A heart rhythm disorder, also known as cardiac arrhythmia, is an irregular heartbeat. Cardiac arrhythmias occur due to incorrect or irregular transmission of electrical signals that regulate the heartbeat. Improper signal transmission causes the heart to beat too fast (tachycardia), too slow (bradycardia), or irregular beats. A heart arrhythmia may feel like a fluttering bird or a racing horse, or it may be heard as a mildly harmless beat. In some cases, cardiac arrhythmias can cause very distressing or even life-threatening symptoms, requiring immediate attention. In addition, it may be normal for the heart rate to fluctuate throughout the day, and to measure fast or slow heartbeats. While an increase in heart rate is expected during exercise and physical activities, the heart rate may slow down during sleep.
Types of Heart Rhythm Disorder
In the treatment of arrhythmia, it is aimed to control and eliminate fast, slow or irregular beats. Cardiac arrhythmia medications, catheter procedures, implanted devices, or cardiac arrhythmia surgery usually constitute the treatment for cardiac arrhythmia. A regular and healthy lifestyle, minimizing anxiety and stress levels, and avoiding foods that trigger heart arrhythmias are important to prevent long-term heart damage. Cardiac arrhythmia is an irregular or abnormal heartbeat and may also be called dysrhythmia. The types of heart rhythm disorders can be listed as follows. While supra is used to mean up in Latin, ventricle means lower chambers of the heart.
- Paroxysmal Supraventricular Tachycardia (PSVT): It is a heart rhythm disorder originating from the atria but not irregular. This type of arrhythmia It has an onset and abrupt ending.
- Accessory Pathway Tachycardias: It is a rapid heart rhythm disorder that occurs due to an abnormal conduction pathway where electrical signal transmission is provided or abnormal connection between the atria and the ventricles. Abnormal signals travel through the heart very quickly, causing unusually fast beats in the heart. One of the known examples is Wolff Parkinson White Syndrome.
- AV Node Reentrant Tachycardia (AVNRT): It is a condition characterized by the output of more than one electrical signal transmission pathway from the atrioventricular node. The heart rate is also high in this arrhythmia.
- Atrial Tachycardia: It is one of the rapid cardiac arrhythmias originating from the atria.
- Atrial Fibrillation: Atrial fibrillation is a common condition and a rapid, irregular rhythm occurs. brings. Since electrical signals pass through the atrium in an uncontrolled way, atrium contraction and heart contraction are impaired in the following period.
- Atrial Flutter: In flutter, also known as atrial flutter, the rhythm is more regular than in atrial fibrillation.
- Premature ventricular contractions: It is the early and extra heartbeats originating from the ventricles. It is usually asymptomatic and does not require treatment. It is common and is often associated with nicotine, caffeine, stress, and intense exercise. This rhythm prevents the heart from filling with blood and the amount of blood pumped to the body decreases. Ventricular tachycardia can be serious and usually presents with more severe symptoms.
- Ventricular fibrillation: Conductions from the ventricle are rapid and irregular. The heart goes into a state of vibration, unable to contract and pump blood to the body. It often results in death if not promptly intervened.
- Long QT syndrome: Long QT is not a type of arrhythmia, but it is one of the most important factors that predispose to the development of arrhythmia. The QT interval is the interval on the EKG that represents the time it takes for the heart muscle to contract and relax. When the QT interval is longer than normal, it increases the risk of Torsades de Pointes, one of the types of ventricular tachycardia, which is quite deadly.
- Sinus node dysfunction: It is a slow heartbeat rhythm originating from an abnormal sinoatrial node.
- Heart block: Electrical stimulus spreading from the sinus node to the ventricles occurs when it is delayed or completely blocked. The heart rate is usually slow and irregular.
Symptoms of Heart Rhythm Disorder
Arrhythmias can be silent without causing any symptoms. During the doctor's examination, arrhythmia can be detected by measuring the pulse and resting the heart. Common symptoms are mainly as follows.
- Flutter
- Slow heartbeat
- Feeling of chest pounding and pressure
- Dizziness and feeling unwell
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain
- Fatigue and weakness
- Weakening of the heart muscle, impaired pump power
- Sweating
- Sweating
- Anxiety
- Confusion or fainting (syncope)
What Causes Heart Rhythm Disorder?
