What is Arrhythmia?
Arrhythmia is also called as an irregular heartbeat or Dysrhythmia. According to the statistics revealed by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and prevention), nearly 7.5 lakh people are hospitalized with arrhythmia symptoms and almost 1.3 lakh members die with Arrhythmia every year worldwide.
Arrhythmia refers to an abnormal heart rhythm which may cause the heart to beat too slow, too fast or too irregular. It may occur when the electrical impulses responsible for a heartbeat does not function properly. The average human being heart speed is 60 to 100 beats per minute but if the heartbeat increases to 120 or reduced to 40, then it comes under Arrhythmia. Most heart arrhythmias are harmless, however, some heart arrhythmias can be fatal and can cause a stroke or cardiac arrest. There are many factors that can influence your heart’s rhythm, such as a heart attack, smoking, and stress. However, adopting a heart-healthy lifestyle can reduce the risk of Arrhythmia.
Arrhythmia Symptoms
As mentioned above there will be no major symptoms of Arrhythmia, but there are minor symptoms that can be detected at an early stage.
- Chest Pain: Chest pain is not a common issue in a healthy human being, getting chest pain with no pressure on the heart is the sign that a person may have Arrhythmia. Consult a cardiologist to avoid further issues.
- More Sweating: Sweating occurs during heavy exercise or workouts, or while exposed to the sun. But if a person is sweating with no reason, that may be the symptom of Arrhythmia.
- Slow heartbeat or fast heartbeat, if the person is experiencing fluctuations in a heartbeat if his BPM is over 100 or less than 40. Then that may be a serious issue and should consult a cardiologist immediately.
- Fainting: Fainting occurs due to low blood pressure or low glucose levels in the body. If a person is experiencing fainting with none of the above symptoms then its time for a doctor appointment.
Arrhythmia Causes
There are some causes which may lead to arrhythmia.
- If a body undergoes heavy workouts regularly there is a change of increasing the heartbeat that may be a cause for Arrhythmia.
- Mental stress is a cause for many heart-related diseases, it can fluctuate heartbeat that may lead to arrhythmia
- Smoking causes cancer and all lung and heart-related diseases.
- Consuming too much alcohol and caffeine can lead to arrhythmia.
- High blood pressure may be the reason for arrhythmia sometimes.
- After a by-pass surgery, there may be a change for the irregular heartbeat.
- The diabetic body may have higher chances of arrhythmia.
- Overdosage of drugs.
- Blocked tissues in the heart can also be the reason for arrhythmia.
- Any previous heart issues can also be the reason for the irregular heartbeat.
Arrhythmia Types
Tachycardia
When the human heartbeat crosses over 100 beats per minute then it is called tachycardia. There are three types of tachycardia.
Ventricular Arrhythmia
The human heart contains 4 chambers the upper chamber is known as atria and the lower chamber is called ventricular. In this arrhythmia, the heartbeat is increased in the lower part of the heart is in ventricular that is the reason it is called ventricular arrhythmia.
Supraventricular Arrhythmia
This arrhythmia occurs at the upper chamber of the heart is slightly above the ventricular part. Increasing the heartbeat in the upper chamber is called Supraventricular arrhythmia.
Sinus Tachycardia
The human heart generates natural electrical signals that cause heartbeat, if the electrical signals are faster than normal then it is called Sinus Tachycardia.
Bradycardia
If the human heartbeat is less than 60 beats per minute, then it is called bradycardia.
Sinus Bradycardia
The group of cells responsible to generate electrical signals in the heart, when they generate the signals slow compare to regular timings then it is called Sinus bradycardia.
Arrhythmia Diagnosis
If a person is suffering from arrhythmia he needs to go through the following tests
- ECG
- Echocardiogram
- Stress test
- Tilt table test
