Arrhythmias
by
Rosalyn Carson-DeWitt, MD DefinitionThe heart should work in a regular, steady pattern. Arrhythmias are breaks in the pattern. It may happen in a short burst or last over long periods of time. Types of arrhythmias:
Most will not affect overall health. Some arrhythmias can slow the flow of blood to the body or increase the risk of other health problems such as stroke. CausesThe action of the heart is controlled by an electrical signal. The signal starts in a group of cells called the sinoatrial (SA) node and moves from the top to the bottom of the heart. The heart will contract first in the upper areas of the heart called the atria and then the lower areas of the heart called the ventricles. Arrhythmias may occur if:
Risk FactorsFactors that may increase your chances of arrhythmias:
SymptomsNot all arrhythmias will cause symptoms. Some arrhythmias may be felt as a fluttering in the chest, skipped heartbeat, or fast heartbeat. Arrhythmias that slow the flow of blood through the heart will also slow the flow of blood to the body. If the flow is slowed enough it can lead to:
DiagnosisThe doctor will ask about your symptoms, medical history, and family history. A physical exam will be done including listening to your heart, taking your pulse, and looking for any signs of heart problems. The electrical activity will be checked with one of the following:
To help find what may be causing problems or to look for problems of the heart structure the doctor may also order:
TreatmentNot all arrhythmias need to be treated. Many are harmless and will not cause problems. When arrhythmias cause symptoms serious enough to affect your daily life or increase the risk of other conditions, treatment may be needed. The goal of treatment is to return your heart to a normal rhythm. The type of treatment will depend on your specific arrhythmia and your overall health. Options include:
PreventionNot all arrhythmias can be prevented. To help reduce your chances of certain arrhythmias:
RESOURCES:American Heart Association http://www.heart.org/ Heart Rhythm Society http://www.hrsonline.org/ CANADIAN RESOURCES:Canadian Heart Rhythm Society http://www.chrsonline.ca Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada http://www.heartandstroke.ca References:Arrhythmias. American Heart Association website. Available at: ...(Click grey area to select URL) Accessed November 28, 2017. Arrhythmia. Texas Heart Institute website. Available at: ...(Click grey area to select URL) Updated August 2016. Accessed November 28, 2017.
Atrial fibrillation. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at:
http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T115288/Atrial-fibrillation
. Updated July 31, 2017. Accessed November 28, 2017.
Explore
arrhythmia. National Heart, Lung, and Blood website. Available at:
https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/arr. Updated July 1, 2011. Accessed November 28, 2017.
Sick sinus syndrome. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at:
http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T113692/Sick-sinus-syndrome
. Updated December 8, 2015. Accessed November 28, 2017.
Ventricular arrhythmias. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at:
http://www.dynamed...
. Updated March 31, 2017. Accessed November 28, 2017.
Last reviewed November 2018 by
EBSCO Medical Review Board
Michael J. Fucci, DO, FACC Last Updated: 12/20/2014 | |
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