Heart Disease: Arrhythmia

Heart Disease: Arrhythmia

The human heart is made up of 4 Chambers, 2 upper chambers called the Atria and 2 lower chambers called the Ventricles. In order to pump blood to the lungs and the rest of the body these chambers need to contract in a synchronized pattern controlled by electrical impulses. So long as this pattern goes uninterrupted the human heart will beat 60 to 100 times a minute and over 100,000 times a day.

Arrhythmia is described as an improper beating of the heart, whether irregular, too fast, or too slow. It is caused by changes in the heart activity due to electrical signals that control your heart. A heart that beats too fast is a condition called tachycardia, and the condition for a heart that beats too slow is called bradycardia. Not all instances of Tachycardia and Bradycardia are considered heart disease though. An example of normal Tachycardia is after exercise when the heart beats faster to rush more oxygen to the tissues and an example of normal Bradycardia is during sleep or relaxation it isn't uncommon for the heart to beat slower.

Arrhythmias can cause you to feel premature heartbeats that feel like your heart is either beating too fast or too slow. Some other signs that may be related to your heart not pumping properly are shortness of breath, weakness, dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting or near fainting, or chest pain/discomfort. If you are experiencing any of these signs and symptoms at a time you would not expect to, seek urgent medical care. One of the deadliest types of Arrhythmia is Ventricular Fibrillation which occurs when the heart beats with rapid, erratic electrical impulses. Because of these irregular heartbeats, it can cause the lower chambers in your heart to quiver instead of pumping blood. When our heart does not get effective heartbeats your blood pressure can plummet which can cut off blood supply to vital organs.

There are certain conditions that can increase your risk of developing an arrhythmia. Having high blood pressure can increase your risk of developing coronary artery disease and can also cause the walls of your left ventricle to become stiff and thick which can change how the electrical impulses travel through your heart. Diabetes can increase your risk of coronary artery disease and high blood pressure greatly increases with uncontrolled diabetes. Obstructive sleep apnea is a disorder where your breathing is interrupted during sleep and which can increase your risk of bradycardia, atrial fibrillation and other arrhythmias. Also having an electrolyte imbalance can affect your heart’s electrical impulses and can contribute to arrhythmia development because the electrolytes in your blood help trigger and conduct the electrical impulses in your heart. Some other factors that put you at higher risk of developing arrhythmias are drug and supplement abuse, drinking too much alcohol, and excessive caffeine, nicotine, or illegal drug use.

Common arrhythmia treatments include making heart-healthy lifestyle changes, using medication, or even using surgically implanted devices to control the heartbeat. The type of treatment someone with arrhythmias might obtain depends on the causes of their arrhythmias. Treatments may also include managing any other underlying conditions such as an electrolyte imbalance, high blood pressure, heart disease, sleep apnea, or thyroid disease.

About Arrhythmia
Heart Arrhythmia
Arrhythmia
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