What You Need to Know About Heart Arrhythmia

Heart arrhythmia is a disorder that affects the rate or rhythm at which the heart beats. Almost everyone experiences an abnormal heart rhythm at least once in their lifetime. It feels like your heart is racing or fluttering.

Some types of arrhythmias are generally harmless. It can be caused by consuming too much caffeine or certain medications, which cause heart palpitation in a few people.

While some heart arrhythmia is harmless, some can be life-threatening since it’s the onset of several severe cardiac diseases. Read on to find out more about heart arrhythmia and its symptoms, types, and diagnosis.

What is Heart Arrhythmia?

Heart arrhythmia is a condition that occurs when your heart beats too fast, too slow or irregularly. It is different from a heart attack. Arrhythmias result from electrical problems in your heart.

Since we all experience heart arrhythmias once in a while, what makes them harmful? Well, for a few people, arrhythmias can last minutes, hours, days, or years. When the heartbeat is too fast, too slow or irregular, the heart doesn't pump enough blood to the body. It increases the risk of heart problems and many other serious health issues.

Lack of blood flow in the body can cause damage to the brain, heart and other organs. Uncontrolled rapid heart arrhythmias can result in heart weakness over time.

Types of Heart Arrhythmias

The two major types of arrhythmias include:

Tachycardia: A condition where the heart rhythm is too fast, more than 100 beats per minute.

Bradycardia: A condition where the heart rhythm is too slow, less than 60 beats per minute.

Heart arrhythmias can also be identified from where they originate in the heart and if they cause the heart to beat too slow or fast. These include -Arrhythmias that begin in the atria are called atrial or supraventricular arrhythmias.Fast heart rhythms arising from the atria include atrial fibrillation (AFib), atrial flutter and supraventricular tachycardia. Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) is one of the most common heart rhythm disturbances affecting people across the globe. AFib increases the risk of stroke and several other heart-related illnesses.

Arrhythmias that begin in the ventricle include ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. These arrhythmias are extremely life-threatening since the ventricles do most of the pumping. It is also one of the most common causes of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA).

Symptoms of Heart Arrhythmia

The symptoms of heart arrhythmia depend on its type. If you experience a slow heart rate, then you will feel tired, dizzy or even faint. If you experience a fast heart rate, then you will feel your heart racing or pounding in your chest.

Some people can be desensitised to abnormal heart rhythms. Tiredness and poor exercise tolerance are also common symptoms of several heart arrhythmias. The most common symptoms include fatigue, shortness of breath, fainting and heart pounding.

What are the causes of arrhythmia?

Here are the common risk factors and causes of heart arrhythmias:-Electrolyte imbalances in your bloodStructural abnormalities of the heartInfectionHeart diseaseAbnormal electrical pathwaysMedications

Diagnosis of Heart Arrhythmia

Detecting heart arrhythmias can be difficult, especially where the type causes symptoms once in a while. Medical and family histories, physical examinations, and results of tests or procedures can help diagnose arrhythmias.

These tests typically include blood tests, a chest X-ray, ECG (electrocardiogram) to detect and record the heart’s electrical activity. An ECG uses sound waves to create a moving picture of your heart to state its condition.

Sometimes, taking an ECG would require the patient to wear a heart monitor for a specific period of time to detect intermittent arrhythmias.

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