Healthier looking people with no heart issues can have Arrhythmia or abnormal heart disease. But people with heart disease are prone to higher risk. Arrhythmias are divided into ventricular and supraventricular. When an arrhythmia is caused in the upper chamber of the heart named ventricles, it is a ventricular arrhythmia.
Some of the ventricular arrhythmias are ventricular tachycardia, premature ventricular contraction, ventricular fibrillation when arrhythmia is caused in the lower part of the heart called atria, it is supraventricular arrhythmias. Some of the Supraventricular arrhythmias are paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia, atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter and Wolff-Parkinson-white syndrome.
Reducing heart disease
Reducing the heart disease may lead to fewer chances of arrhythmias. This can also be controlled by preventing and treating heart problems like high blood pressure and atherosclerosis. The damage caused to the heart muscle by a heart attack is the most important cause of arrhythmias. Bradycardia is caused by abnormal tissue deposits intervening the work of overall AV conduction or sinus node. The same way, tachycardia is caused by abnormal firing of cells or by creating islands of electrically inert tissue.
Unusual symptoms
Unusual symptoms like fainting, breathing difficulty, fatigue, or fluttering or thumping feeling in the chest are to be disclosed to the health care provider in case of infrequent arrhythmia. Arrhythmia can also be a reason of certain congenital conditions from birth. For instance, a conduction system which is incompletely developed can cause chronic heart block and bradycardia. Re-entrant supra ventricular tachycardia is suffered by people who are born with extra conduction pathways, either bridging between the atria and ventricles or near the AV node.
Some chemical agents like high or low blood and tissue concentrations of various minerals such as potassium, magnesium, and calcium.
Risk Factors
The premature ventricular contraction increases the chance of developing arrhythmia or abnormal heart rhythms
- Blockage in the arteries or pipes of heart or coronary heart disease
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- The problem with lungs can also affect the heart. So people having chronic lung disease, pulmonary embolism, emphysema, and asthma.
- Diabetes
- Smoking
- Overweight or obesity
- Excessive use of alcohol
- Intake of diet which has high fat content
- Drug abuse
- Day to day stress
- Getting older
- Family history of heart disease
- Sleep apnea
- Sometimes medications prescribed dietary supplements and herbal remedies.
- Thyroid disorders
Prevention of Arrhythmias and Heart Diseases
Prevention is always better than cure. Thus preventive measures can be taken to decrease the chance of heart diseases and also by lowering the risk factors.
- A healthy lifestyle should be maintained. Regular exercise, maintenance of healthy weight, and balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables are the cornerstones of heart healthy living.
- Smoking should be stopped and avoid passive smoking atmosphere. Tobacco leads to one-third of the heart diseases.
- Intake of caffeine, alcohol or other substances leading to abnormal heart rhythms should be avoided.
- Stressful situations should be avoided.
- Regular physical examinations should be done and any unusual symptoms should be disclosed.
Treating Arrhythmias
- Regular checkups should be done properly
- Understanding various health conditions that may affect heart rhythmic functions.
- Knowledge of heart disorders, tests and treatment options can be availed from the doctor.
- Keep a check on whether the heart’s electrical system is damaged due to heart attack or some other cause leading to inability to pump blood.
- Ejection fraction should be known. An abnormally low EF may lead to the risk of sudden cardiac arrest.
- Taking advice immediately in case of any new or abnormal symptoms.
Source: healthgk.com