What are the Arrhythmias of Heart?
BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery), 10 years of experience
What is the meaning of Arrhythmias of Heart?
Irregular heartbeat is known as arrhythmia. It means that the heart is out of its usual rhythm. Arrhythmias of the heart occur when the electrical signals coordinating the heart’s beats do not work properly. The faulty signaling can cause the heart to beat too slow (bradycardia), too fast (tachycardia), or in an irregular manner.
It is normal for an individual to have a fast or slow heart rate while exercising and going to sleep. However, some arrhythmias can be troublesome and even life-threatening. Arrhythmias of the heart can feel like racing or fluttering heart and could be harmless. A healthy lifestyle helps in avoiding heart damage that could lead to heart arrhythmias.
We will be discussing in detail the arrhythmias of the heart in this article.
- What are the different types of Arrhythmias of the Heart?
- What are the causes of Arrhythmias of the Heart?
- What are the risk factors of Arrhythmias of the Heart?
- What are the symptoms of Arrhythmias of the Heart?
- How to diagnose Arrhythmias of Heart?
- What is the treatment for Arrhythmias of the Heart?
- What are the complications of Arrhythmias of the Heart?
- How to prevent Arrhythmias of the Heart?
What are the different types of Arrhythmias of the Heart?
The different types of heart arrhythmias include:
Tachycardia (fast heartbeat): When the resting heart rate is more than 100 beats a minute, the condition is known as tachycardia. The different types of tachycardia are:
Atrial fibrillation:
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- An uncontrolled and rapid heart rate that occurs due to chaotic heart signals is known as atrial fibrillation.
- It may be a temporary condition, but some episodes of atrial fibrillation do not stop unless treated.
- It may cause complications like stroke, in which the blood supply to the brain is stopped.
Atrial flutter:
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- This condition is similar to atrial fibrillation, but the heartbeats seem to be more organized in this condition.
- It can also cause complications like stroke.
Ventricular fibrillation:
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- When rapid, chaotic electrical signals lead to the quivering of the lower heart chambers or ventricles, instead of contracting in a coordinated manner so that the heart pumps blood to the rest of the body, the condition is known as ventricular fibrillation.
- This condition can cause death if the normal rhythm of the heart is not restored in a few minutes.
Supraventricular tachycardia:
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- This condition includes arrhythmias of the heart that start above the ventricles or lower heart chambers.
- It can lead to episodes of palpitations (pounding heartbeat) that can start and end abruptly.
Ventricular tachycardia:
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- Faulty electrical signals starting in the ventricles can lead to rapid, irregular heart rate.
- This does not allow the ventricles to fill with blood properly.
- Therefore, the heart cannot pump enough blood to the body.
Bradycardia (slow heartbeat): When the resting heart rate is less than 60 beats a minute, the condition is known as bradycardia. The different types of bradycardia are:
Sick sinus syndrome:
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- The sinus node helps in setting the pace of the heart.
- If the sinus node does not work properly, the heart rate may fluctuate.
- Sick sinus syndrome is caused due to scarring near the sinus node that disrupts, blocks, or slows down the travel of impulses.
Conduction block:
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- A block of the electrical pathway of the heart leads to signals that trigger the heartbeats to either slow down or stop.
Premature heartbeats:
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- The extra beats that occur one at a time, either in patterns, or alternating with the normal heartbeat are known as premature heartbeats.
- The extra heartbeats may either come from the top chamber of the heart (known as premature atrial contractions) or the bottom chamber of the heart (known as premature ventricular contractions).
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What are the causes of Arrhythmias of the Heart?
The causes of heart arrhythmias may include:
- Heart attack ( Know more about- What is a Heart attack? )
- Scarring from a previous heart attack
- Diabetes ( Know more about- What is Diabetes? )
- High blood pressure ( Know more about- What is Hypertension? )
- Coronary artery disease (blockage of the arteries in the heart)
- Cardiomyopathy (a hereditary condition in which there are changes to the structure of the heart and the heart is unable to pump blood adequately)
( Know more about- What are the causes of cardiomyopathy? )
- Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid gland)
- Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid gland)
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- COVID-19 infection
- Sleep apnea (a breathing disorder in which the breathing repeatedly starts and stops)
- Certain medications, like cold and allergy drugs
- Drug abuse
- Drinking an excessive amount of caffeine or alcohol
- Smoking
- Genetics
- Stress
- Anxiety
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What are the risk factors of Arrhythmias of the Heart?
Certain factors increase the risk of developing heart arrhythmias and may include:
- Increase in age
- Coronary artery disease
- History of a previous heart surgery
- Heart disorders
- High blood pressure
- Thyroid disorders
- Congenital (present from birth) heart diseases
- Imbalance of the electrolytes present in the blood
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Use of certain medications
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Smoking
- Excessive consumption of caffeine
- Drug abuse
What are the symptoms of Arrhythmias of the Heart?
In some cases, heart arrhythmias may not cause any symptoms and the doctor may notice an irregular heartbeat during examination for another health condition.
The symptoms of heart arrhythmias may include:
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Fluttering in the chest
- Bradycardia (slow heartbeat)
- Tachycardia (fast heartbeat)
- Fatigue
- Anxiety
- Sweating
- Dizziness
- Lightheadedness
- Syncope (fainting)
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How to diagnose Arrhythmias of Heart?
- Physical examination: The doctor will examine you physically, and ask about your medical history and family history.
- Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG): Electrodes or sensors are attached to the chest, and sometimes to the arms or legs, to monitor the electrical activity of the heart.
- Holter monitor: A portable ECG device can be worn for a day or more for recording the heart’s activity as you go about your daily activities.
- Event recorder: This is a wearable ECG device that is used for detecting sporadic arrhythmias. A button is pressed when symptoms occur. It can be worn for up to 30 days, or till you have arrhythmia or symptoms present.
- Echocardiogram: This is a non-invasive test in which a transducer (a hand-held device) is placed on the chest. Sound waves are used to obtain clear images of the heart.
- Implantable loop recorder: If the symptoms are not frequent, an event recorder is implanted under the chest area skin to record the heart’s electrical activity and detect the irregular rhythms of the heart.
- Stress test: Some heart arrhythmias can be triggered or worsened due to exercise. The heart’s activity is monitored while walking on a treadmill or riding a stationary bicycle is known as a stress test. A doctor may give medication for stimulation of the heart if a patient has difficulty in exercising.
- Tilt table test: This test may be recommended if you have had fainting spells. The patient’s blood pressure and heart rate are monitored while lying flat on a table. The table is then tilted like you would be standing up. The doctor will then observe how the heart responds to the change in the table angle.
- Electrophysiological testing and mapping: The doctor threads catheters (thin, flexible tubes) tipped with electrodes through the blood vessels within the different parts of the heart. The electrodes help in mapping the spread of the electrical impulses through the heart. The exact location of the arrhythmia can be determined by the doctor using this procedure.
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What is the treatment for Arrhythmias of the Heart?
The type of treatment done for heart arrhythmias depends on whether you have bradycardia or tachycardia. Treatment is usually required only if arrhythmias result in significant symptoms or may lead to other serious health disorders.
The different types of treatments for heart arrhythmias may include:
Medications:
- The medications given depend on the type of arrhythmia that is present and the complications that could occur due to arrhythmia.
- In case of tachycardia, the doctor will prescribe medications for controlling the heart rate and restoring a normal rhythm of the heart.
- The doctor may prescribe blood-thinning medications to prevent blood clot formation in case of atrial fibrillation.
Therapies:
Cardioversion:
- This is a procedure done to reset the rhythm of the heart, and can be done using medications or by delivering a shock to the heart through patches or paddles on the chest.
- The current will affect the electrical impulses in the heart and restore a normal heart rhythm.
- This therapy can be performed in cases of atrial fibrillation.
Vagal maneuvers:
- In case of tachycardia due to supraventricular tachycardia, the doctor may recommend this therapy.
- An arrhythmia can be stopped by vagal maneuvers like coughing, dunking your face into ice water, or holding your breath and straining.
Surgery and other procedures:
Catheter ablation:
- The procedure involves the threading of one or more catheters through the blood vessels to the heart.
- The electrodes present at the tips of the catheter use heat or cold energy for creating tiny scars in the heart for blocking the abnormal electrical signals and restoring a normal heartbeat.
Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD):
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- This device is recommended if you are at a high risk of developing an irregular or fast heartbeat in the ventricles (ventricular fibrillation or ventricular tachycardia).
- It is also recommended in cases of an increased risk of sudden cardiac arrest.
- An ICD is a battery-powered unit that is implanted near the collarbone, under the skin.
- One or more electrode-tipped wires from the ICD run through the veins to the heart.
- The ICD will continuously monitor the rhythm of the heart.
- In case of an abnormal heart rhythm, the ICD will send out low or high energy shocks to reset the heart to a normal rhythm.
- ICD cannot prevent irregular heart rhythm but can treat it if it occurs.
Pacemaker:
- In case of bradycardia with an unknown cause, the doctor often treats it using a pacemaker.
- A pacemaker is a small device that is implanted near the collarbone.
- Electrode-tipped wires run from the pacemaker device through the blood vessels into the inner heart.
- In case of a slow heart rate, or if the heartbeat stops, the pacemaker sends out electrical impulses stimulating the heart to beat at a steady rate.
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Maze procedure:
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- A surgeon makes a series of cuts or incisions in the heart tissue in the upper part of the heart (atria) to create a maze or pattern of the scar tissue.
- Since the scar tissue does not conduct electricity, it can interfere with the stray electrical impulses that could lead to some types of arrhythmias.
Coronary bypass surgery:
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- In case of severe coronary artery disease along with heart arrhythmia, the doctor may perform coronary bypass surgery.
- This procedure helps in improving the blood flow to the heart.
( Know more about- What is Heart Bypass Surgery? )
What are the complications of Arrhythmias of the Heart?
The complications of heart arrhythmias may include:
- Stroke
( Know more about- What is the difference between Brain Stroke and Heart attack? )
- Heart failure (the heart fails to pump enough blood to the rest of the body)
- Blood clot formation
- Sudden death
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How to prevent Arrhythmias of the Heart?
Certain lifestyle changes may prevent the risk of developing heart arrhythmias and may include:
- Eat a well-balanced and healthy diet
- Exercise regularly
- Maintenance of a healthy weight
- Quit smoking
- Limit caffeine and alcohol consumption
- Manage your stress
- Any medication should be taken only after consultation with the doctor
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We hope that we could answer all your questions regarding arrhythmias of the heart through this article.
If you need more information about arrhythmias of the heart, you can contact a Cardiologist.
We only aim to provide you with information through this article. We do not recommend any medication or treatment to anyone. Only a qualified doctor can give you the best advice and correct treatment plan.