Heart Causes of arrhythmias include coronary artery diseases and high blood pressure. Other causes of cardiac arrhythmia include
- Heart muscle disorders (cardiomyopathy)
- Heart valve diseases
- Imbalance of electrolytes in the blood
- damage
- Healing process after cardiac surgery operations
- Psychological heart rhythm disorder
- Medical conditions such as other chronic diseases are included.
Harmless Rhythm Disorders
Heart rhythm disorders are not always risky and can be seen in healthy people as well. For psychological reasons, heart rhythm disorders may also be seen periodically. However, it can also be a harbinger of bigger problems or fatal complications such as a heart attack. It is recommended to consult a healthcare professional in the presence of abnormal symptoms, fainting, loss of consciousness, or a different type of chest pain than previous pain. rhythm disturbance is present. Psychological disorders such as anxiety disorder, depression, panic attacks or more daily problems such as exam rush and phobia. blemishes can lead to heart rhythm disorders. In such cases, treatment often involves suggestions, deep breathing, and trying to calm down. Often there is no serious underlying cause. All other causes should be excluded and a comprehensive cardiac examination should be performed in order to decide that the cause of the heart rhythm disorder is psychological. In the presence of symptoms, getting support from a healthcare professional and having the necessary diagnostic tests are important for early diagnosis and treatment. Some tests used in the diagnosis of heart rhythm disorder are as follows:
- Electrocardiogram (ECG): It is a method that works with the principle of transferring electrical signals passing through the heart muscle and providing transmission to a paper with electrodes attached to the chest wall, arms and legs. It is frequently preferred in daily practice.
- Mobile monitors such as the Holter device provide instantaneous recording of heart rate, rhythm and blood pressure values at certain daily intervals.
- Stress test: Arrhythmias triggered or worsened by exercise It is an important method of catching. It may also be possible to diagnose heart diseases and coronary artery diseases related to arrhythmia with stress test, also known as exercise test.
- Echocardiography: A type of ultrasound used to view the heart.
- Cardiac catheterization: It is a procedure that involves placing a catheter (small and flexible tube) into a blood vessel under local anesthesia and advancing it to the heart. Thanks to this test, X-ray images of the coronary vessels and heart are obtained with the contrast dye injected through the catheter.
Heart Rhythm Disorder (Arrhythmia) Treatment
Treatment of heart rhythm disorder varies according to the type and degree of arrhythmia and the characteristics of the patient. Some types of cardiac arrhythmias do not require treatment. Treatment options may include arrhythmia medications, catheterization procedures, and surgery. Permanent pacemakers and implantable intracardiac defibrillator (ICD) are important tools in life-threatening arrhythmias. are among the options. Lifestyle changes, nutritional control, an active life and learning methods of coping with stress in cases such as psychological heart rhythm disorders are the basis of treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Heart rhythm disorders, especially in the elderly It is among the problems that are common in the population and do not negatively affect the quality of life after accurate diagnosis and effective treatment. Frequently asked questions about rhythm disorders and their answers are given below. . Herbal diet consisting of fruits, vegetables and grains prevents obesity and high blood pressure, as well as helps reduce the risk of arrhythmia. Regulating nutrition, especially the Mediterranean diet, and adding natural foods such as olive oil, avocado and flaxseed to the diet program are among the recommendations of the experts.
What Causes Heart Rhythm Disorder?
Contrary to popular belief, foods that trigger heart rhythm disorders do not contain caffeine, tea or chocolate. Caffeine, tea, chocolate or soft drinks consumed in appropriate amounts usually do not trigger arrhythmia. Caffeine is a stimulant, so when taken in excess, it can increase the heart rate and cause palpitations. In order to avoid such situations, the food consumed should always be in reasonable amounts. In addition to these, alcohol consumption, excessively strict and uncontrolled diets, supplements and herbal product supplements should be avoided as much as possible. It is important to go to the control and undergo a comprehensive examination. In cases of shortness of breath, severe weakness, dizziness, loss of balance, chest pain, feeling of pressure in the chest and fainting, medical attention should be sought immediately. A type of arrhythmia known as ventricular fibrillation can cause a sudden drop in heart pressure due to impaired pump function of the heart. In this case, circulation is disrupted within seconds and the person's breathing and pulse stop. Ventricular fibrillation requires immediate attention.Read: 0
