Help the development of the site, sharing the article with friends!

Cardiac arrhythmia can be a symptom of atherosclerosis, asthma, hypertension, hyperthyroidism and deficiency of certain elements. When your heart pounds, stumbles, or almost freezes, it can also be because of a strong emotion, but it can also be a sign of illness. What else are the causes of cardiac arrhythmias? How do I recognize my symptoms? What is the treatment?

Heart arrhythmiais a sudden increase or decrease in heart rate. Usually, a he althy heart beats steadily, as if in time with the beats of a chronometer. This uninterrupted rhythm maintains the sinus node. This is where electrical impulses are created, thanks to which the chambers of the heart contract and pump blood to all organs of our body. When the production of electrical impulses to move the heart is disrupted, the heart begins to lose its natural rhythm.

Heart - your own power plant

The beating of the heart is nothing but the rhythmic contraction of the atria followed by the contraction of the ventricles. These contractions depend on the muscle being stimulated by electrical impulses. Our heart has its own power station that produces electricity. It is the sinus node - a small area in the right atrium. From there, the electrical impulse (or excitation wave) spreads throughout the heart: first it engulfs the atria and then the ventricles.

Such a delay in the supply of electricity to the ventricles allows the atria and ventricles to work alternately. Thanks to this, the ventricles fill with blood from the atria, and then - contracting - they throw blood into large vessels: the left one to the aorta, and the right one - to the pulmonary trunk.

Heart arrhythmia - what is the norm and what is not?

The heart works, beating at a frequency of 60-80 beats per minute. At night, when we rest, their frequency decreases to 60-40. When we work physically or get angry, the heart speeds up to 90-120 beats per minute. Strenuous effort can even result in 170-180 blows.

However, sometimes the heart speeds up or slows down for no apparent reason.Then we are talking about cardiac arrhythmia. It is not a disease in itself, but a symptom of various cardiac or systemic diseases. The following can lead to arrhythmias :

  • atherosclerosis,
  • myocarditis,
  • valve defects,
  • asthma,
  • hypertension,
  • deficiency of potassium, magnesium or calcium inthe body,
  • hyperthyroidism,
  • long-term high fever,
  • stress
  • taking certain medications.

It is also worth remembering that rhythm disturbances can also appear after the abuse of alcohol, coffee and even strong tea.

In some situations, other cells of the heart take control of the heart's work instead of the sinus node. Then there are occasional extra contractions that we either don't feel at all or cause only minor ailments. We may feel jerks around the heart, something overflow over the breastbone, or a choking feeling in the chest. These sensations are usually short-lived and resolve on their own, but tend to recur.

Arrhythmia is not always a pathology.The so-called Respiratory arrhythmias are experienced by children and adolescents during puberty (their heart rate increases with inspiration and slows down considerably with exhalation).

Important

Block doesn't have to disturb

Too slow conduction of an electrical stimulus to the ventricles of the heart (known as a somewhat disturbing block) may not be noticed at all by the patient or physician auscultating the heart. This type of block had, among others, an excellent pre-war runner - Janusz Kusociński. It did not prevent him from winning the competition.

When the arrhythmia is serious

Extra contractions may appear in groups and merge into a fast rhythm, the so-called tachycardia. It can cause shortness of breath, choking feeling, dizziness, coronary pain, fainting and even loss of consciousness. This type of arrhythmia is serious and requires treatment.

A special form of tachycardia is atrial fibrillation and ventricular fibrillation (too many foci generate electrical impulses and there is a real storm in the heart muscle). Ventricular fibrillation leads to cardiac arrest and clinical death. The only salvation in this case is to immediately restore the heart rate with an electric defibrillator. Atrial fibrillation is less dangerous - it can usually be controlled with appropriately selected drugs.

Precise diagnosis

Even if an arrhythmia occurs sporadically and is not bothersome, it always requires medical consultation because the cause of it must be diagnosed. The easiest way to determine it is when the patient comes to the doctor during rhythm disturbances. But the patient's feelings are also extremely important. Therefore, when we experience heart palpitations, we need to tell the doctor in detail about them.

For the correct and quick diagnosis of ailments, it is of great importance in what circumstances, how often and for how long our heart loses its natural rhythm. The basic examination is to auscultate the heart,measuring heart rate and EKG. When it is difficult for the doctor to pinpoint the cause of the arrhythmia during these routine tests, he or she will sometimes order a 24-hour (or longer) Holter check of the heart. It is a modification of a regular ECG - mini electrodes are glued to the patient's chest and connected to a small device that records the heart's work during everyday activities, including sleep.

Catheterization and measurement of the electrical voltage inside the heart may be necessary at times.

Problem

When is a starter needed?

Abnormalities in the rhythm of the heart, consisting of very infrequent beatings (e.g. 40 beats per minute or less), as well as paroxysmal breaks in the heartbeat require the implantation (usually on an outpatient basis) of a special pacemaker. It stimulates the heart to contract when its natural stimulation is delayed.

Restoring the beat

With recurrent atrial fibrillation, cardiologists usually prescribe anti-arrhythmic drugs, but sometimes use the electrical alignment of the heart (known as electrical cardioversion). The procedure is performed under short anesthesia. Electric current flowing from the so-called cardioverter causes the heart rate to moderate.

The situation is more difficult in the case of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, as clots may appear in the residual blood in the atrium. If the rhythm is restored, they will be pushed into the ventricle and flow into the arteries, causing blockages (e.g. in the brain, peripheral or pulmonary arteries).

The risk of such complications appears about 48 hours after an attack of atrial fibrillation. If the patient goes to the hospital after this time, doctors cannot electrically align the heart until the clots have dissolved. Then the patient has to take anticoagulants for many weeks (if there are no contraindications for their use, e.g. active peptic ulcer disease). When such drugs cannot be administered, specialists do not try to moderate the heart rhythm. In order to avoid such serious consequences, consult your doctor in good time.

Help the development of the site, sharing the article with friends!

Category:

Cardiology