What is an arrhythmia?
An arrhythmia is a change in the rhythm of your heartbeat. When the heart
beats too fast, it's called tachycardia.
When it beats too slow, it's called bradycardia. An arrhythmia can also
mean that your heart beats irregularly
(skips a beat or has an extra beat). At some time or another, most people
have felt their heart race or skip a beat.
These occasional changes can be brought on by strong emotions or exercise.
They usually are not a cause for alarm.
Arrhythmias that occur more often or cause symptoms (see the box below)
may be more serious and need to be
discussed with your doctor.
What are the symptoms of arrhythmia?
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Call your doctor if
you have any of these symptoms, especially if you have heart
disease or have had a heart attack.
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What causes an arrhythmia?
The heart has 4 chambers. The walls of the heart contract to push blood
through the chambers. The contractions are
controlled by an electrical signal that begins in the heart's natural
"pacemaker" (called the sinoatrial node). The
rate of the contractions is influenced by nerve impulses and hormones in
the blood. A problem in any of these can
cause an arrhythmia.
Minor arrhythmias may be caused by excessive alcohol use, smoking,
caffeine, stress or exercise. The most common
cause of arrhythmias is heart disease, particularly coronary artery
disease, abnormal heart valve function and heart
failure. However, arrhythmias can occur for no known reason.
Is an arrhythmia serious?
In most people, arrhythmias are minor and are not dangerous. A small
number of people, however, have arrhythmias
that are dangerous and require treatment. Arrhythmias are also more
serious if you have other heart problems. In
general, arrhythmias that start in the lower chambers of the heart (called
the ventricles) are more serious than
those that start in the upper chambers (called the atria). Your doctor
will talk with you about the type of arrhythmia
you have and whether you need treatment.
How do I know if I have an arrhythmia?
Your doctor will ask if you have any of the symptoms listed in the box on
page 1. Your doctor may also do some tests.
One of these tests is an electrocardiogram, also called ECG or EKG. During
this test, your doctor will have you lie
down so your heart can be monitored.
Your doctor may also ask you to walk on a treadmill while he or she
monitors your heart, or may want to monitor
your heart while you do your daily activities. One way to do this is for
you to wear a Holter monitor for 24 hours. If
your doctor wants to monitor your heart for more than 24 hours, he or she
might recommend an event-recorder,
which you wear for a couple of days or longer. Other tests, called
electrophysiologic studies, may also give your
doctor information about your heart.
What are some of
the types of arrhythmias?
- Atrial fibrillation.
The heart beats too fast and irregularly. This type of
arrhythmia requires treatment and can increase your risk of
stroke.
- Paroxysmal atrial
tachycardia. The heart has episodes when it beats fast,
but
regularly. This type of arrhythmia may be unpleasant but is
usually not
dangerous.
- Ectopic beats. The
heart has an extra beat. Treatment usually is not needed
unless you have several extra beats in a row and/or other
problems with your
heart (such as heart disease or congential heart failure).
- Ventricular tachycardia and
ventricular fibrillation. The heart beats too fast
and may not pump enough blood. These types of arrhythmias
are very
dangerous and need immediate treatment.
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What's the treatment?
Treatment depends on the type of arrhythmia you have. Some mild
arrhythmias require no treatment. Other
arrhythmias can be treated with medicines. If another health problem is
causing the arrhythmia, treatment is aimed
at taking care of that problem. In more serious cases, other treatments
are available:
An artificial pacemaker. An electronic device placed under the skin on the
chest. It helps the heart maintain
a regular beat, especially when the heart beats too slowly.
Cardiac defibrillation (very brief electric shock). Can be used to stop an
abnormal rhythm and restore a
normal one.
Surgery. Can correct certain types of arrhythmias. For example,
arrhythmias caused by coronary artery
disease may be controlled by bypass surgery. When an arrhythmia is caused
by a certain area of the heart,
sometimes that part of the heart can be destroyed or removed.
Natural Treatments:
To prevent potential problems with heart
arrhythmia, experts recommend aiming for the Daily Values of these two
nutrients.
NUTRIENTS, DAILY AMOUNTS, AND APPLICATIONS
MEDICAL ALERT!
- If you have been diagnosed with a heart arrhythmia, you should be
under a doctor's care.
- Mineral balance is important to a beating heart, but people with
irregular heartbeats should take mineral supplements only under
medical supervision. That's because the amounts of minerals they need
to take depend on their blood levels, which must be carefully
monitored.
- People with kidney problems should check with their doctors before
taking supplemental magnesium.
- Potassium supplements should not be taken by those with diabetes or
kidney disease or by those using certain medications, including
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, potassium-sparing diuretics, ACE
inhibitors and heart medications such as heparin.
- If you are taking anticoagulants, you should not take vitamin E
supplements.
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