Cardiac Arrhythmias

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Cardiac Arrhythmias

Cardiac arrhythmia is a condition that occurs when there is an abnormal rhythm in the heart due to changes in the normal order of electrical impulses. Arrhythmias can be normal, however, in other circumstances they can also be life threatening. When an arrhythmia is normal, there is usually a brief pause in the heart beat, but the heart is normally not affected. However, if the arrhythmia last longer than a brief pause, this may cause the heart rate to be either too slow or too fast, thus causing problems or affecting the heart. A fast heart rate is called a tachycardia, which is usually more than 100 beats per minute in an adult. A slow heart rate is called a bradycardia which is usually less than 60 beats per minute in an adult.

When the heart suffers an arrhythmia, the heart cannot pump blood efficiently and therefore affects other organs of the body. Some organs that may be affected are the lungs and the brain. When organs begin to fail or work improperly they can shut down or become damaged. A very common type of arrhythmia is called an atrial fibrillation, which is quivering of the heart. There are over 2 million Americans in the United States who have atrial fibrillation.

Arrhythmias can occur in a healthy heart, but they can also be a sign of a more serious problem that can lead to heart disease, stroke, or sometimes even sudden death. Arrhythmias are more common in a person as they get older. Even though arrhythmias are common and most are harmless, there are certain symptoms which indicate that the type of arrhythmia could be a more serious type and the person should seek medical help. These symptoms include fatigue, dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting or feeling faint, rapid heartbeat or pounding, shortness of breath, and chest pain. In the more extreme cases of symptoms some people have been known to have heart attacks due to arrhythmias.

The Electrocardiography (ECG) is the most common type of test used to diagnose or determine an arrhythmia. The ECG or Electrocardiography measures and records the times and the lengths between heartbeats. The doctors then review the records and can study the shape and size of the waves that appear on the recording to help determine the regularity of the heartbeat. The most important factor which makes a person more prone to arrhythmias is damage to the heart muscle usually caused by a heart attack. Some other conditions that may make a person more prone to arrhythmias are congenital factors, such as a person born with extra conduction pathways within the atria and the ventricles. Some high and low levels of chemical agents have also been known to have an effect on arrhythmias. These chemical agents are usually potassium, magnesium, and calcium. Alcohol, cigarettes and recreational drugs are also a major factor in causes of arrhythmias.

Cigarette smoking can provoke arrhythmias. Cigarette smoking is really harsh on the heart and the toxins in cigarette smoke can cause plaque to form in the arteries, leading to hardening of the arteries, a condition also known as atherosclerosis. Smoking can damage the blood vessels and cause cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular disease is the main cause of death due to smoking. It is a proven fact that tobacco in cigarettes affects the ventricles of the heart and therefore increases the potential for tachycardia arrhythmias. Smoking in patients with coronary arterial disease may induce ischemia, which in turn contributes to cardiac death. Smoking can also cause you to feel heart palpitations or an irregular heart rate. Smoking increases the chance of developing damage in the heart vessels.

Exercise is known to be very helpful in preventing heart disease and avoiding the serious types of arrhythmias. Exercise such as walking, swimming, and light aerobics are recommended in order to keep the heart healthy. These exercises can also help with weight loss, which in turn promotes a better flow of oxygen to your lungs and blood.

Children are also known to have or suffer from arrhythmias. In an older child, such as a teenager the normal heartbeats should be about 70 per minute. In a newborn baby the heartbeats are around 140 times per minute. The most common type of arrhythmia in children is called sinus arrhythmia. Sinus arrhythmia occurs when a child breathes in and the heart rate normally speeds up for a few beats. Then when a child breathes out, it slows down again. This type of arrhythmia is completely normal. When a doctor examines a child and feels that there is a possible arrhythmia and it may not be normal, the child is usually referred to a pediatric cardiologist for further examination and additional testing. It has been discovered that some medications that are taken by children may produce or make arrhythmias worse. For this reason it is very important that parents provide the doctor with all medications that the child may have taken in the past or may be taking currently.

As we have learned about arrhythmias you can see that it is very important to be aware of the signs that our bodies sometimes give us. In doing so, this may prevent us in the future from acquiring a more serious disease, such as a cardiac disease which may lead to a more sudden death. Learning and staying well informed about how to keep our heart healthy is vital as the heart is our most important organ in our body. The heart affects all the organs in our body, so by keeping the heart healthy we can make a more positive effect on the rest of the organs in the body.

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