness
or passing out
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When
a doctor suspects an arrhythmia, in addition to performing a physical
examination, a heart tracing is usually obtained. A heart tracing
or EKG is a test that measures the electrical activity inside the
heart. It involves attaching several wires or leads to the skin over
the chest, which is painless procedure. The tracing shows the heart
rate and rhythm, allowing the doctor to diagnose the type of arrhythmia
and often, its cause. Some people may need to wear a heart monitor
for a day or even longer while at home. This may need to be done if
the irregular heartbeat only happens once in a while. A device can
be used to record the heart tracings while the person goes about their
daily business. The heart tracing can then be analyzed to determine
the type of irregular heartbeat.
Though arrhythmias may be normal in certain settings, they can be
life threatening in other situations. This is because certain abnormal
heartbeats that result from electrical dysfunction in the heart make
the heart unable to pump enough blood to keep a person alive. In other
cases, irregular heartbeats can lead to blood clots, which can cause
a stroke or brain damage and other tissue damage.
Treatment may or may not be needed for an irregular heartbeat. If
an irregular heartbeat persists or occurs frequently and poses a health
risk or causes symptoms, treatment is usually advised. Medication
is the most common form of treatment for cardiac arrhythmias. There
are many different types of heart medications available depending
on the type of irregular heartbeat. In addition, some people may need
to take medications known as "blood thinners" or anticoagulants
to reduce the risk of blood clots.
Other people may need a pacemaker to treat their irregular heartbeat.
This is a device that takes over the job of sending signals to the
heart muscle to pump blood when the person's natural electrical system
is unreliable. Still others may be treated with a special procedure
known as radioactive ablation. This is an invasive procedure in which
a small tube is threaded into the heart and a tiny device is used
to destroy the cells that are causing the irregular heartbeats.
As mentioned, arrhythmias may be life threatening. They are a common
cause of death in the setting of a heart attack. Emergency resuscitation
treatment, including the use of the "shock paddles" commonly seen
on medical television shows, may be needed for dangerous irregular
heartbeats.
Irregular heartbeats are fairly common and often have no health consequences.
However, serious arrhythmias can lead to passing out and even death.
Anyone who experiences a "funny heartbeat" is advised to
see a healthcare provider promptly.
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