What are the causes of arrhythmia?

An irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) can be caused by a variety of factors, including scarring from a recent heart attack, scarring from a previous heart attack, clogged heart arteries (coronary artery disease), changes in the structure of the heart (such as cardiomyopathy), diabetes, high blood pressure, and COVID-19 infection.

Can stress trigger arrhythmia?

Yes, stress and anxiety can trigger arrhythmias in susceptible individuals. Practicing stress management techniques and seeking support can help reduce the likelihood of arrhythmia episodes.

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3.5 Minute

19-July-2024 Team Medicover Cardiology

What is Cardiac Arrhythmia?

Q: What are the symptoms of arrhythmia?

Symptoms of arrhythmia may include palpitations (feeling of skipped heartbeats or fluttering), chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, fainting, and fatigue.

Arrhythmia, also known as an irregular heartbeat or dysrhythmia, is a condition where the heart's rhythm is abnormal. According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), nearly 750,000 people are hospitalised for cardiac arrhythmia symptoms annually, and about 130,000 people die from it worldwide each year.

Arrhythmia occurs when the electrical impulses responsible for regulating the heartbeat malfunction. This can cause the heart to beat too slowly, too quickly, or irregularly. While a normal heart rate ranges from 60 to 100 beats per minute, arrhythmia can cause the heartbeat to drop below 40 or rise above 120 beats per minute. Most cardiac arrhythmias are harmless, but some can be severe, potentially leading to a stroke or cardiac arrest.

Factors Influencing Cardiac Arrhythmia Include:

Heart attacks
Smoking
Stress.

Adopting a heart-healthy lifestyle can help reduce the risk.

Types of Heart Arrhythmia

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 heart arrhythmia, the heartbeat is increased in the lower part of the heart, that is the reason it is called ventricular arrhythmia.
Supraventricular Arrhythmia: This arrhythmia occurs at the upper chamber of the heart and is slightly above the ventricular part. Increasing the heartbeat in the upper chamber is called Supraventricular heart 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 compared to regular timings then it is called Sinus bradycardia.

Symptoms of Cardiac Arrhythmia

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 heart 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 for no reason, that may be the symptom of heart 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 it's time for a doctor appointment.

Heart 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 cardiac 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 heart 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.
Overdose of drugs.
Blocked tissues in the heart can also be the reason for cardiac arrhythmia.
Any previous heart issues can also be the reason for the irregular heartbeat.

Heart Arrhythmia Diagnosis

If a person is suffering from cardiac arrhythmia he needs to go through the following tests

ECG
Echocardiogram
Stress test
Tilt table test

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Frequently Asked Questions

An irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) can be caused by a variety of factors, including:

Scarring from a recent heart attack or scarring from a previous heart attack
Clogged heart arteries (coronary artery disease)
Changes in the structure of the heart, such as those caused by cardiomyopathy
Diabetes
High blood pressure
COVID-19 infection

While medications are used to control abnormal heart rhythms, ablation procedures can completely cure certain types of arrhythmia. Most patients with a heart rhythm problem can resume normal activity levels after being treated, whether through ablation or ongoing medications.

An arrhythmia is an irregular heartbeat. It can feel like your heart skipped a beat, added a beat, or is fluttering. You may also feel your heart beating too quickly (tachycardia) or too slowly (bradycardia). Some people may not notice any symptoms at all.

Untreated arrhythmia can lead to life-threatening complications such as stroke, heart failure, or sudden cardiac arrest.

An erratic heartbeat is called an arrhythmia. It may result in an irregular heartbeat, bradycardia, or an excessively fast or slow heartbeat.

Symptoms may include palpitations (feeling of skipped heartbeats or fluttering), chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, fainting, and fatigue.

Yes, stress and anxiety can trigger arrhythmias in susceptible individuals. stress management techniques and seeking support can help reduce the likelihood of arrhythmia episodes.

Some arrhythmias, especially those that significantly disrupt the heart's pumping function or lead to blood clot formation, can be life-threatening and require immediate medical attention.