Heart Rhythm Disorders
By: Robert NamTotal Views: 332, Word Count: 839,
Heart plays very vital role in the body, it pumps the blood to all your body organs. The electrical circuit performs the function of pumping and contraction of the heart. The constant rhythm of a normal heart plays an important role in the heart. It pumps and circulates the blood to the other body organs. Irregularity in this electrical circuit is called as heart rhythm disorders or arrhythmia.
It is a disorder of the heart rhythm. Diseased heart may skip a beat or beat irregular or very slow or very fast. Nowadays arrhythmia is one of the common diseases in humans.
Causes of Heart Rhythm Disorders
Normally, most of the heart rhythm disorders are harmless, but some can cause serious or sudden death due to cardiac.
- Slow heart beat (Bradycardia)
- Rapid heartbeat (Tachycardia)
- Delayed heartbeat (dyssynchrony)
And other common causes of heart rhythm disorders includes heart block, heart diseases, stress, tobacco, alcohol, caffeine, diet pills, cough and cold medicines , unhealthy diet, and cardiomyopathy.
Types of Heart Rhythm Disorders
Following are the types of the heart rhythmic disorders. It includes.
- Sinus node disease
- Bradycardia
- Tachycardia
- Atrial rhythm disorders includes atrial arrhythmia, Sinus arrthymia, Sinus tachycardia, Sick sinus syndrome, premature atrial contractions(PAC), Paroxysmal atrial tachycardia(PAT) , Atrial fibrillation, and atrial flutter
- A Ventrical rhythmia disorder includes palpitations, ventricular arrhythmia, premature ventricular complexes, ventricular fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia, spraventricular tachycardia, and paroxysmal super ventricular tachycardia.
Symptoms of Heart Rhythm Disorders
People hardly show any symptoms of heart rhythm disorders. Common symptoms that can be shown by people suffering from heart rhythm disorder are
1. Skipped heartbeat
2. Chest pain
3. Sensation of heart racing
4. Tired feeling
5. Light-headness
6. Shortness of breath
7. Discomfort
In some case, people suffering from above symptoms may not be having any heart rhythm disorders. This may happen due to stress, anxiety, or other causes.
Risk Factors for Heart Rhythm Disorders
Every risk factor increases the chance of developing a heart problem or heart rhythm disorders.
1. High Blood pressure
2. Coronary artery diseases
3. Diabetes
4. Smoking
5. High cholesterol level
6. Excessive use of alcohol
7. Drug abuse
8. Family history of heart disease
9. Stress
10. Medicines such as, herbal and dietary supplements.
11. Ageing
12. Obesity
Prevention of Heart Rhythm Disorders
Heart rhythm disorders can be prevented or the risks can be reduced by following factors.
- Eating a healthy heart diet
- Doing regular exercise
- Maintaining a healthy weight, do not be obese
- Quitting smoking
- Avoiding alcohol and drugs like caffeine
- Trying to manage the stress level
- Going for regular checkup
- Keeping the blood pressure, cholesterol level , thyroid diseases and diabetes under control
Diagnosis Test for Heart Rhythm Disorders
Following are the tests, which are performed for the heart rhythm disorders.
- Echocardiogram
- Electrophysiology(EP)
- Electrocardiogram(ECG)
- Exercise stress test
- Holter monitor
- Heart catheterization
- Event recorder
- Implantable loop recorder
- Tilt table test
Treatments of Heart Rhythm Disorders
The treatment of heart rhythm disorder involves several choices. The option includes change in life style, medications, electronic devices, cardio version, and surgery.
Change in Life Style
It is the best option for every heart diseases patient. Mostly doctors advice patient to make certain changes in his life style. Change in life style is very beneficial for a healthy life.
Electronic Devices
By delivering electric shocks to the heart, defibrillators returns back into normal heat rhythm. In some cases, the device can be external in the emergency such as pacemakers, cardiac resynchronization therapy, and implanted cardio verter defibrillators.
Cardio version
In this procedure, an electric shock is given to your heart to convert abnormal heart rhythm into a normal heart rhythm.
Surgery
Surgery is mainly used to correct the coronary heart disease, heart failure or other cardiac problems. However, in some cases it can be used to correct the problem of heart rhythm disorder.
Now, if you are having symptoms of heart rhythm disorder, rush to your doctor, because at times it can result in some serious heart disease. Take the preventive measures before it’s too late. If you are suffering from this disease, try to control the risk factors in order to live a long and healthy life.
About the Author
Dr. Robert Nam is a well known heart specialist and has done postgraduate training in cardiology at the national heart hospital, the London chest hospital and UCL hospital, London. He was also engaged in research at the national heart and lung institute. Nowadays he is working as a consultant cardiologist at UCL hospital, London.
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